Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow (must see)

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum underwent a three-year renovation and reopened its doors in 2006. Since then, it has become one of Scotland's most popular attractions, offering free admission, and it stands as the most frequented museum in the UK outside of London.

This institution boasts an impressive collection of arms and armor, renowned worldwide, along with an extensive natural history assortment. The art collection is equally noteworthy, featuring exceptional European artworks, including pieces by renowned artists like Rembrandt van Rijn, Gerard de Lairesse, and Jozef Israëls from the Old Masters era. Additionally, it houses works by French Impressionists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Vincent van Gogh, and Mary Cassatt, as well as Dutch Renaissance, Scottish Colourists, and representatives of the Glasgow School.

Notably, the museum is home to Salvador Dalí's "Christ of Saint John of the Cross," with an interesting history: the curator acquired the copyright for this painting after a meeting with Dalí himself. For a period spanning from 1993 to 2006, the artwork was temporarily relocated to the Saint Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.

Furthermore, within its walls, the museum holds a substantial donation of decorative arts by Anne Hull Grundy, an art collector and philanthropist. This collection provides insight into the history of European jewelry during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Why You Should Visit:
Easy to reach, very family-friendly, with lots to see, plus reasonably priced shops & café, and the glorious organ recital in the afternoon is a real bonus.

Tip:
The best way to get an overview is to go on one of the daily, free tours – you might be surprised what you will learn.
At weekends and holidays, you can take part in one of the family activities throughout the exhibits.
If you're going to visit both the café & gift shop, go to the café first as they'll give you a voucher for 10% off in the gift shop.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Glasgow. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum on Map

Sight Name: Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
Sight Location: Glasgow, Scotland (See walking tours in Glasgow)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Glasgow, Scotland

Create Your Own Walk in Glasgow

Create Your Own Walk in Glasgow

Creating your own self-guided walk in Glasgow is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Glasgow Introduction Walking Tour

Glasgow Introduction Walking Tour

The largest city and seaport in Scotland, Glasgow is also one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Famed for its 19th-century Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture, numerous musical events, football matches, traditional pubs, and food venues, this place is truly unique.

The area of Glasgow in Scotland's western Lowlands has been inhabited for millennia, with the River...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Historical Churches

Historical Churches

The feeling of serenity and being free from stress and worries is quite precious these days. And where better to find this than inside a church? Glasgow is home to a number of great churches that are notable for their architectural design, mostly in the Gothic style.

One of the city's most iconic ecclesiastical landmarks and a stunning example of Gothic architecture is Saint Mungo's...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Glasgow West End Walking Tour

Glasgow West End Walking Tour

Glasgow is a home to a great number of historic, cultural and architectural landmarks, the lion's share of which are found in the West End. The adjectives applicable to this part of Glasgow speak volumes: cosmopolitan, multi-cultured, bohemian, intellectual, grand, leafy, confident, tolerant, and trendy. Indeed all of them are true, especially given that inside the area there are several...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Glasgow Music Spots Walking Tour

Glasgow Music Spots Walking Tour

For decades, Glasgow has been renowned as a stomping ground for both young and seasoned music bands. The variety of spots – from snug, unpretentious cubbyholes catering for small intimate gigs to huge arenas hosting the biggest names in business – are as an integral part of Glasgow's evolutionizing music scene as its musicians. And while Glaswegian accents have dominated international...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles