19 Free Museums and Attractions in Glasgow
Glasgow is a diverse city with lots of indoor and outdoor attractions. This post lists some ideas for free museums & attractions in Glasgow.
One of the good things about Scotland is that entry to many of its main attractions is free. You can explore parks, museums, castles, and art galleries and follow trails for no fee.
Some of the bigger attractions and castles such as Edinburgh Castle or those castles managed by Historic Environment Scotland charge entry to get into.
Glasgow is a UNESCO City of Music and has the largest music economy in the UK. The city has spectacular architecture, industrial heritage and high-class culture.
In Glasgow, you can tick off a few museums and attractions which have no entry fees. This is a good way to spend a day off or a holiday in Glasgow.
The museums available have varied collections. You can learn about the Glaswegian police force to the history of the shipbuilding era.
Visiting a museum is a great way to learn about Glasgow from a unique angle.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is set in the heart of the Glasgow’s West End. The building it is set in was opened in 1901, the stunning red-brick building has a large, airy interior.
Kelvingrove is easily one of the most notable museums in Scotland. There are over 22 galleries with over 8000 items on display.
In the early 2000s, the building was given a massive £28 million facelift. There are impressive collections of art, natural history and much more.
You can view many artefacts from a range of collections including Salvador Dali and Ancient Egypt. There are also temporary exhibitions in addition to permanent collections.
This is a great free museum where you can spend a few hours here. Also, on the weekend there are free tours.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is located in Kelvingrove Park, a 85-acre public space. The park is popular for walkers, cyclists and runners, there are numerous footpaths and acres of green spaces.
Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel
This award-winning transport museum sits on the banks of the River Clyde. The hyper-modern museum is filled with objects and interactive displays.
View the 3000 objects on display which date back to the 1890s. These objects include vehicles, skateboards, prams, locomotives and cars.
Also, there are many interactive displays including stationery trains which can be boarded, put out a fire in the interactive fire engine and tap away on the large touch screen panels.
The 7500-square-metre building opened in 2011 and was designed by Zaha Hadid. In addition, the whole family will enjoy learning about stormtroopers and locomotives and Glasgow’s shipbuilding history.
The Tall Ship at Riverside
The Tall Ship At Riverside is located outside the Riverside Museum. You can step aboard and be taken back in time on one of the Glenlee ships in the UK.
There is a working crew who you can ask questions and explore the Captain’s Cabin. Audio Guides are available, which give you an insight into the history of the historic Glenlee ships.
Gallery of Modern Art
The Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) is located in the heart of Glasgow, on the Royal Exchange Square. There are four large rooms which have varied artworks, temporary exhibitions and events by artists from all around the world.
There is a permanent display that shows the history of the building. Also, this world-renowned art museum is a great place to go on a rainy day or you can enjoy a coffee.
The Gallery of Modern Art is in a central location where you can head shopping, and grab a bite to eat or drink all in one area. It is housed in a former neo-classical townhouse.
Burrell Collection
The Burrel Collection is located in Pollock Country Park in Glasgow. Over 9,000 pieces of treasure, artworks, and exotic objects were collected by the Glasgow merchant, Sir William Burrell and gifted to Glasgow in 1944.
In 2022, the Burrell Collection underwent a £68 million redevelopment to allow the museum building to be more greener. The Burrell Collection is also the centre recipient of The Museum of the Year Award 2023.
Now, there are 225 displays across 24 galleries, which takes you through 6,000 years of history. Some of the highlights include Egyptian pottery, Roman sculptures and Chinese art in the UK.
Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
The Hunterian Museum was founded in 1807 and is one of Scotland’s oldest public museums. There are some impressive large collections with a wide range of objects to view in this museum.
You can see Roman artefacts including the Antonine Wall to meteorites housed in the reassembled interiors of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Glasgow home. Also, keep an eye out for a 2500-year-old mummy and a million-year-old shark from Captain Cook’s Pacific voyage.
On Tuesdays at the Hunterian Museum, you can join an Insight Talk or take the daily tours. The museum is tucked away inside the neo-Gothic University of Glasgow building.
Glasgow Police Museum
At the Glasgow Police Museum, you can learn about the first professional police force in Britain. Many Glaswegians will refer to the police as ‘the polis’.
There are exhibits in the Glasgow Police Historical Exhibition that provide an insight into the people, events and other factors that contributed to the founding, development and process of the City of Glasgow Police from 1779-1975.
The police force at this time was well known for its violence. Since VRU’s formation in 200, knife crime has decreased dramatically in Glasgow.
Also, the museum involves International Police exhibitions which have over 2000 items, including headgear, uniforms and text boards, providing a good insight into the history and development of the police force.
The small museum is located in Merchant City and is run by volunteers, some of which are retired police officers.
Scotland Street School Museum
The Scotland Street School Museum is set in the old stone building which was built for the School Board of Glasgow. Interestingly, Charles Rennie MacIntosh, a renowned architect, designed this building.
The exhibits in this museum show how Scottish education has evolved over the past 100 years. More specifically, it will take you back to the 19th and 20th centuries and show you how the education system was then.
