Free museum that gives a sense of the history of Glasgow, more from the perspective of the working man. Sure, we do learn that Glasgow has the world's 3rd oldest subway system - yet a lot is geared around the jobs people had, the lifestyles over time, the impact of wars, housing, and the neighborhoods. Took about 45 minutes for me to cover the 3 floors. I didn't do the interactive stuff though. Better for adults than kids. read more

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I enjoyed my visit to the people's palace located in the wide open space of Glasgow green with the beautiful Doulton fountain outside and various other sculptures. The people's palace showcases exhibits of the times of the steamie, life in the old tenements of Glasgow and the achievenments of boxer Benny Lynch. There were exhibits about alcohol and its effects, prison and what it would be like in a cell, the famous Barrowland and what it was like back in the day, there were even exhibits about the war and a real air raid shelter i was able to sit in and other fascinating pieces in this museum. The museum however seems a little stale, some things were a bit tatty and exhibit doors falling loose and the cafe could use a bit of TLC and be a bit more modernised but as a whole it's a great place to visit. read more

The People's Palace was an awesome place to go with my dad when i was a kid. Unfortunately the museum part itself hasn't really changed - it's very much all about Glasgow's history, I'm not entirely sure it holds much appeal to kids these days. If this review was purely for the museum, it'd be a solid 3 stars. But it's not. And i LOVE the Winter Garden. Like, REALLY love it. In reality, it's just a smaller version of The Kibble Palace, with a cafe stuck into it (decent coffee and good cakes). But. It. Is. Awesome! I love taking a wander around here with my camera, grabbing pics of the flowers and statues ( i LOVE macro photography of flowers, and fun with statues is the best game!). The Mr and i visited here a few weeks back with some of our nieces. They loved it too, and only left when we bribed them with ice cream! If this was just for the gardens, it'd be 5 stars, so I'm splitting the difference and giving it 4 stars. read more

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I've walked by People's Palace numerous times, for various reasons, but have have always gone when it was closed. Not this time!! My guy and I are always looking for things to do around the city that one or both of us haven't done, and since he lives somewhat near by, we decided why not go have a wander. I'm really glad we did. Aside from the Winter Gardens that was quite lovely and the local art show that was going on this day, the actual People's Palace itself is grand- and I'm not just talking the grand staircase when you walk in. If you've ever wanted to see a step by step history of Glasgow, then look no further. It really is a facinating day out because not only does it tell and show the history of the local places we all pass by on a daily basis, but there's a lot of interacting aspects of the museam as well as personal quotes from people who have grown up in the area. By the end of the tour of the museum, depending on if you've realised it or not, you can learn a lot about the people who have given quotes to the various parts of the museum. The building itself is gorgeous and very much worth taking a day to wander around. Very educational for the whole family. read more

People's Palace and Winter Gardens - Museums Near Me - Glasgow, GLG

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As Paul suggests, the People's Palace is a wealth of colourful information about Glasgow's past which doesn't solely concentrate on its innovators or its arts culture. As the name suggests, it regails Glasgow's working class in all its splendour and is very accurate in capturing the community and compassionate spirit which Glasgow has founded itself on over the last couple of centuries. What I appreciate about the museum is that it doesn't attempt to mask Glasgow's problems, and is informative and truthful while also remaining courteous and complimentary where credit is due. Go here to learn about what makes Glasgow tick and how it came to be the city it is today. The old tenement way of life is remembered here, and anecdotes of all types of Scottish culture are captured - including Billy Connelly's famous banana boat boots, which remain a favourite for children! There's a huge place in my heart for this museum as it conveys the social and political past integral to Glasgow's history, and it is as interesting for locals as it is for tourists to revisit Glasgow's past. Glasgow is an interesting and invigorating city full of very passionate and engaging people, and this often leaves an impression on all who visit. Whether you're visiting Glasgow or fancy taking a trip down memory lane, the spirit of Glasgow is contained in these four walls, making the People's Palace an unmissable museum. The People's Palace is a wealth of industrial and social knowledge which displays the Dear Green Place's grass roots. read more

There are a couple nice bits in this lovely museum dedicated to the life and times of people of Glasgow. The first one is the reconstruction of the tenement flat. It gives you some idea how working class Glaswegians used to live. The other is John Maclean's writing desk next to Billy Connolly's banana boots on the top floor. read more

