Mingle with academics and undergraduates as you wander around the halls of learning in the University of Glasgow. You don't have to be enrolled to enjoy the historic sights of Scotland's second-oldest college or to attend the public lectures and concerts that the university hosts. Head to Gilmorehill Campus in the west end of the city for the main attractions.
Explore the university, which was founded in 1451 and has been at the forefront of intellectual movements and has a list of alumni including physicist Lord Kelvin and economist Adam Smith. In 1881, the institution pioneered electricity with fully lit houses on the campus. Fifteen years later a graduate opened the world's first X-ray department.
Take a guided tour led by current students to learn about the history of the beautiful stone buildings. Walk beneath storied cloisters and follow in the footsteps of some of Britain's most significant scientists.
Visit the oldest public museum in Scotland, the Hunterian, and its adjoining art gallery. Browse the fossils and oddities of Dr. William Hunter's collection and learn about archaeology and paleontology. The Hunterian Art Gallery contains several works by James Whistler and Charles Rennie Mackintosh as well as paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt and others.
The other major museum in the university is the Zoology museum, another part of the Hunterian housed in the Graham Kerr Building. Come face to face with large and small creatures at the museum's exhibits, which also features displays of live animals, primarily reptiles.
Soak up the intellectual atmosphere at one of the cafés located throughout the campus or take a picnic into neighboring Kelvingrove Park. The picturesque gardens face the mighty Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, a colossal building with 22 galleries and exhibits covering Scotland's rich cultural history.
Find the main campus area of the University of Glasgow near the Hillhead Underground Station, about a 15-minute walk from Partick Station. Scheduled tours take place once daily from Thursday through Sunday. Personal tours can also be arranged by appointment.