You can view reconstructed classrooms and original design features. In 1979, the school closed due to a lack of students, now it is one of Glasgow’s top architectural locations.
St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
The museum is named after Glasgow’s patron saint who brought the Christian faith to Glasgow in the 6th century. Interestingly, the museum was built on the site of medieval Bishops’ Castle.
There are many displays, objects and artworks that demonstrate the importance of religion in people’s lives across the world and across centuries. In addition, you can relax in the first zen garden in Britain.
The museum is located in the Cathedral Square near the Necropolis and Provands Lordship. In the early 2000’s, the building was given a massive £28 million facelift.
Once you have explored the St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, you can wander around the Glasgow Necropolis. The Glasgow Necropolis is a Victorian Cemetery.
The Glasgow Necropolis is located next to Glasgow Infirmary in Merchant City. There are a few heritage trail routes run by the Glasgow City Council.
The Glasgow Necropolis Trail is a route which takes 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. The route begins at the St Mungo’s Museum of Religious Life and Art in the Cathedral precincts.
There are daily guided tours of the Necropolis.
Glasgow Cathedral
The medieval Glasgow Cathedral marks the birthplace of the City of Glasgow. This is an excellent place to go to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
The Glasgow Cathedral is a beautiful and historical building and is very popular with tourists. The interior is mesmerising, filled with colourful stained windows and other interesting features.
Also, the tomb of St Mungo is located here, making it an important landmark in Scottish history. Interestingly, this cathedral is the only one on the Scottish mainland to survive the Reformation of 1560.
Glasgow Museums Resource Centre
The Glasgow Museum Resource Centre is where the public can see a small part of the city’s museum collection. This museum is well worth the visit if you are interested in history, archaeology, painting, transport, technology, world cultures and art.
There are around 1.14 million objects in the Glasgow Museum Resource Centre.
The Resource Centre allows you to research artefacts that you might be interested in buying or borrowing. Entry to the museum is free, however, you will have to book in advance.
Fossil Grove
Fossil Grove is not known by many, the small heritage site is located in the West End’s Victoria Park. The attractions here are 330 million years old and have been preserved to exactly where they have been found.
In 1887, an old quarry was being landscapes and the 11 fossil tree stumps from the Carboniferous Period were discovered. A tiny yet informative museum was built around them.
Mitchell Library
The Mitchell Library is one of Europe’s largest public libraries. This library is a hib for city-wide information and there are over one million items in stock.
The library was established in 1877. Also, the building is glorious when it is lit up at night.
Glasgow City Chambers
The Glasgow City Chambers is located in George Square in the heart of Glasgow. The building was completed in 1888 and is the city’s most prestigious building.
For over a century, the Glasgow City Chambers has been the headquarters of Glasgow City Council.
There is a tour of the City Chambers twice daily at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm. The City Chambers overlook George Square in the heart of Glasgow.
George Square was laid out in 1771 and was named after King George III. The Sottish Parliament Building and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall overlook the square.
During the winter, in the countdown to Christmas, the square is decorated with Christmas lights, it is a spectacular sight to see.
People’s Palace and Winter Gardens
The People’s Palace is set in the Glasgow Green on the east side of the city by the River Clyde. Inside, you can learn about the story of Glasgow and its people from 1750 to the present day.
There is a wealth of historic artefacts, paintings, prints and film interactive displays that show the wealth of the city’s social history. Old-fashioned shops have been recreated, you can look at black-and-white photographs from the bygone era.
Once you have finished exploring the People’s Palace and Winters Gardens, explore the rest of the spacious and scenic grounds of Glasgow Green.
The park has many historic structures including the McLennan Arch, Nelson Monument, Templeton Factory, and St Andrews Suspension Bridge.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
The Glasgow Botanic Gardens is located on the west end of Glasgow. The park includes a large Victorian glasshouse, known as Kibble Palace where you can see exotic tree ferns, rare orchids and a national collection of begonias.
There is a tearoom and the weather is fine, there is a kiosk serving coffee and ice cream.
Queens Park
Queens Park is located on the south side of Glasgow. There are sporting facilities, a boating pond and a nature pond.
There are many walking routes, where you can feel at peace with nature. There is a display of glasshouses, an aviary and pet house and the Poetry Rose Garden.
Glasgow City Art Mural Trail
The Glasgow City Art Mural Trail takes you through the city centre, along the River Clyde and Merchant City in search of some large impressive murals.
One of my favourite murals is the one of St Mungo holding a robin. Also, their murals pay tribute to many well-known figures such as Billy Connelly.
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow campus is based in the West End of Glasgow near Kelvingrove Park. This is not a museum as such but it is a good free activity to wander around and view the spectacular gothic architecture.
Final Note
This post lists the free museum in Glasgow that you can visit. There are also many other interesting museums in Glasgow, however, you will have to pay an entry fee to get in.
You can combine a visit to a museum with a nice walk around one of the parks listed above. Also, there are a couple of walking trails which are free to take part in.