Opened in 1807, The Hunterian is the oldest public museum in Scotland. Admire some of the million or so artifacts on display, browse masterpieces by the Dutch painter Rembrandt and see how the celebrated local architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh lived.
Dr. William Hunter bestowed his private collection to the University of Glasgow in 1783. This means the collection was already largely in place and predates the museum. These days the museum has various exhibition buildings: the Hunterian Museum, Hunterian Art Gallery and Mackintosh House, Zoology Museum, and Anatomy Museum. Getting around is easy as the buildings are closely grouped on the grounds of the University of Glasgow.
Find treasured archaeological relics from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome in the Hunterian Museum. Among these is the Lady Shep-en-Hor, the mummy of an Egyptian woman who died around 600 B.C. Check out the Bearsden Shark fossils found in a Glasgow stream by a local man walking his dog. See remnants of the Antoine Wall, a Roman wall that once ran from the east to west coast of Scotland.
Art lovers will appreciate the collection of works by Old Masters in the Art Gallery. Look for Chardin’s A Lady Making Tea, and The Entombment by Rembrandt.
The Mackintosh House features original furniture and woodwork from the former house of Glaswegian architect Charles Mackintosh and his wife Margaret MacDonald.
Children will especially enjoy the animal displays in the Zoology Museum. Find live snakes and lizards as well as marsupials and minuscule marine life. If you are interested in the human body, make an appointment to see displays of our amazing inner mechanisms in the Anatomy Museum.
The Hunterian is a 10-minute drive from the city centre. Free on-campus parking is available on weekends and public buses stop close to the museum entrance. Check the museum’s official website for the opening hours for each hall.
Hunterian Museum
Visit Hunterian Museum
Tours & day trips
See all 155 activitiesOpens in new tabLoch Ness, Glencoe, and the Highlands Day Trip from Glasgow
Private & custom tours
See all 85 activitiesOpens in new tabRomantic Date Quest Experience in Glasgow
Adventure & outdoor
See all 14 activitiesOpens in new tabFrom Glasgow: The Devil's Pulpit Day Trip
Shows & concerts
See all 3 activitiesOpens in new tabThe Dark Side of Glasgow
Popular places to visit
University of Glasgow
Explore the campus of one of the U.K.'s oldest universities and feed your fervor for learning in its museums, lecture halls and historic buildings.
Kelvingrove Park
Explore the great outdoors at Kelvingrove Park, a lovely green space in Glasgow. Discover the area's shops or seek out its local tours.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
This free attraction houses a collection of 8,000 pieces of art and artifacts in no less than 20 themed galleries.
Riverside Museum
Travel through the history of transport in a modern museum that features interactive exhibits, a wide variety of vehicles and replicas of old Glaswegian streets.
Botanic Gardens
Tour the park and arboretum with century-old trees, have a picnic on the lawn, watch a concert, or admire the design of the impressive 19th-century glasshouses.
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
These buildings that make up one of Scotland’s most important events venues have become iconic sights on the banks of the River Clyde.