One word: charming! I had no idea what to expect when rolling up to Glasgow Green on a drizzly, overcast day. When I spotted the big, lovely greenhouse attached to a sprawling old museum though I had an inkling that I'd be a happy camper: sure enough, I was! As a horticulture nerd (and just all-around nerd) I found the coupling of a museum with a greenhouse just superb. Not only is it a lovely on the outside, but the inside is full of goodies to be explored. Another perk: unlike American museums, this guy is also free! Super score! I wish I'd known before entering that this museum was specifically centered around Glaswegian history, as I would've appreciated it a bit more for what it was, and maybe taken a bit more time throughout. My partner in crime and I had other places on our list of things to do that day, so as we only took a quick cruise through all the displays, I feel as though a return trip to properly stop and take in all the history is in order. What I did see were displays that were cute, informative, and well-kept. Things like war bunkers, a small jail cell that you could step inside, and a new section dedication to the Commonwealth Games in 2014. This is a nice museum for all ages: I could definitely see it being amazing for families with l'il tots to go to, although it didn't seem particularly stroller-friendly, what with all the stairs. Maybe there's a hidden lift somewhere that I didn't spot. Connecting to the museum is, of course, a sprawling greenhouse that you can take an amble through, full of hot-house fair like cacti and orchids and palms. A lot of the plants were well-labeled, which is a total perk for me. It did look like when we went that they were in the process of replacing some things, which made for a lot of unkempt sites, but heck. That's just how it goes in gardening sometimes. There's also a wee cafe in between the start of the museum and the end of the glasshouse, so if you're feeling a bit peckish you can stop in for a nibble. That is unless it's after 3:30 PM, in which the kitchen closes, and you can only order cakes and coffees. A little disappointing for me at the time, as I was quite craving some chips! Still, our cakes were just fine and the coffees not bad. You certainly can't beat sitting inside a greenhouse to enjoy a cup of joe, either. Overall, an excellent find, one definitely worth spending an afternoon in! read more

The People's Palace is a museum charting the social history of Glasgow. A bonanza of trinkets, photos and memories from as far back as the 1700's awaits you here. It's an absolutely fascinating way to while away the afternoon. I thought the single-end tenement was the best, while Stu was impressed by Billy Connolly's boots. The Winter Gardens are inside a gigantic Victorian glass house, nice to sit with a cup of tea amongst the exotic plants. It's nice and warm in here, so you can pretend you're actually somewhere nearer the tropics. I'm not much of a botanist myself, so the people's palace is by far my favourite of the two. It gives a great insight into how people used to live in the city. read more

Ah, the People's Palace! I hadn't been since I was at school, and it hasn't changed. That said, none of the exhibits seem particularly dated and are all kept in good nick. When I was younger I loved the first floor with its Anderson Shelter, its mini Barrowland sign and old-fashioned dairy, but now as an adult I really appreciated the second floor with its social and political history of Red Clydeside and the development of Glasgow. There's also an interesting exhibition about the iconic Red Road flats and life in the high rises. Plus the Winter Gardens is lovely for a quick stroll round and a cuppa. read more

I went to the Winter Gardens for a work event, where it had been hired out. I was struck by the stunning venue, the beautiful plants and scenery across the park. They did a wonderful job of serving drinks - good open bar(!) - and moving around trays of canapes. The staff that were working there were all excellent. It was a very hot day in Glasgow, and so I think the building was unusually stuffy. I think if there had been some ventilation or even air conditioning, it would have been more comfortable. I think this would be a tremendous venue for weddings. I had a great time. read more

Another free Glasgow museum, the People's Palace has some nice displays of Scottish life in different eras. Some are interactive, fun for kiddies and their grown-ups alike. We really enjoyed the model of an old tenement, where a family of seven was to have lived. The recorded stories of "residents" brought the period to life. Downstairs, the Steamie and the Buttercup Dairy were very educational. The big greenhouse area is nice for a stroll, and the cafe has snacks, coffee, and ice cream when you need to sit for a while. read more

The Winter Gardens are part cafe and part conservatory. The cafe is a bit rubbish: it is standard GCC fare, not expensive but very generic, for the most part, and it gets insanely busy during the summer. The actual garden space is quite small, and it is not really possible to get lost from the crowds- the Botanics in Edinburgh are more fun for that. In fact, the botanics near Byres Road in Glasgow are better. However, The Winter Gardens are part of the People's Palace, so they are only one part of the vacation fun. A quick gander round the hot house plants- which, during the winter, is a real relief- and then, up the stairs to find out about Glasgow's history. read more

For a Winter Garden this was beautiful. They had lots of 'exotic' plants, and it was super warm inside--just what I needed after walking along the river! read more

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This is a bit dated nowadays, with most of the exhibits seemingly from the 1990s, with all the wear and tear and dated figures you would expect. However, it is a museum of the people of Glasgow, and as such, its gritty, unpolished and slight rough round the edges feel makes this perfect for the job. Besides the actual museum, there is a very large conservatory with many tropical plants and trees, and a distinct smell of paraffin in the air. Free entry but limited parking around the area, well worth a visit though. read more

