Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has been a Glasgow favourite for generations with the museum first opening its doors back in 1901.
It boasts one of Europe’s finest civic art collections and is a must visit for any tourist heading to Glasgow. You are able to spend hours at Kelvingrove where you can discover everything from Charles Rennie Mackintosh to Ancient Egypt.
One of Glasgow’s biggest and most enduring urban legends is that Kelvingrove was accidentally built back to front. Some versions of the story take it even further, claiming one of the architects died to suicide by throwing themself from one of the towers after experiencing such despair over his mistake. To debunk the myth, no Kelvingrove was not built back-to-front. The grand entrance was always intended to face towards Kelvingrove Park - as that was where the Glasgow International Exhibition was held, and Kelvingrove Park was always intended to be a lofty space for the people after the exhibition was wrapped up.
The original remit for the architectural competition for Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum stipulated that the front and main entrance should face north into Kelvingrove Park, and not south onto Argyle Street. Neither of the leading architects died to suicide either, both led architectural careers spanning well into the 20th century before dying of natural causes.
Here are eight of our favourite things to admire in the museum.
5. Gaze up at the spitfire
The LA198 spitfire can be found hanging in the West Court of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The Mark 21 plane was built in 1944 and flew with the City of Glasgow squadron between 1947 and 1949. It was also used as a 'gate guardian' at RAF Leuchars. | Glasgow Life
6. Experience Ancient Egypt
Glasgow Museums has a collection of approximately 5,000 Ancient Egyptian objects with some of the best being on display at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. You'll find the Sarcophagus of Pa-ba-sa here which dates from c.656 -640 BC. | Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
7. Get lost in the Scottish Colourists Gallery
Find the 'Interior - The Orange Blind' in the Scottish Colourists gallery at Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery. The artist F. C. B. Cadell is well known for his paintings of fashionable Edinburgh ladies with this piece showing a Georgian flat in Edinburgh's New Town. | Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
8. Learn about Charles Rennie Mackintosh
You can learn all about Charles Rennie Mackintosh at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with 'The Wassail' being on display. The panel was originally on display at the Ingram Street tearooms back in the day. | Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum