The Burrell Collection

Reviews

• Andrew C.

  star star star star star 11 June 2026

  The Burrell Collection is one of the gems of the city. To have a world class collection like this in Glasgow should make any resident proud.
  
  I would not try and take it in one visit. There is simply too much. Choose a tapestry or possibly a piece of amazing ceramic and simply take it in.
  
  There is enough here to enjoy for a very long time - as long as you take the time to enjoy it.
  
  Slow down and take your time - you don't get any points for finishing it fast or seeing the most number of things in the shortest amount of time.
  
  BTW - The gift shop is great - lots things for the giving season when you need something for those folks who are tough to buy for. Grab a cup of tea at the cafe as well - eat a sandwich and support the museum.

• Chris M.

  star star star star star_border 11 June 2026

  After reading that The Burrell was closing for 4 years(!!!) on the 23rd October for an extensive refurbishment process I thought I would make the most of a hangover free Sunday and head through the trees of Pollok Park and give it a visit. Being a child of the Southside I had been to The Burrell many, many moons ago but had never visited with a more mature mind.
  
  As some folk have said you can pay £1 to park and I was impressed with how busy it was given it had only been open for about half an hour by the time I arrived. Entry is free, although the suggested donation amount of £5 is more than fair. The collection is eclectic, something I appreciated, as it gives the sense of somebody who didn't take themselves too seriously and instead revelled in his wealth. Over the past couple of years I've acquired a new interest in painting and some of the exhibits here are of a very high quality. Whilst I also enjoyed the spacious courtyard and some of the more ancient pieces.
  
  There is a cafe which sounded like my idea of hell, all screaming kids and flustered parents, but for me the big win is the location. With the glass walls all around giving the impression of a far flung highland estate as opposed to the near-middle of a big city.
  
  I'm glad I took a wander down, 4 years is a long time and I'm interested to see what the new Burrell will provide. But for now, if you get a chance before next week, give it a go.

• Jeevan M.

  star star star star star_border 5 June 2026

  The Burrell collection was one of the great private collections of objets d'art and historical artefacts (although you can call them knick-knacks) in the world. Thankfully, the collection is now in public ownership and can be viewed free of charge. The collection is housed in a modern building in the middle of pollok park, making it easy to spend the day wandering around nearby Pollock house too.
  
  Entering in via a church-like entrance, be sure to pick up a free guide which'll give you an idea where each part begins & ends. It's quite easy to lose track of some of the collections so the guide does come in handy. There are some fantastic Chinese, Egyptian, Greek & Roman artefacts as well as a large collection of large Islamic styled ceramics and textiles. What's astounding is that the vast majority of the pieces are in fantastic condition. William Burrell also assembled an interesting collection of paintings ranging from some of the classic artists to the Glasgow Boys. The paintings are housed in the centre of the building, but as you almost have to turn back on yourself, it can be easy to miss!
  
  If you find yourself (or the kids) weary of all that art & history, there's a cafe downstairs. You can access it via stairs or lift which are opposite the way to the paintings. I didn't visit the cafe as I was going onto Pollok house, but from what I saw it looked to be doing a decent turn in trade. The cafe area has views out across the grass and would be a nice sun trap during spells of decent weather.
  
  I was pleased to see signs encouraging folk to post photo's on social media, which'll help publicise Glasgow's great museums and keep the donations coming in to ensure this great collection stays free for the public

• Kevin D.

  star star star star star_border 2 June 2026

  Lived in Glasgow my whole life and never visited till now, was very impressed, great location, great exhibits and fantastic venue
  
  Cafe is dire however don't waste your money there

• Faiza H.

  star star star star star 16 May 2026

  The Burrell collection is well worth a visit and the collection of art, textiles, sculptures etc has something for everyone. Allow at least an hour to look around, longer if you like to take your time. There is parking available for £1, the cafe is nice and has lovely views of the outdoors. There are plenty of walks around pollok park and even a play area for kids. Shame it'll be closed for a while, look forward to it opening again!