The Hunterian is Scotland's oldest public museum, founded on the bequest of the physician and collector William Hunter, who died in 1783, and it sits at the heart of the University of Glasgow in the West End. The university's main building, a Victorian Gothic-revival landmark on Gilmorehill, is itself a sight, with its tower, cloisters and views over Kelvingrove Park, and a visit to the museum is a good excuse to walk through the campus. The university describes several Hunterian venues. The Hunterian Museum and the Hunterian Art Gallery are both free, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, while the Mackintosh House has an entry charge and the same days and hours. The museum has collections of natural history, geology, archaeology, including the Roman frontier of the Antonine Wall, and the history of science, while the art gallery holds a famous collection of paintings and prints by Whistler and a major collection of Scottish art. The Mackintosh House is the reconstructed interior of the Glasgow home of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret Macdonald, a rare chance to see the designers' own rooms.
How to visit
The Hunterian Museum and the Art Gallery are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, and entry is free. The Mackintosh House is on the same schedule but charges an entry fee, so check the venue page for the amount and whether booking is needed. The gallery and the museum are in different buildings on the university campus, a short walk apart, and the site is a few minutes from Kelvinhall and Hillhead Subway stations and from Kelvingrove Park.
What to expect
The museum is a mix of old-fashioned and modern displays, with specimens and objects from the eighteenth century onwards, and you can easily spend a couple of hours there. The art gallery is smaller and quieter, and its Whistler collection is a highlight for art lovers. Fans of Mackintosh will want to see the house, which complements Mackintosh at the Willow and the Mackintosh displays at Kelvingrove. The Hunterian also runs a changing programme of exhibitions, so check what is on.
Making the most of it
The Hunterian is close to Kelvingrove, so the two together make a free West End day, with lunch on Byres Road or Ashton Lane in between. Wear comfortable shoes for the campus hill, check the venue page for any notices or closures, and consider the Botanic Gardens for an afternoon stroll. It is a good wet-weather choice, but the campus views are best in the dry.
What to expect
The experience
A free, self-guided visit to the museum and art gallery of the University of Glasgow, with an optional paid visit to the reconstructed Mackintosh House.
Best time
A weekday morning, when the campus and galleries are quiet; remember the venues are closed on Mondays.
How long
One and a half to three hours, plus time for the campus and park.
Tips
Check the venue page for the Mackintosh House fee and any notices, and wear comfortable shoes for the hill.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers, history buffs and Mackintosh fans.
- Families
- The museum's objects and natural history interest children; the art gallery suits older ones.
- Couples
- A calm, cultured West End day with a walk through the campus and the park.
- Pair with
- Kelvingrove, Kelvingrove Park and lunch on Byres Road.
- Time needed
- Allow two to three hours.
Good questions
Is the Hunterian free?+
The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery are free. The Mackintosh House has an entry charge.
What are the opening hours?+
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm for the museum, the art gallery and the Mackintosh House.
What is in the Mackintosh House?+
It is a reconstruction of the interiors of the Glasgow home of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald.
Where is it?+
On the University of Glasgow campus in the West End, near Kelvingrove Park.
Is it open on Mondays?+
No, the main venues are open Tuesday to Sunday.
