KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Free Entry. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Mu​seum is Scotland's most visited free attraction.​ With 22 themed, state-of-the-art galleries displaying an astonishing 8000 objects, the collections are extensive, wide-ranging and internationally-significant.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Paul S
    489 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    French Art Room is a Must See
    The art galleries on the first floor are worth seeing, particularly the French art room and the small room with the Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Dali. The French room has over 40 masterpieces with Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Seurat and more. The Christ of Saint John of the Cross uses an extreme angle of Christ over water. The Floating Heads in the east court is interesting. Did not spend much time on the ground floor with the animals and ancient Egypt.
    To Paul S, thank you for your lovely review of Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. We're glad you enjoyed your visit, and that you especially liked our French art collection. It is definitely one of the highlights of our collection! We hope you will choose to visit us again in the future.
    Written 19 June 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Written 10 June 2023
  • drkiki2015
    Washougal, Washington491 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Favorite museum in Scotland
    This is my favorite museum in Scotland, and I've been to many! It is a combination of history, art, natural science, and much more. One of the surprises is a daily organ concert, usually 1 pm. One can enjoy lunch at the indoor coffee shop while enjoying the concert. Don't even try to do it all in one day, but like so many UK museums, it has free admission.
    To drkiki2015, thank you for leaving us a great 5-star review. We appreciate it greatly. We're happy to hear that we are your favourite museum in Scotland, it really means a lot to us as we are aware at how many wonderful museums there are in the country! We hope you can visit us again soon!
    Written 19 June 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 June 2023
  • AlanBest
    North Shields, United Kingdom119 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Totally fantastic place
    Really well curated, even the statue tumbling woke cancel culture creatures might be impressed. If you see nothing else marvel at the great hall and do not miss the Dali. It is worth visiting for that alone
    Visited May 2023
    Written 15 June 2023
  • Mark S
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exceptional!!!
    Excellent ambiance. My partner and I had an amazing time at the gallery. Even though I'm not a big fan of painting and the like, I had a great experience from start to finish. The lighting in the exhibitions is properly tuned to create a terrific atmosphere. I was amazed to discover such a diverse assortment of items housed under one roof. I would strongly suggest the place to anyone visiting Glasgow.
    To marksU3999MC, thank you for leaving us such a great review. We're glad you were able to enjoy the museum and that you had a great experience while visiting. We hope you will choose to visit us again next time you are in Glasgow.
    Written 30 June 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 June 2023
  • Jacs990
    Glasgow, United Kingdom11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mary quant exhibition … run don’t walk !
    Went to the Mary quant exhibition viewing from may until 20 October 2023 . If even you have the slightest interest in fashion and it’s history this is a must visit . I am delighted this showstopper rolled into Glasgow ! Absolutely an array of delight , nostalgia and knowledge of this truly remarkable genius displaying the workings and ideas of this amazing icon put on this earth to thrill us with her outstanding designs and how she changed the fashion era from the 1960,s onwards . I spent just under 2 hours here , taking time to explore her sheer being . Added bonus of a Fantastic gift shop afterwards , the likes of some items to purchase you won’t see just anywhere. Small entry fee of £8.50 . I left exasperated by this icon and very emotional of the items that brought back so many memories and she was actually way before my time but I remembered certain dresses , the make up from relatives and magazines . The day will stay in my memory !
