AROUND TOWN | Museums & Attractions
Museums and attractions are listed by city, then alphabetically by venue. show, featuring 130 items from the Museum’s outstanding collection of Egyptian artefacts, the largest of its kind outside England.
GLASGOW
■ BURRE LL 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–4.15pm; visitor centre 11am–4pm. 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 Interpretation space & shop open daily 10.30am–5pm; frequent tours departing between 11am and 3pm. 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 Wed–Fri 10am–30pm; Sat & Sun 10am–5pm; closed Mon & Tue. £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. ■ 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 building on the banks of the River Kelvin. See Visual Art section for more exhibition details. Pharaoh: King of Egypt Until Feb 2013. £5 (£3). A British Museum touring 38 THE LIST 15 Nov–13 Dec 2012
■ 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: Tue–Thu & Sat 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm; closed Mon; Winter Gardens: 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. FREE Scotland Can Make It Until February 2013. Six artists have made six prototype ‘souvenirs’ inspired by the London 2012 Olympics and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014, which are on display as part of this exhibition aiming to reveal distinct ideas about Scotland. Artists involve art-pop collective FOUND, textile and product designer Claire Duffy, and weaver Angharad McLaren.
■ POLLOK HOUSE 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 0844 493 2202, nts.org.uk/property/pollok-house Daily 10am–5pm. £6 (£5; family £11–£16). 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. FREE The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit Until Feb 2013. Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. This exhibition celebrates Peter Rabbit in all his glory, including some original artwork from old and new books. ■ THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL MUSEUM Hampden Park, 616 6139, scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk Mon–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 11am–5pm. Stadium
tour or museum entry £6 (£3); combined ticket £9 (£4.50). Located inside Scotland’s national football stadium a couple of miles south of the city 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.
GREAT DAYS OUT
IDEAS
■ THE TALL SHIP AT RIVERSIDE 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699, thetallship. com Daily 10am–4pm. £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. See caption, right.
EDINBURGH
■ CAMERA OBSCURA & WORLD OF ILLUSIONS Castlehill, 226 3709, camera-obscura. co.uk Daily 10am–6pm; Until Mon 19 Nov, 10am–8pm. £10.95 (£8.95; under 16s £7.95; 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 Weekdays 10am–5pm; weekends 10am–6pm (last entry one hour before closing). £13 (£11; under 15s £8.75; 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–5pm. £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 (nms. ac.uk) delves into the past 400 years of the country’s military history. The castle gets especially busy at this time of year, so book online in advance to avoid the queues. The Black Dinner Sat 24 Nov–Wed 28 Nov, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 2pm & 3pm. One night in November 1440, the 16-year-old Earl of Douglas and his younger brother David were invited to dinner with James II. They didn’t know that it was a plot to destroy their family’s power. Hear the bloody story at these living history events. Reconstructing Lives Until Feb 2013. A moving look at those who have lost limbs in war and the advances in medical technology that have helped them to cope.
■ THE EDINBURGH DUNGEON 31 Market Street, 240 1001 (info)/ 0871 423 2250 (bookings), thedungeons.com Daily Mon–Fri 11am–4pm; Sat & Sun 10am–5pm. £10.20–£16.20 (under 16s £6–£12). A grizzly look into historical Edinburgh, with actor-led tours and rides, just above Waverley Station. With special opening hours around Hallowe’en ■ EDINBURGH ZOO Corstorphine Road, 334 9171, edinburghzoo.org.uk. Daily 9am–4.30pm. £15.50 (£13; under 16s £11; 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.
■ GEORGIAN HOUSE 7 Charlotte Square, 0844 493 2118, nts. org.uk/property/georgian-house Daily 11am–3pm until Nov 30. £6 (£5; family £11–£16). Step back to the age when the affluent moved out of the squalor of the Old Town to the spacious grandeur of buildings like this in Edinburgh’s wealthy New Town. ■ HOLYROOD PARK Holyrood Park Road, 652 8150, historic- scotland.gov.uk. Open at all times; Holyrood Lodge Information Centre daily 9.30am–3pm. Free. The main entrance to this large royal park, east of the city centre, is flanked by the Palace of Holyrood House and the Scottish Parliament Building. Its main feature is Arthur’s Seat, an 823-foot hill which has a number of smaller peaks and ponds surrounding it.
■ MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD 42 High Street, 529 4142, edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venues/ museum-of-childhood Mon–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun noon–5pm. Free. Kids can learn about the toys, clothes and lifestyles of children of the past in this Royal Mile museum. Nostalgia for grown-ups guaranteed.
■ MUSEUM OF FIRE 76–78 Lauriston Place, 659 7285, lothian.fire-uk.org/museum Tue–Fri 9.30am–4pm; closed Sat–Mon. Free. The museum inside this fire station tells the story of the oldest fire brigade in the UK, formed in 1824. See genuine artefacts including horse-drawn fire engines and early motor models.
■ MUSEUM ON THE MOUND The Mound, 243 5464, museumonthemound.com Tue–Fri 10am–5pm; Sat & Sun 1–5pm. Free. Hosted inside the Bank of Scotland’s head office, this museum is all about money. Learn how money has evolved over the past 4000 years or try cracking a safe. ■ NATIONAL MINING MUSEUM SCOTLAND Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, 663 7519, scottishminingmuseum. com Daily 10am–4pm thereafter. £7.50 (£5.50; children free). Nine miles south of Edinburgh, this museum is one of the best-preserved Victorian collieries in Europe. Learn about the life of a miner by taking a tour around the site.
■ NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789, nms. ac.uk Daily 10am–5pm. Free. Renovated in 2011, this national beacon of culture has exhibitions on natural history, science and technology, Scottish history, art and design and world cultures in galleries surrounding a beautiful naturally-lit atrium space. Catherine the Great: An Enlightened Empress Until Wed 31 Oct. £9 (£7.50; under 18s £6; under 12s free). Exhibition showcasing the amazing art collections of the Russian Empress.