Restaurant Glasgow

Having just moved to Glasgow about a month ago, I am going through a touristy phase and thought that in my adventures across the city I would let you all know where is worth a visit and where isn’t.

First on my list of ‘things to see’ was Kelvingrove Museum; it is the most visited tourist attraction in Scotland, something I was initially surprised about but given that it is free it kinda makes sense!

The galleries within the museum are on the ground floor; Creatures of the Past, Ancient Egypt, Glasgow Stories, Scotland’s Wildlife, Scottish Art, Expression, Looking at Art, Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style and Looking at Design, and on the 1^st floor; Conflict & Consequence, Cultural Survival, Dutch Art, Italian Art, French Art, La Faruk Madonna, Every Picture Tells a Story, Scottish Identity in Art, Glasgow and the World, Scotland’s First People, Sculpture Highlights and Picture Promenade.

My favourite bit of the museum was the ground floor, which was also very popular with families; the centre gallery was very impressive. There is a wide range of stuffed animals on display, including a magnificent elephant that you are told is called Sir Roger; and overhead is an impressive Spitefire plane suspended from the ceiling. Almost every animal you can think of must be under Kelvingrove’s roof; kangaroos, hedgehogs, ostriches, dinosaur and even the mystical Haggis creature!! If you are a bird lover then make sure you look upwards (many of the birds are suspended from the ceiling) and visit the Scottish Wildlife section that has an impressive array of bird species.

On the ground floor other highlights include the Ancient Egypt gallery containing mummified artefact and fun games for children to play with. The Charles Rennie Mackintosh design area is also very interesting; a dedication to one of Scotland’s finest artists and designers.

The 1^st floor was substantially quieter than the bottom; although the music coming from the brass brand playing in the courtyard area and the famous organ are made it a little less ‘museumy’. There is a comprehensive selection of art on display covering various eras and genres including the breathtaking Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvidore Dali. Keep an eye out for pieces by Rembrant, Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas and Botticelli. If you’re looking for a bit of Glasgow history the History Discovery Centre has various paintings and pictures that capture the transformation our city has undergone.

Overall the Kelvingrove Museum deserves its title as the number one tourist attraction in Scotland as it appeals to all ages and its galleries are extensive covering a range of interests, mediums and genres. The entrance hall/courtyard has a large coffee shop and often has live music playing making it an ideal public space to stop during your walk around the beautiful surrounding Kelvingrove Park.

For further information visit the Kelvingrove Museum website.