    Hi Jacs990, thank you for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review. We truly appreciate it. We're happy to hear you had such a delightful time visiting the Mary Quant exhibition and that you will remember it fondly. The exhibition has proved most popular! We will make sure to pass on your kind remarks to those responsible for it. We hope you will be able to return for another viewing before it closes!
    Written 4 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 25 June 2023
  • Robsallons
    Hong Kong, China7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Take a free tour with Artie or another guide
    We did an 1100 hrs tour with Artie which we totally recommend. Heard many of the back stories, compositions explained and the links between pieces and collectors. Fascinating and well worth an hour to understand what you are seeing.
    Hi Robsallons, thank you for visiting us here at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. We're glad to hear you recommend our free museum tours. We'll pass on your compliments to Artie, he is always a favourite with all visitors! We hope you can visit us again soon!
    Written 11 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 10 July 2023
  • Janey53
    Warrington, United Kingdom54 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A very interesting day out.
    A huge museum in a beautiful architectural building. Many floors to this museum and lots of very different things to see. I found the art particularly interesting, and the wild Haggis is a must. You could easily sound a whole day here. The museum is set in a lovely park, a nice place t I sit and admire the building.
    Hi Janey53, thank you for your wonderful 5-star review of the museum. We're glad to hear you enjoyed your visit and that you managed to catch a glimpse of our wild and elusive Haggis! Not everybody does! We hope you will choose to visit us again in the future.
    Written 11 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 July 2023
  • slarson127
    Dover, New Hampshire302 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mixture of ancient and modern to enjoy
    Museum is located adjacent to the University and is an impressive pile of stone. in itself. There is a kind of chaos created by the presence of a huge number of objects sitting on the floor and hanging from the ceilings as far as the eye can see. However the artifacts are well marked when you settle down and move slowly around the behemoth of a structure. Well worth 2-3 hrs maybe a day!
    To slarson127, thank you for leaving the museum a great review. We're glad you managed to enjoy our collection, and we hope you are able to visit us again soon.
    Written 17 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Written 11 July 2023
  • Bob H
    Watsonville, California1,145 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must visit
    I had only one reason to visit this museum: the Floating Heads exhibit. I like abstract art, so I had to see this for myself. I was not disappointed. Some people may find it creepy, but I was fascinated. Because I was part of an organized group, I had limited time. I did manage to see the Spitfire. The museum has a lot of other things to see.
    Hi O9164VOroberth, thank you for taking the time to leave us a wonderful 5-star review. The floating heads are one of the most popular displays in the museum. We hope you are able to visit us again soon when you can properly explore the rest of the museum.
    Written 17 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 11 July 2023
  • Merrowmum
    Guildford, United Kingdom1,319 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for every age group!
    We spent several very enjoyable hours wandering around the museum and selected parts of the art gallery (not so much our thing, but great that you can dip in and out). There is certainly plenty of interest for all ages from the very young to the very old with a wide variety of displays across the sections on each level. We particularly loved the 3pm demonstration of the orchestrion, something we had never seen or heard before, and the lady in charge was so happy to answer all our questions afterwards. Lunch in the basement cafe turned out to be an excellent main meal at not unreasonable prices and the shop is good too!
    To Merrowmum, thank you for visiting us here at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit to the museum, and that you managed to catch an organ recital. We hope you will visit us again in the future!
    Written 17 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 July 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles15,849 reviews
Excellent
11,571
Very good
3,562
Average
613
Poor
78
Terrible
26

