Kelvin Hall

Glasgow


Opened in the 1920s as an exhibition centre, this enormous sandstone palace, renovated and reopened in 2016, is a mixed leisure-and-arts space. In addition to a gym and sports facilities, it hosts the audiovisual archive of the National Library of Scotland and also stores items from the University of Glasgow's museum collection (available by appointment). The major exhibition halls are being developed and may end up holding the Hunterian collections as well as other city-related exhibits.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Glasgow attractions

1. National Library of Scotland

0.08 MILES

In Kelvin Hall, this outpost of Edinburgh's National Library of Scotland hosts a small exhibition and a digital archive of maps and audiovisual material…

2. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

0.11 MILES

A magnificent sandstone building, this grand Victorian cathedral of culture is a fascinating and unusual museum, with a bewildering variety of exhibits…

3. University of Glasgow

0.25 MILES

Though founded in 1451, the city's first university has only been located here in the West End since the 1870s. Its imposing sandstone neo-Gothic main…

4. Hunterian Museum

0.28 MILES

Housed in the glorious sandstone university building, which is in itself reason enough to pay a visit, this quirky museum contains the collection of…

5. Kelvingrove Park

0.31 MILES

On both banks of the meandering River Kelvin, a tributary of the Clyde, this West End park is popular with dog walkers, foot commuters and canoodling…

6. Mackintosh House

0.33 MILES

Attached to the Hunterian Art Gallery, this is a reconstruction of the first home that Charles Rennie Mackintosh bought with his wife, noted designer…

7. Hunterian Art Gallery

0.34 MILES

Across the road from the Hunterian Museum, and part of the same bequest, this art gallery incorporates Mackintosh House as well as a good selection of…

8. Clydeside Distillery

0.48 MILES

It's great to see this old pumphouse by the Clyde being put to good use as a new malt whisky distillery run by proper whisky folk. It's an impressive set…