Burrell Collection

Lonely Planet review

Amassed by wealthy industrialist Sir William Burrell before being donated to the city, it is housed in an outstanding museum, 3 miles south of the city centre. This idiosyncratic collection of treasure includes everything from Chinese porcelain and medieval furniture to paintings by Renoir and Cézanne. It's not so big as to be overwhelming, and the stamp of the collector lends an intriguing coherence.

Most visitors will find their own favourite part of this museum, but the exquisite tapestry galleries are outstanding. Intricate stories capturing life in Europe are woven into staggering, wall-size pieces dating from the 13th-century. The massive Triumph of the Virgin exemplifies the complexity in nature and theme of this medium, while posing the serious question, 'How long must this have taken?' Within the truly spectacular interior, carved-stone Romanesque doorways are incorporated into the structure so you actually walk through them. Floor-to-ceiling windows admit a flood of natural light and enable the trees and surrounding landscape outside to enhance the effect created by the exhibits. It feels as though you are wandering around a huge tranquil greenhouse.