Anna W
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Friends
Lots to see all over the place. Loved that it’s like a curiosity shop and gallery all in one. Plenty to see and the artwork well worth a couple of hours
Written 3 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kevinna h
Glasgow, UK59 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Couples
All i can say is take your time and really look at everything. Its a stunning building with amazing artwork inside. The cafe is lovely as well.
Written 31 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

M&M
Lockerbie, UK23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Friends
Remarkable place to visit (free entry) in Glasgow’s West End. Hugely impressive works of art alongside a genuine WW2 Spitfire hanging between the arches. There are even daily pipe organ recitals if you’re keen.
Written 31 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ThreeStarDave
91 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
There is a joke that the Smithsonian in Washington is America's attic, full of bits and bobs and memorabilia, not well organized, but in aggregate impressive. The same holds true for the Kelvingrove and Scotland, which, outside of its art collection, hosts a remarkable array of ... stuff. Chances are if you look at the next case, it will be related to what was in the previous one. Skip a few, and you're dealing with something altogether different.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, and the richness of the collection makes a certain amount of confusion understandable, if sometimes a bit head-scratching.

Once you get into the art, things are a bit easier to follow, and the museum actually manages entire galleries around themes. That includes particularly Glaswegian motifs -- Mackintosh, of course, and the "Glasgow Boys" -- as well as broader Scottish and thematic collections. While not the complete collection on display by any means, the Kelvingrove's Scot-focused art provides some extraordinarily delightful moments and themes.

The gift shops in the ground floor are pretty darned good, and the cafe has decent reputation (I did not try it).

Overall, a fine, fine place to spend a morning or afternoon.
Written 31 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

George T
Knoxville, TN306 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Solo
I Visited Last Month on a Trip to Glasgow, and was not disappointed . I’ve been to Glasgow Previously on several occasions and had been told about the Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum, but I’ve never been able to make it out to the West End. Made it out on this last trip and was glad I made the trip out. From the Exhibits about the City of Glasgow to the Native Animal and Continent Exhibits in the Main Foyer to the Spitfire from 602 Squadron hanging in the Museum, to the King “ Elvis Presley “ the Museum invites the guest to not only explore, but gives great insights into what makes Glasgow and its History Quite Unique to the Visitor. I Spent 3 hours here and was not disappointed. I especially enjoyed the native animals of Scotland Exhibit and the Local Artists Exhibit. For those looking for a good day out to explore art and culture, look no Further than Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Written 30 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John W
Market Harborough, UK119 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Family
Amazing museum, great collection, family friendly. We visited On a Morning to take up some time before our visit to Celtic Park.
Written 29 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jan Willem Trindade Diniz dos Santos
Amsterdam, The Netherlands69 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Family
First time inside the museum, and there is a lot to see. If you like history then this is a must to visit. The museum has also a big art collection.
Written 26 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
To janwillem d, thank you for your review of Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. We're glad to hear you enjoyed your visit, and we hope you can visit us again soon!
Written 29 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Helen Clark-Adams
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
I last visited the Kelvingrove over a decade ago with my mother and we still talk about our visit to this day. My husband and I recently stayed in Dumfries and Galloway and decided to make the journey up to Glasgow so I could finally show him what I've been telling him about for so long. It was wonderful to be back, to see the magnificent building and the treasures it holds. My husband isn't usually lost for words but he was when the organ recital began!
We had a lovely lunch in the KG cafe, welcoming staff, bright and clean surroundings and the best gluten free bread I've ever eaten. Food and drink prices are extremely good value for money.
Thank you Kelvingrove, you certainly lived up to expectations and hopes - we will be back.
Written 21 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
To Nellbeth, thank you for visiting Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and taking the time to leave us a wonderful review. We're happy to hear you enjoyed your visit - and the gluten free bread! We hope you will choose to visit us again soon.
Written 24 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rachel H
Hackham295 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Solo
I missed out on visiting this place last time I was in Glasgow, so I was determined to get there this time. I absolutely loved this place - there is so much to see here, so be prepared to spend at least 2 hours or more here.

The whole building is well planned out - the museum is on one side and the art gallery is on the other. Over a couple of floors with plenty of information and signs to help you get around, its a great place for young and old alike. There is scottish history, natural history, space and technology and world exhibits. There is also a lot of art including the glasgow boys/charles rennie mackintosh and others.

I even had a light lunch of soup of Irn Bru in the well presented and airy cafe which had a great number of items at reasonable prices. There is of course a great shop here as well.
Written 21 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
To adelaidegirl70, thank you for leaving us a wonderful 5-star review. We're glad you enjoyed your visit and managed to see a great many of our wonderful exhibits. We hope you will choose to visit us again the new time you visit Glasgow.
Written 24 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

CM157751
11 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Family
The architecture of building itself is wonderful to see. I especially enjoyed the art collection from the Glasgow Boys and the under sung Glasgow women who made a movement there. Make sure to explore the nooks and crannies as well.
Written 9 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely review! We're delighted you appreciated the architecture and enjoyed the art collection that we have on display. We hope you will choose to visit us again in the future.
Written 16 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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