Quick answer: Glasgow’s best museums are free to walk into. Kelvingrove, the Riverside Museum, GoMA, St Mungo’s and the Burrell Collection all cost nothing for the permanent collections, though donations help. Most open daily, roughly 10am to 5pm, with later starts on Fridays and Sundays. You can do two or three in a day on foot, by Subway or by bus. The People’s Palace on Glasgow Green is the one big exception right now, it’s shut for a long refurbishment.
Glasgow runs one of the best free museum offers in the UK, and it’s been that way for years. The big civic collections are funded through Glasgow Life and the council, so entry to the standing displays is free for everyone. You only pay for the odd ticketed touring exhibition. Here’s the local rundown of what’s worth your time, when they open and how to get to each one without paying for parking.
The free museums worth your time
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
If you only do one, do this one. Kelvingrove is the city’s flagship, a red sandstone monster of a building on the edge of Kelvingrove Park in the West End. Inside you’ve got Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross, a Spitfire hanging from the ceiling, natural history, armour, Egyptian stuff and the famous floating heads installation. The free organ recitals at 1pm most days are a proper Glasgow experience and worth timing your visit around.
Note that conservation and repair works started in September 2025, so some parking on the west side is closed and there may be bits of scaffolding about. The galleries stay open right through it. Address is Argyle Street, G3 8AG. Check the latest on the Glasgow Life Kelvingrove page.
Riverside Museum
The transport museum down by the Clyde, designed by Zaha Hadid, with that zig-zag zinc roofline you’ll have seen on postcards. It’s stacked with trams, locomotives, old Glasgow cars, motorbikes and a recreated cobbled street with shop fronts you can wander into. Out the back is the Tall Ship Glenlee, also free to board. It’s brilliant for kids and honestly just as good for adults. See the Riverside Museum page for any changes.
Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)
Right in the city centre on Royal Exchange Square, GoMA sits in a grand neoclassical building behind the Duke of Wellington statue, the one that always has a traffic cone on its head. Four galleries of contemporary work across rotating shows. It’s the most central of the lot, so it’s an easy half hour if you’re already in town shopping. Details on the GoMA page.
St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
Tucked beside Glasgow Cathedral in the oldest part of the city, this one looks at faith across the world’s religions through art and objects. It also has Britain’s first permanent Zen garden out front, which is a quiet spot. It’s small, so pair it with the Cathedral and the Necropolis next door for a good morning. Heads up, it’s the only one of these closed on Mondays. See the St Mungo’s page.
The Burrell Collection
Sir William Burrell’s collection of thousands of objects, from Degas paintings and medieval tapestries to Chinese ceramics and stained glass, all housed in an award-winning building deep in Pollok Country Park on the South Side. The building reopened in 2022 after a big refurbishment and it’s a stunner, glass walls looking straight out into the woods. Give yourself a couple of hours and bring decent shoes, the park’s worth a walk too. Plan ahead on the Burrell Collection page.
People’s Palace, a quick note
The People’s Palace and Winter Gardens on Glasgow Green is the social history museum of the city, and a lot of folk ask about it. It closed in 2024 for a major refurbishment and, as of June 2026, there’s no confirmed reopening date. So don’t plan a trip round it just yet. Keep an eye on the official People’s Palace page for updates.
Opening hours and locations at a glance
Hours below are the standard pattern at the time of writing. They can change for holidays, events or works, so confirm on the official Glasgow Life page before you set off.
| Museum | Area | Mon to Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvingrove | West End | 10am to 5pm | 11am to 5pm | 10am to 5pm | 11am to 5pm | Free |
| Riverside Museum | Partick / Yorkhill | 10am to 5pm | 11am to 5pm | 10am to 5pm | 11am to 5pm | Free |
| GoMA | City Centre | 10am to 5pm (Thu to 8pm) | 11am to 5pm | 10am to 5pm | 11am to 5pm | Free |
| St Mungo’s | Cathedral / East End | Tue to Thu 10am to 5pm (closed Mon) | 11am to 5pm | 10am to 5pm | 11am to 5pm | Free |
| Burrell Collection | South Side (Pollok) | 10am to 5pm | 11am to 5pm | 10am to 5pm | 11am to 5pm | Free |
How to get there without the car
Driving and parking in the city centre is a faff and there’s the Low Emission Zone to think about, so public transport is usually the easier shout. Here’s the quick version for each.
- Kelvingrove and Riverside are both West End. The Subway gets you close to Kelvingrove via Kelvinhall station, a short walk through the area. For the Riverside, Partick station (Subway and train) is about a 10 to 15 minute walk. Our Glasgow Subway guide covers fares and the loop.
- GoMA is dead central, a couple of minutes from Buchanan Street and St Enoch Subway stations and easy on foot from anywhere in town.
- St Mungo’s is up by the Cathedral. High Street train station is the nearest, or plenty of buses run along Castle Street and George Street. The Glasgow bus guide explains the routes and fares.
- The Burrell is the trickiest as it’s out in Pollok Country Park. Pollokshaws West train station is the closest stop, then a walk through the park, or take a bus to Pollokshaws Road. There’s a free car park at the venue if you do drive. The Glasgow train guide has the South Side lines.
If you are driving in, read up on the Low Emission Zone first so you don’t land a fine, and check our free parking guide for where you can leave the car for nothing.
Tips for a good day out
- Do two in one trip. Kelvingrove and the Riverside are close enough to pair, and both sit near the West End’s cafes and bars if you fancy a break. GoMA and St Mungo’s both work as a city centre and East End combo.
- Time the Kelvingrove organ. The daily recital is usually around 1pm and it’s free. Worth catching.
- Donate if you can. Entry’s free but these places run on tight budgets. A few quid in the box keeps them that way.
- Check before you go. Hours shift for public holidays and works, and ticketed exhibitions come and go. Always glance at the Glasgow Life page on the day.
- Make a weekend of it. If you’re thinking about the city longer term, our cost of living guide and the moving to Glasgow guide are good starting points.
FAQ
Are Glasgow’s museums really free?
Yes. The permanent collections at Kelvingrove, the Riverside, GoMA, St Mungo’s and the Burrell are free to enter. You only pay for some special touring exhibitions, and donations are always welcome.
Which is the best free museum in Glasgow?
Kelvingrove is the one most locals point you to first, for the scale and variety. The Riverside is the best for families, and the Burrell is the most beautiful building. You can’t really go wrong.
Do I need to book in advance?
No. For the standing collections you just turn up and walk in. Booking is only needed for the occasional ticketed exhibition or event.
Are the museums open on Mondays?
Most are, but St Mungo’s is closed on Mondays. The People’s Palace is closed entirely for refurbishment with no reopening date confirmed yet.
Is the People’s Palace open?
No. It shut in 2024 for a major refurbishment and, as of June 2026, no reopening date has been confirmed. Check the Glasgow Life page for the latest.
How do I get to the Burrell Collection?
It’s in Pollok Country Park on the South Side. Pollokshaws West train station is closest, then a walk through the park. There’s also a free car park at the venue.
Last updated June 2026. Opening hours, exhibitions and closures change, so always confirm on the official Glasgow Life museums pages before travelling.
