Museums are a great way to get to know a new place. Whether you want to see how locals lived in years gone by, or have more of a niche interest in art, technology or nature, there is a museum or exhibition in Glasgow for you. One of our most treasured and beloved museums in Glasgow is the Riverside Museum, an award-winning transport museum located a 7-minute drive from our serviced apartment accommodation in Glasgow. A visit to Riverside Museum should be on your list of things to do in Glasgow especially if you have an interest in local and national history or a child obsessed with trains, buses and other types of transport. Entry is free for everyone so you can visit as often as you like.
About Riverside Museum
Riverside Museum in Glasgow is a multi-award-winning transport museum that has much more than a few old buses to admire. Inside there are over 3000 objects to admire, with everything from trains to skateboards and so much more. There is even a stormtrooper for Star Wars fans. The museum is a fascinating place for all ages to visit and is sure to keep your interest with 90 large touchscreen panels telling the stories behind the objects within. You can walk down an old, cobbled Glasgow street with shops dating from 1895 to the 1980s to get an idea of how we lived and got around before modern transport. The museum was designed by internationally renowned architect, Dame Zaha Hadid and opened in 2011 so it’s a modern beauty both inside and out.
Exhibitions in Riverside Museum
The Riverside Museum is not static. There are new and exciting displays that change regularly and capture some of the most important periods in our history. From March – October 2033 there is an exhibition called; ‘Spinning Around: Glasgow’s Remarkable Record Shops, 1980-1995’. This display transports music fans back to a golden era for the city’s record stores with gold discs from The Bluebells and Simple Minds, rare club flyers, a 1956 Lambretta LD 150 scooter and more. The permanent exhibitions include a walk-through of Glasgow streets to visit the shops, bar and subway. You can climb aboard a train, tram, or bus, discover Glasgow’s rich shipbuilding history, explore the car and motorbike walls and help put out a fire with the interactive fire engine.
Riverside Museum for Families
There is something for all ages to enjoy at Riverside Museum from Grandparents reminiscing to curious children. Outside of the museum, you’ll find the magnificent Tall Ship, Glenlee, the UK’s only floating Clyde-built sailing ship. As well as fascinating your little ones with imaginings of pirates and rescues, the ship also has an under-5s play area in the cargo hold and a mouse hunt and it’s free of charge for everyone to enjoy! Within the museum, children will enjoy the Global Treasure Hunt, which is available to download on the museum’s free Wi-Fi. There are 150 exhibits, most of which are interactive so it will keep the interest of even the most active children. There are seasonal schedules that are particularly useful during the school holidays too.
Getting to Riverside Museum
Glasgow has great public transport and it’s a very walkable city. Getting to Riverside Museum is easy, even if you’re not familiar with the area. Walking from our apartments on Bath Street will take around 30 minutes and you can enjoy the architecture, shopping, and lots of coffee shops along the way. Driving takes just 7 minutes from door to door, a straight run down the A814. Riverside Car Park is nearby and has rates of £2.50 an hour, not bad for a free museum. Scotrail or the number 3 or 77 buses will get you there in around 20 minutes depending on traffic. A trip to the Riverside Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Glasgow and is worth the trip.
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