AROUND TOWN | Museums & Attractions
Museums and attractions are listed by city, then alphabetically by venue.
GLASGOW
■ BURRELL COLLECTION 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550, glasgowlife.org.uk/museums Mon–Thu & Sat 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm. Free. In the heart of Pollok Country Park is this collection of art, including work by Degas, Rodin and Cézanne as well as ancient and medieval artefacts. It is named after shipping tycoon Sir William Burrell who amassed much of its collection of over 8000 objects in his own lifetime. ■ GLASGOW BOTANIC GARDENS 730 Great Western Road, 339 6964, glasgow.gov.uk Gardens open daily 7am– dusk; glasshouses open daily 10am–6pm; visitor centre 11am–dusk. Free. A great place to relax in summer or take a brisk walk in winter, with a programme of events including stargazing, gardening talks and even theatre. Also look out for exotics and exhibitions in Kibble Palace Glasshouse and the vegetable, herb and flower gardens.
■ GLASGOW NECROPOLIS 50 Cathedral Square, 552 3145, glasgownecropolis.org Daily 7am–dusk. Free. Standing on a hill behind Glasgow Cathedral, the necropolis is the city’s own Père Lachaise with an obelisk to John Knox, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s first solo work and breathtaking views to boot. Tours are offered by the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis, advance booking essential.
■ GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART 167 Renfrew Street, 566 1472, gsa.ac.uk/ visit-gsa/gsa-shop Interpretation space & shop open daily 10.30am–6.30pm; frequent tours depart 11am–5pm. Tours £8.75 (£7; under 18s £4; under 5s free). Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s astounding architectural masterpiece (and still a working art school) can be viewed throughout the year, with daily tours led by current students offering an in-depth look at the building’s design.
■ GLASGOW SCIENCE CENTRE 50 Pacific Quay, 420 5000, gsc.org.uk Daily 10am–5pm. £9.95 (£7.95; under 3s free); Planetarium, Glasgow Tower or IMAX Science films £2.50 extra. The home of Scotland’s first IMAX cinema, as well as fun exhibits, science shows, workshops and talks. 1BodyWorks Until Dec 2014. An exhibition all about how your body works, with the chance to run in a giant hamster wheel and become a ‘snot ninja’ (lovely). Compare your physiological stats with other visitors and find out about all the latest scientific research into your very own body.
■ HUNTERIAN MUSEUM & ART GALLERY 82 Hillhead Street, 330 4221 (museum)/ 330 5434 (gallery), gla.ac.uk/hunterian Tue–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 11am–4pm; closed Mon. Free; Mackintosh House £5 (£3; under 18s free). Scotland’s oldest public museum, founded in 1807, houses collections relating to science, medicine, archaeology, geology and more, as well as art by Charles Rennie Mackintosh (including The Mackintosh House – the reassembled interior of his home) and James McNeill Whistler. ■ KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY & MUSEUM Argyle Street, 276 9599, glasgowlife. org.uk/museums Mon–Thu & Sat 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm. Free. Twenty-two collections and over 8000 artefacts, from natural history, armour and weaponry to art from many different eras and touring exhibitions, all housed in a grand red sandstone
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building on the banks of the River Kelvin. See Visual Art section for more exhibition details. More Than A Game: How Scotland Shaped World Football Until Aug 2013. £5 (£3; under 16s free). A look at how player-managers like Bill Shankly and Alex Ferguson and great players such as Denis Law and Rose Reilly helped shape football on the world stage. ■ NATIONAL PIPING CENTRE 30–34 McPhater Street, 353 0220, thepipingcentre.co.uk Mon–Fri 9am–5pm; Sat 9am–1pm; closed Sun. £4.50 (£3.50; under 16s £2.50; family £11). Home to the Museum of Piping as well as a reference library, shop and restaurant.
■ PEOPLE’S PALACE & WINTER GARDENS Glasgow Green, 276 0788, glasgowlife. org.uk/museums Palace open Tue– Thu & Sat 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm; closed Mon; Winter Gardens open daily 10am–5pm. Free. Located on Glasgow Green, the Palace gives an insight into how the people of Glasgow lived from the 1750s to the late 20th century, while next door the Winter Gardens house exotic plants and a café. Red Road: Past, Present, Future Until Feb 2014. Glasgow’s iconic Red Road flats are being demolished to make room for a new skyline. The high-rise development’s residents look back over 50 years, tracing its impact on the city and their community through artwork and commentary. ■ POLLOK HOUSE 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 0844 493 2202, nts.org.uk/property/pollok-house Daily 10am–5pm. £6.50 (£5; family £11.50– £16.50). Set within Pollok Country Park, this 18th-century house holds one of the best collections of Spanish art in the UK, as well as traditional Edwardian furniture and decoration.