Another gem in the crown of Glasgow attractions, the Winter Gardens and the People's Palace are a must see for those visiting Glasgow and even those Glasgowites out there who ain't been here before (shame on you!). As well as the wondrous Winter Gardens where you can relax in the balmy heat on a chilly winters day, you can also visit the wee museum in the Peoples Palace which gives you a bite size introduction to the recent history of working class Glasgow. This really is a cool place with lots of kid friendly installments, yet still interesting enough for the adults to enjoy. I would def recommend this place to all, its a real good day out. read more

This was my second time visiting the People's Palace and Winter Gardens, located by the Clyde on the - true to its name - Glasgow Green. Brought along with my sister as kids by our grandparents we both had a terribly boring time. We couldn't appreciate the beauty of the largest terracotta fountain in the world, the Doulton Fountain at the front, the tranquility of the Green, the impressive facade of the building or the relaxing atmosphere of the Winter Gardens. All of which I appreciate now. In short, museums are not for children, and you should visit the People's Palace (assuming that as you are reading this, you are not a child). The Glasgow Green is essentially a large field with pieces of achitectural art dotted around, and the centrepiece, of course, is the People's Palace museum. It isn't huge but it offers an infinitely interesting insight into the lives of this city's inhabitants frrom the Industrial Revolution up into the 20th century. All of the things for which Glasgow is famous for, or not so, are accounted for from the shipyards of Govan, the building of locomotives, tobacco trade with the southern United States and of course whiskey, to football, life in the wars, tenements and housing, boxing, alcoholism and of course, Billy Connolly and his whiskey-box guitar. Be sure to locate a t-shirt demonstrating against the first Catholic player to side with the enemy in signing for Rangers in a corner of the second floor for an insight into the humerous but also quite extreme power sectarianism had, and to a much lesser extent still has on this city (which incidentally I now know to be the lung cancer AND heart attack capital of the world). Afterwards I would strongly recommend tea or coffee in the Winter Gardens, essentially a large greenhouse where you can sit and enjoy the tranquil setting surrounded by large plants as you look out across the Green. Don't forget to leave a donation as, like all museums in Glasgow, it is free of charge but to continue the high standard it needs its visitors to repay it for their time well spent. It is a shame that most children brought here will, like me, find it to be of little interest and will likely disregard it but I would strongly urge everyone who is interested in Glasgow's proud past to come and visit, especially those who did as children and who may now realise it wasn't so bad after all. In fact, it was quite brilliant. read more

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The aptly named People's Palace is a museum dedicated to and for the people of Glasgow. Forget Salvador Dali, The People's Palace proudly showcases the outfit Lulu wore on the Eurovision Song Contest and Billy Connolly's banana boots. One of my favourite features of the museum is the Glasgwegian translator accompanied by a hilarious educational video of Stanley Baxter instructing the viewer on how to speak like a Glaswegian. The People's Palace is a great place to take a tourist as it gives a visitors a flavour of "real" Glasgow rather than just displaying a bunch of statues and paintings. read more

Having worked as a temp in the Winter Gardens section of the People's Palace, I feel I may have seen a different side to the building than other people... The crappy worky side... But, it is testiment to the place that despite spending a couple of grumpy working weeks here, it hasn't been sullied by association in my mind whatsoever. The Winter Gardens really are lovely - the best conservatory you'd find to soak up the sun on winter mornings with a book, and if that gets dull, head to the museum and gorge on some Glasweigan history, a mini Kelvingrove in its own right, with a sense of humour and a tendency to stray towards the naff - but in an endearing way. Check it ouwwwwt. read more

A charming old museum that's been a favourite for years, The People's Palace proudly celebrates the city's unsing heroes such as the shipbuilders and tobacco merchants of old, right up to the friendly local drug dealers and benefit cheats we know and love today. It's interesting enough, with exhibits from wartime and recent history being the dominant attractions. A particular favourite of mine was the brochure for the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival, which I attended when barely out the womb. Along with the 1990 City of Culture award the festival proved a key catalyst in transforming Glasgow from the post-industrial shithole it was in the early 80s, to the still a bit rough but fashionable city it is now. read more

The People's Palace is a museum about the people of Glasgow for the people of Glasgow. It tells the story of the history of the city, from the steamie to the slums. The winter gardens are a lovely spot to stop for a cup of tea among the foliage. However, it closes at 4pm which is disappointing. read more

Wife loved it, I felt like it was made of displays left over from elsewhere. A hodge podge with a weak underlying theme.

