Burrell Collection Tours

Visit the Burrell Collection to find more than 8,000 pieces of art ranging from paintings by Cézanne and sculptures by Rodin, to Oriental ceramics and carpets. The remarkable glass and brick building is set in a city park and looks out over green lawns and bushland, a pleasant destination to get away from the crowds.

Sir William Burrell, a local shipping magnate, donated his private collection to the City of Glasgow in 1944. In 1983, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the prestigious museum in Pollok Country Park to the public.

Start with taking in the setting. A noble family gifted their expansive estate, along with a collection of Spanish art, to the museum in 1967. English architect Garry Basson designed the 1970s building and incorporated an old stone doorway from the original Burrell Collection.

Cross the glass-covered courtyard and pause at a copy of Auguste Rodin’s famous bronze sculpture The Thinker and the huge the second-century Warwick Vase from Italy. Enter the halls to browse relics from other ancient civilisations, including jewelry from Greece and sculptures from Egypt. Don’t miss famous art by post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, such as Le Château de Médan.

The Hutton Rooms, replicas of the rooms in Burrell’s former castle in Scotland, showcase furniture, weaponry and medieval armor. To see remnants of faraway cultures, check out Chinese and Islamic artifacts.

Check the Burrell Collection website for the schedule of special events, which can include art history talks by a curator or workshops for families. A visit to the Burrell Collection can be perfectly combined with a morning or afternoon walk through North Wood, Pollok Country Park’s forest.

The Burrell Collection is a 15-minute drive from Glasgow’s city center and has metered parking on-site. Trains and buses stop within walking distance of the park’s main entrance. From there, follow the signposts to the museum, a pleasant stroll trough the park.

The free museum is open daily, except December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 2. On Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) it’s closed in the afternoon.