My Visit to the Hunterian Art Gallery in Glasgow

Hey friends!

As I sit down to write this post, I’m feeling so refreshed and full of self-love. My mental health is in such a good place, and honestly, I haven’t felt this light and joyful in a while. This is the energy I want to stay in forever!

So, last Sunday after church, we decided to visit this place I’d been seeing everywhere—it kept popping up every time I searched for cool spots to check out in Glasgow. And honestly? We loved it. We spent the afternoon wandering through the Hunterian Art Gallary, taking in artwork from centuries past, created by some truly talented hands. Each piece had its own unique touch, but one artist really stood out to me: James Whistler. His work is bold, striking, and has a style that feels so confident. I could feel his personality come through in every brushstroke—it’s like the painting was speaking for him.

Before I go into sharing all the photos I snapped, let me give you a little background on the Hunterian Museum itself. It’s actually the oldest public museum in Scotland, and it houses an incredible collection spanning art, science, and the humanities. This collection is located at the University of Glasgow.

While I was poking around the website before writing this post, I came across this description that perfectly sums up what the Hunterian is all about: it's a space for exploration and experimentation, for enjoyment and reflection, and a hub for fostering equity, justice, and diversity in society. I love that this place is not just a museum but a community of ideas. They also offer learning opportunities for students at the University of Glasgow, which is pretty awesome.

What can you expect to see here?

You’ll find works by some big names like Whistler, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Mackintosh, as well as newer pieces by contemporary artists. Some of the highlights include Chardin's A Lady Taking Tea, Rembrandt's The Entombment, and Gavin Hamilton's Hector's Farewell to Andromache. I love that they’re also featuring a lot of women artists and other underrepresented voices.

The Hunterian Art Gallery also has one of Scotland's largest print collections, a sculpture courtyard, the Mackintosh House (which is a whole experience in itself), and they always have some contemporary art exhibitions on display. Admission charge for the Mackintosh House is (£10/£6) - last admission 4.15pm.

Here are the details you need if you want to visit:

- Entry: Free!

- Opening times: Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm

- Getting there: It's part of the University of Glasgow campus, which is about 3km west of the city centre. You can hop on the subway to Hillhead Station or take buses 4 and 4A from the city centre to University Avenue. There’s also bike parking if you're cycling in!

- Address:University of Glasgow, 82 Hillhead St, Glasgow G12 8QQ

Quick history lesson!

The Hunterian dates back to 1807, thanks to a bequest from Dr. William Hunter an Anatomist, who left his vast collections to the University of Glasgow. Originally, everything was housed together, but over time, different sections moved around campus. Now, the zoology collections are in the Hunterian Zoology Museum, the art collections are in the Art Gallery, and books and manuscripts are in the University Library. It's all part of this rich, sprawling collection that’s worth exploring!

Honestly, this place has so much to offer, and I highly recommend checking it out if you're ever in Glasgow. It’s more than just a museum—it’s a whole experience that makes you think about art, culture, and the world in a new way.

Time to share some photos with you all!

Click the photos to enlarge and view them in detail.

Click the photos to enlarge and view them in detail.