Museums

Two people lean out of the open doorway of a vintage yellow and wooden tram inside Riverside museum in Glasgow. Another tram is visible behind them, and a blurred smartphone held in the foreground suggests a photo being taken.

Discover Glasgow’s Museums - where stories come to life

From historic transport to hands on displays, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Come along, explore, and make a day of it.

Museums highlights

Search all museums events

Plan your visit to our museums and discover what's on

Download your welcome pack

Glasgow Life Museums at The Mitchell

Start your family history journey

Our family history centre is based at the Mitchell Library

  • Special Collections

    We care for a wealth of local history and important manuscripts on behalf of the City of Glasgow. Find out how to visit.

    Black and white watercolour showing pastoral scene

  • Family History at The Mitchell

    Learn how to trace your family tree and research the lives of your ancestors. We offer a mixture of online and in-person services.

    Wooden box of ephemera including newspaper clippings and black and white photographs

  • City Archives

    Explore Glasgow's rich and fascinating history through the public records in the City Archives and Archive Collections.

    Person sits at newspaper archive

Our wider museums offer

Glasgow Life Museums are autism friendly

Find out more about our special autism friendly sessions at our museums.

A museum staff member wearing a purple shirt, dark blazer, and lanyard with a name badge raises a hand to an ear in a listening gesture, standing in front of an abstract red and orange wall.

Glasgow Life Museums blogs

Find inspiration in our collections with our blogs

A city street is viewed between two large stone columns, with an equestrian statue centered in the foreground. The rider on the statue has two orange traffic cones placed on their head, creating a humorous contrast with the otherwise grand scene. Historic and modern buildings line the busy street behind it, where pedestrians and cars move through the urban settin

Open Museum

Taking items to the community. Organise a visit for your group.

Open Museum at Govan shopping centre

Plan an educational or community group visit

Find out more about group visits and learning experiences for all ages.

Dressing up as Romans at Glasgow Museums Resource Centre

Large group visits

Glasgow Life Museums offer unique experiences for group visitors.

Group tour

Museums youth groups

Involving young people in our museums, programmes, and exhibitions.

Group of young people sitting and standing on picnic blankets on a grassy lawn in front of a large stone building (Kelvingrove Art Gallery), posing together outdoors on a sunny day with snacks, drinks, and bags visible around them.

Glasgow Museums Biological Record

We collect, validate and manage wildlife data. Find out more.

Photograph of a small tortoiseshell butterfly on a flower.
Impressionist-style painting by Cezanne of a riverside village with small houses nestled among tall trees, reflected in calm water under a cloudy blue sky. The title is 'The Chateau of Medan'

Discover more from our collections

Our collection is recognised by the Scottish Government as a collection of national significance.

Take a deeper look at what we offer

Venue hire in our museums

Call us on 0141 276 9539 or email our museums venue hire team directly.

Send us an email
A collage of book covers and artwork, including a pastel painting titled Discovering Degas, alongside posters and covers featuring ships, coins, sculpture imagery, and titles such as The Golden Years of the Anchor Line, Introducing the British Silver, John Patrick Byrne: A Big Adventure, and Scotland’s Last Heritage.

Shop now for gifts inspired by our collections

Our museums shop has a unique range of specially curated limited edition art prints. We also offer a fantastic range of publications from museum guides to exhibition catalogues.

Shop now

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