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Scotland Street School across the road, its two glass stair towers either side of the red sandstone front.
Glasgow

Scotland Street School Museum

Charles Rennie Mackintosh's school of 1903 to 1906 south of the Clyde, with its glass stair towers, a museum of education since 1990, now closed for refurbishment.

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Welcome

On Scotland Street, south of the Clyde in what was once crowded Tradeston, stands the school Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed for the School Board of Glasgow between 1903 and 1906.

Three storeys of red sandstone, it is best known for its two stair towers, one over the boys' entrance and one over the girls', more glass than stone, which flood the staircases with light. The whole thing, walls, gates, railings and a janitor's house on the corner, came to a little over £20,500.

When the housing around it was cleared the school closed, and it reopened in November 1990 as a museum of education, with classrooms kept as they were in Victorian and later times. The building is closed for refurbishment at present, with a nursery and a digital learning hub to join the museum, and its reopening date has not yet been set. The outside, and those towers, can be seen from the street.

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Before you go

The museum is closed for refurbishment and Glasgow Life has not yet given a date for it to reopen; when it does, the building will also hold an early years nursery and a digital learning hub.

Until then the outside can be seen from Scotland Street.

Now
Closed for refurbishment, with no reopening date yet.
Where
Scotland Street, G5 8QB, south of the Clyde.
Contact
museums@glasgowlife.org.uk

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Where it is

Scotland Street in Tradeston, on the south side of the Clyde.

Close byA short way from the school.
  1. A pasta dish with herbs beside glasses of wine.La Fiorentina RistoranteA Tuscan and Italian restaurant at the Paisley Road Toll since 1989, marrying Italian cooking to Scottish seasonal produce.Under a mile 2 min by road
  2. Grilled sardines with new potatoes and a salad of tomatoes and beans on the steel counter at Big Counter.Big CounterUnder a mile as the crow flies
  3. Maxwell Park in Pollokshields in autumn, low sun through golden trees behind reeds at the edge of the pond.PollokshieldsOne of Britain's first garden suburbs, just to the south.Under a mile 3 min by road
  4. The white and blue front of the O2 Academy on Eglinton Street by day, its arched window and banners.O2 AcademyA jazz-moderne picture house of 1932 on Eglinton Street, now a concert hall.Under a mile 2 min by road
  5. Arching Clyde Arc bridge spans the River Clyde beside Glasgow's riverside buildingsThe Clyde ArcThe Squinty Bridge of 2006, across the river to Finnieston.Under a mile 3 min by road
  6. House for an Art Lover behind a pine tree, its white front lit by low sun.House for an Art LoverMackintosh's design of 1901, built at last in Bellahouston Park.2 miles 4 min by road
Directions
An octopus and pork skewer with kumquat hot sauce, on paper printed with the name Vera.RestaurantsVera0.7 miles
Inside Rubadub on Howard Street: racks of records in the middle of the floor, synths and drum machines on the shelves, and a spiral stair up to the gallery.ShoppingRubadub0.9 miles
The glass front of Some Great Reward at the Cooperage, its pink and blue sign above the door, with orange chairs and a table outside in the sun.ShoppingSome Great Reward0.9 miles
Two baristas behind the Spirit espresso machine under the drinks board.CafeThe Good Coffee Cartel0.9 miles
An exhibition at Tramway.AttractionsTramway0.9 miles
Grilled flatbread with pomegranate seeds and three dips in copper bowls, on a woven cloth at Qasba.RestaurantsQasba0.9 miles
White fish under a green herb crumb on giant couscous and a red pepper sauce, on a table at Lobo.RestaurantsLobo0.9 miles
A margherita pizza with buffalo mozzarella and basil on a marble table at Errol's Hot Pizza.RestaurantsErrol's Hot Pizza1.0 miles
A tray of bakes at Burnfield Bakery on Pollokshaws Road: a cream-topped bun, a filled pastry and two chocolate cookies.CafeBurnfield Bakery1.0 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the school, and when each is next free.

A grey sofa with cushions sits before a black and white kitchen, a framed print on the wall to the left.Moment Blythswood Street
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Glasgow
  • A mile from Scotland Street School
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  • To stay
  • In Glasgow
  • 7 miles from Scotland Street School
Check datesA grey corner sofa with cushions and a sheepskin throw sits before a shelf of books and a round mirror, a wood burning stove and log store to the right.Talli House
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Dunlop
  • 11 miles from Scotland Street School
Free 31 Oct – 2 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in GlasgowAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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