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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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What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

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  • Thomas G
    Amsterdam, The Netherlands1,876 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great museum
    This museum, which is free, is beautiful with some great entrance halls, some very good art and great stuffed animals. The floating heads are cool. The building on the outside is also impressive and this is a not to miss sight in Glasgow.
    To Groen95, thank you for leaving the museum and art gallery a wonderful 5-star review. We're happy to hear you enjoyed your visit. We hope you choose to visit us again soon.
    Written October 18, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 18, 2023
  • Rebecca D
    1 contribution
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    MARY QUANT EXHIBITION
    My class and I went to kelvingrove museum and went to the Mary Quant exhibition and learnt about all the fabulous clothes she made. My favourite part.was sketching some of the clothes she had made. Afterwards we made the outfit we had stretched. We learned that Mary Quant had to just use the stuff she had or no longer needed to make her clothes. We had lunch there and the place was very tidy. Review by md aged 10
    Thank you so much for your wonderful review of our museum. We're happy to hear you had a great time visiting the museum and seeing the Mary Quant exhibition. Make sure you the next time you visit us you show us your great sketches! We love seeing what visitors create!
    Written October 29, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled on business
    Written October 20, 2023
  • Debra S
    44 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice variety
    Nice museum with a lot of variety (paintings, taxidermy, interactive displays, etc,). We came mainly for the paintings, so I can't comment on everything else. They have a nice collection. Make sure to check the website before you plan a visit. We happened to be there when all the famous Dali painting we wanted to see most was out on loan to another museum. We went on a Sunday, and it started to get very crowded around the organ concert time. It was nice, but not sure it would be worth it to come just for the organ.
    To vickykksa, thank for your taking the time to leave us a great review. We hope once the Dali is back from loan in Spain you'll be able to come back and visit us and see that wonderful painting.
    Written November 8, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 23, 2023
  • alodurham
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Loved the tour
    Really enjoyed the guided tour by a volunteer called Maura. It was really interesting and brought the place to life. There's so much to see it can feel a bit overwhelming but the tour was perfect! And an added bonus - it's free!
    To alodurham, thank you for taking the time to leave us a great 5-star review! We're glad you managed to catch one of our free guided tours. They really are a great way to see the highlights of the building and hopefully learn one or two new things! We hope you can visit us again soon.
    Written November 21, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 9, 2023
  • Brad D
    Plymouth, United Kingdom75 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice museum lovely building
    Nice array of objects and well spread out. We visited around 1pm just as the daily organ concert was starting which was lovely, coffee shop was very well priced and had a lovely array of cakes and sandwiches etc. My wife particularly enjoyed the animal sections.
    To braddT9599SP, thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We're glad you enjoyed your visit and that you managed to hear one of our daily organ recitals. We hope you choose to visit us again soon!
    Written November 21, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 13, 2023
  • Neil S
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great building with a wide collection of art
    Excellent place to stop for an hour or two and with free entry. The building itself is magnificent, and the collection of art has something for every taste. Combine a stop here with a stroll in Kelvingrove Park and a walk around the cloisters and quadrangle of Glasgow University main building (five minutes walk away).
    To neilsH3693IM, thank you for leaving us a great 5-star review. We're glad you enjoyed your visit the museum and art gallery. We hope you can visit us again in the near future.
    Written November 21, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled on business
    Written November 15, 2023
  • Jim H
    Amble, United Kingdom119 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Salvador Dali
    My wife and I recently visited here to see the Salvador Dali picture of christ on the cross. We were disappointed to learn it had just been sent on loan for 6 months to the Salvador Dali museum in Spain. However we were able to buy postcards of it. We will make a return visit when it is returned. We enjoyed wandering through the rest of the art gallery and the museum, which has varied and interesting artifacts. We also enjoyed having lunch at the museum's cafe. This is a lovely building with nice grounds and well worth a visit, being easy to get to.
    To 710JimH, thank for you leaving us a review. We are sorry you never had the opportunity to view Dali's Christ of St John of the Cross. It rarely leaves the museum and unfortunately this is one of those times. We hope you are able to return next summer when it is due back on display after the loan. Please keep an eye on our website and social media where we will announce any exact date it will be back on display. We're glad you however, that you got to see the rest of our wonderful displays and artwork.
    Written November 29, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 21, 2023
  • Roland M
    Hastings, United Kingdom3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Heart of Glasgow
    Unforgettable experience. In this cultural center it is possible to find the heart of Glasgow, a museum, an art gallery, a meeting place, in the stupendous setting of the park of the same name and with the University of Glasgow in the background. Don't miss the organ concert at 12 and a snack at the restaurant on the ground floor. We will definitely return.
    To P9052BJrolandm, thank you for leaving us a wonderful 5-star review. We're happy to hear you had an unforgettable experience. We hope you can make it back to visit us again soon!
    Written November 29, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 25, 2023
  • Alyson S
    Leeds, United Kingdom58 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting, peaceful few hours
    Beautiful building and welcoming staff. Enjoyed exploring the many rooms and exhibits. Only disappointment was the Salvador Dali was away on loan and there was nothing to replace it. Also time to take down the ads for the Mary Quant display as it ended over a month ago! Cafe served lovely food and the servers were fun!
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 28, 2023
  • Karen M
    Kirkwall, United Kingdom1,298 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent free museum - well laid out. Cafe & gift shop
    Lovely historical building set within a park area - paths & pond & statues. Entrance to the museum is free. There are multiple levels - with lots of areas to explore. There is something for everyone. The areas are well laid out, with space to move around. Each exhibit is clearly marked & labelled. There are toilet facilities. A lovely cafe & gift shop. You could do a quick hour here or spend half a day
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 29, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles15,924 reviews
Excellent
11,628
Very good
3,575
Average
617
Poor
78
Terrible
26

