Kelvingrove; A Museum That Says What We’re All Thinking

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The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow provides the top 5 things everyone looks for in a museum; art, history, dead animals, free admission, and a fat Elvis!  In fact, according to it’s own website it’s “one of the most visited museums in the U.K. outside of London.”  I’ll admit, that doesn’t sound like a terribly impressive stat., but this is a world class museum!

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

Seriously, how “museumy is that?!”

The great thing about the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, is it has a little of everything and it’s huge! Natural history,

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

ancient world history,

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

enormous art installations,

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

and did I mention Elvis?

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

In fact, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum houses 22 separate themed galleries ranging from Salvador Dali to one of the finest collections of European arms and armor in the world.  Here’s a thing I learned; because museums are educational.  There exists armor that was made to withstand bullets. I guess I just never thought of the era of the gun and the knight in shining armor overlapping.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

But I saved the best part for last.  Whoever wrote all of the informative plaques is my hero.  They answer the questions we are all asking.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

Can’t win them all I guess!

They also take all of the pretense out of stuffy art commentary, such as this description full of speculation.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

I love an art critique that can admit that it might not mean anything!

Another example is my personal favorite, The Doctor’s Visit, alternatively titled (by me) “Bitches Be Crazy.”

"The Doctor's Visit" as the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, even at the expense of children’s nightmares.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

And now for no real reason, here are some adorable cartoon snails causing carnage.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

So as you can see, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a great way to spend an afternoon, especially in notoriously expensive and rainy Scotland and it’s all watched over by a Gatsby-esque pair of spectacles.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

And if you’re lucky enough got get gorgeous weather like I did, exploring the museum grounds can be just as exciting.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

~

I was helped in the planning of this trip by Colin Mairs of Excursion Scotland.  As well as guided tours in 4 languages, Excursion Scotland offers a travel consulting service to help you plan your perfect self-guided tour of Scotland.  Learn more at www.ExcursionScotland.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ExcursionScotland .

24 thoughts on “Kelvingrove; A Museum That Says What We’re All Thinking

  1. […] dying to visit Scotland, and one of my first stops would have to be the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. This review shares some of the awesome art installations and other must-see aspects of […]

  2. Lovely museum, very interesting, I liked the doctors visit painting and the Gatsby eyes, nice way to spend a afternoon.

    • Mags

      I just wish I had longer. You could really spend days in there and not see it all!

  3. I love visiting galleries and museums. .. did you say free admission? Looks like a great day out for me, I’ll keep this in mind next time im in Glasgow.

    • Mags

      It is really great. They had me at “free” too lol

  4. “Bitches be crazy” hahaha!!! That got me laughing out loud. Scotland sounds like an amazing place to be. The museum grounds are impressive… and the interior exhibits would definitely hold my attention. The signs are the best I’ve seen. Awesome!!

    • Mags

      I absolutely fell in love with Scotland. There is humor in almost everything they do!

  5. Looks like an amazing museum to visit, actually looks like something out of the movie “night at the museum”. My kids would love this
    cheers
    mark

    • Mags

      That was the first thing I thought when I walked in too! (the thing about Night at the Museum, not about your kids 😉 )

  6. The museum looks so cool! I love the set up of the entry way, like the different parts of the museum were fighting over who gets to be featured. “I want the elephant there!” “Well, I want the plane!” “Hey, hey, what about my giant terrifying crab/spider hybrid” “Gentlemen, gentlemen, calm down – we’ll just put everything there!”

    • Mags

      Hahaha. I really hope you’re right about that argument!

  7. I love museums like this one! I’m sure everyone can have there lots of fun!

    • Mags

      Definitely, and it’s huge! I would love to go back. It’s impossible to see everything in one visit.

  8. Haha! I agree, reading the little plaques makes everything much more interesting, and in this case, funny! That snail picture is so random…and can you imagine walking around in thicker-than-ever armor?? Not my cup of tea…but the museum sure is!
    Adventuring The Great Wide Somewhere recently posted…The Orlando Adventure BeginsMy Profile

  9. Unique that’s for sure! It actually does sound like a fascinating way to spend an afternoon – tacking it onto my UK list for my next trip. The airborne heads I find a little creepy lol though I guess art is subjective!

  10. I love the bizarre purple glowing heads. Was there a description for this?

  11. What an awesome group of collections and the eccentricity in the descriptions and comments is so quintessentially British. A perfectly enjoyable museum (which I hesitate to call it because it’s not in the least stuffy or pretentious as museums can be). Wonderful!

  12. What a lovely museum! I love the quirkiness of it, and like Betsy said, it’s not pretentious like most museums are!

  13. I simply love the description in every painting. They’re very fun to read. I like how there are lots of artifacts that you can find here, plus of course it’s in Glasgow, so its all the more special for me.

  14. Looks like such a unique museum! I love the diversity of their art – don’t think you could ever get bored exploring, that’s for sure!

  15. Wow, this really looks like the setting of the movie Night in the Museum!

  16. Love those captions! They are so much more engaging than many traditional museums. Sounds like you found a great museum – need to add it to the list for the day I get to Glasgow!

  17. I think this officially win the title for world’s most random museum – what an odd collection of stuff! But you’re right – all of it is really cool and I would love to visit it.

  18. Ha! Love this, next time we’re over in Scotland I would love to check this out. I also love your alternative title for The Doctors Visit!!

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