■ PROVAND’S LORDSHIP 3 Castle Street, 276 1625, glasgowlife. org.uk/museums Tue–Thu & Sat 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm; closed Mon. Free. The oldest house in Glasgow, and one of only four surviving medieval buildings. Restored to its 17th- century finest, there is also a medicinal garden with the intriguing Tontine Faces stone masks.
■ RIVERSIDE MUSEUM 100 Pointhouse Place, 287 2720, glasgowlife.org.uk/ museums Mon–Thu & Sat 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm. Free. A rebooted version of the Transport Museum housed in a cutting edge piece of architecture by Zaha Hadid. The recently acquired South African locomotive is the largest exhibit in the Glasgow Museums’ collection.
■ SCOTLAND STREET SCHOOL MUSEUM 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500, glasgowlife.org.uk/museums Tue–Thu & Sat 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm; closed Mon. Free. Another wonderful building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the museum details the history of the country’s education system from the time of Queen Victoria right through to the swinging 60s. ■ THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL MUSEUM Hampden Park, 616 6139, scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk Mon–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 11am–5pm. Stadium tour £7 (£3.50); museum entry £6 (£3); combined ticket £10 (£5). Located inside Scotland’s national football stadium a couple of miles south of the city
ALIEN INVASION Our Dynamic Earth is proudly hosting a special extraterrestrial exhibition until 28 June, with costumes and props from some of the most iconic sci-fi films and TV shows of all time. Browse memorabilia from the likes of Predator, Star Wars and Doctor Who, or take in the 360 degree film, We Are Aliens, narrated by Rupert Grint (AKA Ron Weasley) and showing in the newly refurbished ShowDome. Although we did consider writing this entire blurb in Yoda speak, it was decided that might get a bit confusing, what with his loose grasp on word order and all. Sorry for anyone feeling shortchanged. ■ Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, until 28 Jun; dynamicearth.co.uk
centre, this museum displays all kinds of memorabilia and offers tours of the stadium itself.
■ ST MUNGO MUSEUM OF RELIGIOUS ART & LIFE 2 Castle Street, 276 1625, glasgowlife. org.uk/museums Tue–Thu & Sat 10am– 5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm; closed Mon. Free. Situated across the road from the Provand’s Lordship, this museum holds artwork and historical artifacts exploring the role of religion in people’s lives,
promoting understanding and respect between faiths.
■ THE TALL SHIP AT RIVERSIDE 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699, thetallship. com Daily 10am–5pm. £5 (£4.50; one child free per paying adult, additional children £3). Step aboard the Glenlee, one of only five Clyde-
built ships still afloat today. Learn about the maritime history of the area through talks, tours and costume days.
EDINBURGH
■ CAMERA OBSCURA & WORLD OF ILLUSIONS Castlehill, 226 3709, camera-obscura. co.uk Daily 9.30am–7pm. £11.95 (£9.95; under 16s £8.75; under 5s free). The ‘camera’ is a giant periscope inside a Victorian rooftop tower on the Royal Mile, giving a spectacular 360° perspective on Edinburgh, plus there’s interactive optical fun galore. The building also contains three galleries and lights up at night. ■ DEEP SEA WORLD Battery Quarry, North Queensferry, 01383 411880, deepseaworld.com Mon–Fri 10am–5pm; Sat & Sun
10am–6pm (last entry one hour before closing). £13 (£11; under 13s £9; under 3s free; family £38–£42). From seals to piranhas, this marine life centre has a petting area and underwater tunnel so you can get to grips with the deep. Approximately a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh. ■ EDINBURGH CASTLE AND NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND Castlehill, 225 9846 (info)/ 668 8081 (bookings), edinburghcastle.gov.uk / nms.ac.uk/war Daily 9.30am–6pm. £14.50 (£11.60; children £8.60; under 5s free). Perhaps Edinburgh’s most visible landmark, the Castle perches on top of a rocky outcrop at the head of the Royal Mile, and includes ceremonial rooms, fortifications, dungeons, and Scotland’s Honours or crown jewels. Inside, the National War Museum delves into the past 400 years of the country’s military history. Arctic Convoys Opens May 2013. A look at the merchant and military ships that sailed the Arctic during WWII and the thousands of seaman who endured life on board.
■ THE EDINBURGH DUNGEON 31 Market Street, 240 1001 (info)/ 0871 423 2250 (bookings), thedungeons. com Daily 10am–5pm. £11.20–£16.20 (£10–15; under 16s £7–£12). A grizzly look into historical Edinburgh, with actor- led tours and rides, just above Waverley Station. ■ EDINBURGH ZOO Corstorphine Road, 334 9171, edinburghzoo.org.uk Daily 9am–6pm. £16 (£13.50; under 16s £11.50; under 3s free). Visitors can see the headline- grabbing giant pandas, the famous Penguin Parade and over 1000 other rare and interesting animals and birds at this site three miles west of the city centre.
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