Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum houses one of Europe's great civic art collections. Since its 2003–06 refurbishment, the museum has been the most popular free-to-enter visitor attraction in Scotland, and the most visited museum in the United Kingdom outside London.

The museum's collections came mainly from the McLellan Galleries and from the old Kelvingrove House Museum in Kelvingrove Park. It has one of the finest collections of arms and armour in the world and a vast natural history collection. The art collection includes many outstanding European artworks, including works by the Old Masters, French Impressionists, Dutch Renaissance, Scottish Colourists and exponents of the Glasgow School.

The museum houses Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dalí. The copyright of this painting was bought by the curator at the time after a meeting with Dalí himself. 

The displays are extensive and wide-ranging, including:

• Dutch Old Masters and French Impressionists including one of the largest and finest collections of 17th century Dutch and Flemish art in the UK and one of the most important collections of 19th century French oils in the UK
• Scottish Art including galleries dedicated to the Glasgow Boys and Scottish Colourists
• Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross
• Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style – a gallery dedicated to one of Glasgow’s most famous sons and the style movement which was the UK’s contribution to Art Nouveau
• Natural history including dinosaurs and other prehistoric mammals
• Arms and armour – this collection is of international significance, including the R L Scott bequest, which had been one of the finest private collections of European arms and armour in the world
• Ancient Egypt – this collection is of national significance, featuring several objects of unique importance linked to historical figures
• Scottish history and archaeology including a wealth of material relating to the early settlements across Scotland and life on St Kilda 
• World cultures including nationally and internationally significant objects from the Americas, Africa, South Asia and Oceania

We even have a real Spitfire!

Education and Learning

Glasgow Museum welcomes school and nursery groups to all its venues. We offer an extensive programme of curriculum-linked sessions delivered by our experienced team of Learning Assistants and freelance specialists. These sessions​ use our wonderful collections to develop skills, knowledge and understanding. Browse our brochures on the right hand side of this page to see what’s available this year. There are over 100 workshops in which to take part.

We recommend that all your visits are booked in advance. Please book your visit in advance. Get in touch with our Learning and Access team by calling 0141 276 9505 or 0141 276 9506 or emailing to book your day: museums.schoolbookings@glasgowlife.org.uk​​

Teacher Resources

We have a range of pre and post-visit resources, teaching packs and information sheets for teachers. Remember to book your museum visit in advance, even if you’re taking your group round yourself. Browse our teacher resources here​. 

Annual Art Competition

Our annual art competition has been running for over 100 years. Between January and the end of May each year, pupils visit any one of our museums to paint or draw. Winning entrants attend a prize giving and have their artworks featured in an on-line exhibition.