Timscfc
Madeley, UK100 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
A real mish mash of different exhibits and exhibitions and not very inspiring - but it’s free and it gets you out of the rain so can’t complain too much . The organ recital at 1pm was totally underwhelming as well.
The transport museum was much more interesting - and its only a short walk away
Written March 15, 2020
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.

SWAdventures
Gateshead, UK517 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Wow!
This place is simply stunning!
Being my first trip to Glasgow, obviously I turn to trip advisor for advice, and there it was, staring out at me from the screen in the top position of things to do.
It doesn't matter what your interests are, you will find something to delight you at this incredible homage to architecture, art, culture, and history. Kelvingrove Art Gallery has it all, so make sure you set aside at least a couple of hours to take it all in. The building itself is simply beautiful, from whichever way you approach it the facade draws your eye, beckoning you into its doors. Once inside you are treated to a maze of displays, all carefully brought together to please and delight the tourist. While I was there it wasn't only my eyes being treated to intricate artwork and visual perfection, my ears were in for a treat too. At 1pm, as I sat gazing upon the birds of prey, the melodic tones of organ music danced through the air. Making my way to the main hall, the acoustics vibrated through my body as a lone player sat at the magnificent organ to entertain the audience. I could have spent all day in this amazing place there was so much to see. This is a definite recommend from me for all ages, you simply can't go to Glasgow without visiting... You'll be so disappointed if you miss it.
Written February 7, 2020
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.

Scottishsaladdodger
Scotland34 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
On a cold sleety Monday the art gallery and museum was the perfect place to spend a couple of hours. Lots of interesting things to see, and a very enjoyable organ recital to listen to. A few little kids running around screaming who perhaps should’ve been kept more in check, but if being taken to the gallery means they grow up art lovers their over-excitement will have been a small price to pay!
Written February 12, 2020
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.

Martin G
Leeds, UK256 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
We enjoyed our visit. There’s loads of exhibits of all kinds. Animals, historic items, Egyptian stuff and lots of art.

We went on the free guided tour which was fascinating. Definitely recommend as it brings to life some of the more significant exhibits including a Salvador Dali and a Rembrandt.

We were there early and walked around museum which is t great as we don’t know what we are looking at. It would be really good for the museum to have an app which explained the pieces that you can listen to as walking around

We also listened to the daily organ recital which was excellent
Written January 5, 2020
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.

