Glasgow's great red sandstone museum of 1901 at the foot of Kelvingrove Park: twenty-two free galleries, a Spitfire, Dalí, and a daily organ recital.
At the foot of Kelvingrove Park, a red sandstone palace of towers and turrets holds Glasgow's great museum.
The English architects Sir John Simpson and E.J. Milner Allen designed it in a Spanish Baroque style, built of Locharbriggs sandstone and paid for in part by the profits of the city's 1888 exhibition, and it opened for the International Exhibition of 1901, which drew 11.5 million visitors between May and November.
Inside, twenty-two galleries run from natural history and the ancient world to Scottish painters. In the West Court a Spitfire hangs above the animals; in the East Court a cloud of sculpted heads floats over the floor; and in the Centre Hall the pipe organ of 1901 is still played for free every day. Salvador Dalí's painting of Christ on the cross hangs here too. Entry is free, and there is a café and a coffee shop.
Entry is free, with donations welcome.
There is a table-service café and a coffee shop, lifts to every public floor and accessible toilets. Restoration work outside began in September 2025 and has cut the parking, but the museum stays open. Kelvinhall subway station is about half a mile away.
Opening hours
The museum was financed partly by the profits of Glasgow's 1888 International Exhibition, and it opened for the next one in 1901, which ran from May to November and drew 11.5 million visitors.
The pipe organ in the Centre Hall was built by Lewis and Co in 1901, the year the museum opened, and it is still played in a free recital every day.
Two English architects, Sir John Simpson and E.J. Milner Allen, designed the building in a Spanish Baroque style and built it of red Locharbriggs sandstone.
Kelvingrove closed for three years for a major refurbishment and was formally reopened by the Queen in July 2006, after work that cost £27.9 million.
In the West Court a Spitfire hangs from the ceiling above the natural history displays, one of the museum's best-loved sights.
Undoubtedly one of the city’s top attractions, the sandstone Victorian colossus that is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum holds a profusion of different exhibits arranged by theme, from French impressionist art and medieval armour to the work of hometown hero Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Allow yourself ample time to wander at will.
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What is on in GlasgowArgyle Street in the West End, at the foot of Kelvingrove Park.
Mother India's CafeIndian small plates to share, across Argyle Street from Kelvingrove, from the Mother India family since 2004.Under a mile 2 min by road
FinniestonArgyle Street's restaurants, and the crane on the quay below.Under a mile 3 min by road
Byres RoadThe high street of the West End, a short walk north.1 mile 5 min by road
Kelvingrove ParkThe park behind the museum, running up to the university and down to the Kelvin.1 mile 5 min by road
Riverside MuseumGlasgow's transport museum, where the Kelvin meets the Clyde.2 miles 6 min by road
Hunterian Museum and Art GalleryThe university's own museum, on the hill above the park.2 miles 6 min by road
Arrives at 5am every day.
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Places to stay near the museum, and when each is next free.
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