Riverside Museum Glasgow

Riverside Museum Glasgow, Scotland

Jake Davies

The Riverside Museum in Glasgow designed by Zaha Hadid. — The Riverside Museum in Glasgow designed by Zaha Hadid, home to the Glasgow Museum of Transport

The Riverside Museum, located on Pointhouse Quay on the River Clyde, was opened in 2011.

Part of the regeneration of the old harbour area of Glasgow, nearby sites include The Glasgow Science Centre that includes the Science Museum as well as the Science Centre Tower, and the Scottish Event Campus, which includes the SSE Hydro and the SEC Armadillo.

With more than 3,000 items on display, the Riverside Museum is a must visit. — With more than 3,000 items on display, the Riverside Museum is a must visit destination for kids of all ages

Exhibits - Glasgow Museum of Transport

The primary function of the museum is to display the collection of the Glasgow Museum of Transport which was previously located in Kelvin Hall.

Since moving to the new site the museum has increased its collection to over 3,000 items, from skateboards up to steam locomotives.

The focus is overwhelmingly on land transport, with marine transport primarily consisting of models, and air transport barely getting a glimpse. There is also somewhat of an emphasis on the history of Glasgow transport, with several reconstructed historical street scenes with mannequins and period vehicles like a horse-drawn cart.

There is quite a big collection of bicycles displayed rather unusually, and plenty of motorbikes including the one used by Ewan McGregor on his trip around the world for the BBC TV program Long Way Round.

The collection of cars from the earliest days up to the present is quite large and there are also plenty of trucks and buses etc. Since moving to the new site the number of locomotives has increased, too.

The interior of the museum is as striking as the exterior and mostly works well, though there is somewhat less intimacy than with a traditional museum space. There are ample interactive touch screens to delve into the background and details of many of the items on display. Overall people of all ages should find plenty to be enthralled by.

Historic steam trains at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow. — A few of the historic steam trains at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow

Architecture

The museum was designed by the "queen of the curve", British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid (1950-2016). There is certainly no possibility of not recognizing the museum building.

Her powerful and striking designs can be found all over the world, with the London Olympics Aquatic Centre being another major structure of hers in the UK.

A large number of historic cars at the Glasgow Transport Museum in the Riverside Museum. — A large number of historic cars at the Glasgow Transport Museum in the Riverside Museum

The Tall Ship

Moored alongside the Riverside Museum is The Tall Ship which is open to the public. The Glenlee is a three-masted barque built in Glasgow and launched in 1896 as a bulk cargo carrier.

245 feet long, and with a beam of almost 38 feet, her masts reach 132 feet into the air. In 1922 she was bought by the Spanish Navy and used as a sail training ship until 1969.

She was later salvaged from Seville harbour by the Clydeside Maritime Trust in 1992, brought to Glasgow and renovated. Entry on to the Tall Ship is free and most of the spaces above and below decks can be explored.

The Tall Ship is permanently moored, but if you want to get out on the water there are several options open to you. In the summer months the free Govan Ferry runs across the river to the Glasgow Science Centre. Seaforce operate a variety of tours by speedboat including some full-day trips. For a more leisurely cruise, Clyde Cruises operate a couple of different option that include refreshments.

The Tall Ship has a cafe onboard, and there is also one inside the Riverside Museum, but outside the museum is a wide variety of vendors selling food and refreshments.

With 5 peaked roofs, the Riverside Museum is a unique building and the first cultural facility by Zaha Hadid in the UK. — With 5 peaked roofs, the Riverside Museum is a unique building and the first cultural facility by Zaha Hadid in the UK

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

A street scene from historic Glasgow at the Riverside Museum. — A street scene from historic Glasgow at the Riverside Museum

Access & Hours

Riverside Museum
100 Pointhouse Rd, Govan, Glasgow G3 8RS
Tel: 0141 287 2720
www: glasgowlife.org.uk

Open 11 am to 4 pm every day.
Entry is free but pre-booking tickets is essential

From the city Centre the #100 bus stops outside of the museum, but the nearest train and subway station is about 500 yards north of the museum entrance at Partick Station where other buses also stop. The route to the museum is well signed.

If you wish to stay in Glasgow try the Millennium Hotel Glasgow, with four stars and a fine restaurant.