The Lighthouse was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1895 as a warehouse for the Glasgow Herald newspaper, and is now a centre dedicated to educating visitors about the famous Glaswegian architect. You can also learn about Glasgow’s prehistoric beginnings and climb the spiral staircase to the top of the building for panoramic views of the city.
Opened as a cultural centre in 1999, the Lighthouse is spread over six floors and houses permanent and rotating temporary collections. Pay a small fee for the 40-minute guided tour to learn more about the building and enjoy a complimentary cup of tea or coffee in the café when you’ve finished.
The main exhibits are housed behind the curved glass screen that wraps around the central column, and are dedicated to educating visitors about Mackintosh’s life and work. Learn about the building’s transformation from a warehouse into an important design centre at the Mackintosh Interpretation Centre. Designs of many of the city’s most notable Mackintosh buildings are printed on the walls.
The helical staircase hangs from the water tower that was originally constructed to protect the building from fire. Grab your camera and head up to the observation platform for fantastic views of Glasgow’s city centre, or go to the second viewing platform on level 6.
Learn about Glasgow’s prehistoric beginnings at the Foundation exhibition. A movie is projected onto the floor and follows the city’s evolution from a simple settlement to an industrial powerhouse, and finally to the cultural hotspot it is today. A giant walk-on floor map allows you to walk the city streets. Have a look at the centre’s official website for details about the various art and design workshops held on weekends.
The interactive MAKLab will please all the budding designers, inventors and architects out there. Based on an idea by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, visitors can show their designs and ideas to experts and then share them with more than 90 different technology labs across the globe.
Open daily, the Lighthouse does not charge an admission fee. You can easily walk to the centre from many of Glasgow’s other big attractions, including the central George Square. Alternatively, take the train to Glasgow Central train station and walk the rest of the way. If you come by car, you can leave your car in the paid parking facilities nearby.
