Glasgow's Leading Attractions

The University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery first opened its doors in 1807, making it Scotland’s oldest public museum and giving it a unique place within Scotland’s cultural heritage.

Please note that the Hunterian Art Gallery will undergo major refurbishment in 2012. The Art Gallery exhibition rooms are currently closed to the public and will re-open in September 2012 with a special exhibition dedicated to Rembrandt and the Passion. The Mackintosh House and Art Gallery Shop remain open. The Hunterian Museum is also open as usual.

Our founder, Dr William Hunter, was a pioneering obstetrician and teacher with a legendary passion for collecting. His vast and varied private collection is the cornerstone of our collections today. The Hunterian is now rated as one of the top five museums in Scotland because of the scale, range and significance of our collections.

William Hunter’s original collection was assembled to improve knowledge of the world. Over 200 years later, the Hunterian Museum offers the chance to discover and explore. Within the rich and diverse collections you will find some truly amazing and unique objects.

In 1807 the Hunterian was the first museum in Britain with a gallery of paintings. Today, although most famous for our Whistler and Mackintosh collections, we have a wide range of outstanding works on show. The Hunterian Art Gallery is home to one of the most distinguished public art collections in Scotland, and incorporates one of Glasgow’s most popular tourist attractions, The Mackintosh House.

William Hunter was interested in all living things and collected examples of anything rare and exotic. The Hunterian Zoology Museum is crammed with an amazing array of animal life and highlights its diversity.

Our collections are world class. Admission is free to all but The Mackintosh House, where a small charge is made to help cover the significant costs of upkeep. Our permanent exhibitions are fascinating and are enriched by a lively temporary exhibition and events programme.

Look out for our seasonal 'What’s On' guides or visit our website www.glasgow.ac.uk/hunterian