Foodielive
Glasgow42 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Couples
First time here in a while. The new booking system for tickets is great, there’s staff everywhere to make sure not too many people were in one room and even though it is for safety being in a quieter museum was more relaxing and easier to see everything (if a bit spooky in some rooms!) also the disabled spaces now have individual ramps at each space which is a great help! Only thing is that for safety all the benches and seats are not at use but we were not aware of this. So if you have limited mobility like myself it’s not easy to get around
Written September 16, 2020
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.

PeterY5
Glasgow, UK94 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
If you are looking for an informative free place to go on those wet days, then this is well worth a visit. With free access, this museum is situated on two levels with lots of displays on various topics. From ancient bones, paintings, animals and much more, all have good descriptive details which will take you lots of time if everything is to be read.
The only downside and this applies not just to this museum but the area in general, is the parking. It can very difficult to find a space nearby, with lots of residents only parking and of the spaces that are available they are often very popular. If you are prepared to drive about for 10 or 15 minutes you will usually get something, but note most require payment at the meter. Of course several buses do pass the area and the Underground subway is about a 15 min walk away.
Written January 19, 2020
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.

cplatten
Surrey21 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Couples
Kelvingrove is one of those places you must really want to visit to go through the hoops needed to visit at the moment.
First, you need to book a lot in advance and slots fill up quickly. Then you have to find your way in through poor signage and a road that says No Entry. It is not signposted from the way of the Subway station that now the entry is around the back. But once you figure it out you will encounter all number of unfriendly Jobsworths feeling important on high-vis tabards who do nothing but direct a few people and cars around the background and of the building. I wish I could have that job!

At the entrance I was told by one lady I could use the lift. Then at the lift entrance I was shooed out by a Jobsworth till I explained I wanted the lift. Then a conversation ensued that involved me being treated like I was 9 years old in answer to my questions. It went like this:
NO Maps
NO Shop ("nothing to do with us, it's outsourced")
NO Café (people congregate for 4 1/2 hours)
NO turning back from one-way system
NO Seats
NO Mingling

Which really = NO Fun

Add to that the fact I have a health problem which means I need to sit down frequently and we decided to leave.

I also got the feeling if it took 7 Jobsworths doing nothing at the entrances, I didn't want to encounter anymore of them as they were all so rude.

So we crossed the street to a fantastic Italian cafe where we had refreshments, sat down and mingled and then just pottered around this interesting area where noone was wearing a tabard.

As a note, other museums and historic houses are making it work in these difficult times. Visitor experience should be better considered particularly for those with disabilities.
Written September 18, 2020
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.

Emily
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We only had a short time to visit the museum and decided to take the free tour with Artie. We had a great overview and saw about one object in every room- you could spend many hours there. Artie was amazing. When we didn't know the Robert Burns song he was talking about, we asked him to sing it. He did, but he also danced with us in the middle of the exhibit! Make sure to go and take the tour.
Written February 4, 2020
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.

Robert S
Telford, UK56 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
This is the place to be on a breezy damp Sunday morning in Glasgow. 1 mile from the city centre you,llfind this gem of a public art gallery...one of the finest in the UK. From the stunning building itself to the eclectic array of collections, for a free entry gallery, this is superb. Kids obviously love it as there were lots of them about but they were awestruck at the exhibits, which was good! For a Glaswegian it makes me proud to have this gallery here and we try and visit when we're in glasgow for any length of time
Written January 9, 2020
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.

Irishlassy2014
Washington DC, DC41 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
Showed up at Kelvin Grove Museum just in time to take a free guided tour at 11 am by a local. The tour went at a fast pace but hit all the highlights of the museum in one hour. I knew about Glasgow as an industrial town, but learned a lot about the local arts community around the turn of the 20th century. Then I stayed to do more exploring of exhibits of interest on my own. For a small museum it packs in a lot of varied exhibits! Afterwards I stayed for a wee tea and sponge from the cafe and listened to the organ performance at 1 pm. It was a rainy day otherwise I would have spent time in the lovely park. It was my second trip to Glasgow visiting my daughter and I’m glad I finally had a chance to see the museum.
Written January 31, 2020
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.

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Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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