Well you certainly can't visit Glasgow Green without exploring this lovely building. Because we were attracted by the cafe we almost missed the museum upstairs altogether, not knowing there was one there!! We'd actually left the building, realised it was pouring with rain and came back in to shelter, wandered around a bit and then decided to see what was upstairs. I'm so glad we did because the exhibits from Glasgow's fascinating history are wonderful. I intend to return there before too long to spend much longer because there is a lot to see and take in. The Winter Garden Cafe is certainly in a gorgeous setting. The staff were pleasant and there were nice snacks and cakes on offer. However, I think such a magnificent and historical building really deserves something 'classier' in appearance. The tables and chairs were the sort you'd find in any works canteen. There were artificial flowers on each table I thought that was particularly stupid as the Winter Garden building is full of 'real' flowers and plants growing in the indoor flower beds! Also the music was highly irritating a local radio station playing pop music, again inappropriate for the setting. Wrought iron work would have been more in keeping for the furniture, and tablecloths would have been nice, plus some real flowers of course. A pot of tea for one, a cafe latte and a large slice of cake was £4.90 reasonable for a cafe in this type of setting. Apart from the minor gripes, definitely a 'must see'! read more

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The little garden dome had plenty of nice plants and has a cafe inside. As for the museum, it is quite unique and uses fun displays to showcase Glasgow's history as a city. The museum is free and consists of 3 floors in total. Really enjoyed this place overall! read more

This is a fantastic museum - well worth a visit, especially the winter garden! The exhibits are beautifully presented in a very relaxing, tranquil atmosphere, and because it's free to visit, you can keep going back again and again! I even know of someone who thought this place was so great, they got married there! read more

A walk down memory lane, well if you are like me over fifty, but even some of the younger generation will remember Billy Connolly's big banana boots. The People's Palace is a wee gem (nobody I know refers to it as the winter gardens) situated right next to the old Templeton carpet factory (another must see). If you are a wee granny or grandad and looking for somewhere to take the grand kids, then this is the place, you will be able to bore them for hours on such subject's as Tram cars and going doon the water, give the short video on hanging's a miss, you could be there for hours trying to explain that one. For the tourist to our fair city (sadly the cafe has tourist prices) then this is a great place to visit, not only have you the People's Palace, but as mentioned the old Templeton carpet factory, supposedly modelled on the Doge's palace in Venice, then their is the Prince Charlie gate, though why a city would name a park entrance after a man who threatened to besiege your city, have your picture taken in front of the biggest teraccota fountain in the world or the very first monument erected to Lord Horatio Nelson after his victory at Trafalgar ( ok very first is debatable) but was certainly erected long before Nelson's column in London. The people's Palace caters for all walks of life, the toilets are immaculate, wonderful wheelchair friendly place, the staff well they are Glaswegian, so if you are looking for a wee bit of culture or maybe just a quiet stroll along the banks of the Clyde, this is the place you are looking for. read more

People's Palace and Winter Gardens - Peoples Palace and Winter Gardens , two for the price of one, oops sorry they are both free. - Museums Near Me - Glasgow, GLG

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Have to say I like this for a nice relaxing Sunday afternoon, followed by a nice cup of tea/coffee & it amuses the kids (5 & 3) for a wee while. The People's Palace is well laid out and fairly easily accessible, with a good range of exhibits based on the people of Glasgow and their habits and customs. Exhibits include the 'steamie' where people would go to do their laundry and the typical Glasgow tenement. Reminds you how tough life could be in those days. Winter Gardens & cafe within is always worth a visit. read more

Didn't spend a huge amount of time here, but it's another nice and free museum in the great city of Glasgow. The museum is an interesting one, focusing on the city of Glasgow and its people- lots of cool stories. I enjoyed walking around the winter gardens. Whilst not as impressive as the Botanical Gardens on the other side of the city, it was still a nice place to spend some time, and there is a café on site as well so you can relax whilst enjoying the view of the plants. read more

Lovely for a wander round on a winter's day - lovely building and usually some interesting things to see.

The people palace is a musuem about Glasgow and it's people. It is free to visit. There is a restaurant in the winter gardens, which is good and reasonable priced. Worth going to see The Doulton Fountain (the biggest terracotta fountain in the world) which has been beautifully restored and relocated to the front of the people's palace. read more

What an odd place. The actual museum itself is a tad on the bare side, with exhibits spread thin to cover all the space inside the building. That said, they are definitely unique, offering a glimpse into a world we can't even imagine these days. And the winter garden is a beautiful place to sit and just relax, even if the attached cafe offers little in the way of interesting food or drink. read more

This is a good place for a family afternoon out. There's plenty for kids and adult alike to see in this museum. Only of this great things is, like all Glasgow museums and galleries, it's free! It means if you have young kids you can also go for a short time have a quick look around them come back again another day so they dont' get too bored. The cafe in the winter gardens is nice to sit and have a tea or coffee in..or Ice cream for the kids! There's also an adventure playpark quite close by which is always good to let the kids use up some of their energy read more

Love this place and try and go once or twice a year, good for all ages. The older ones could spend a long time going round all the exhibits and reading all the texts and tells the story of glasgows recent history. Always went as a child to see the big banana feet and they are still there. The winter garden and cafe are nice to relax at. Its free entry so even if you don't think its great after visiting it hasn't cost you anything - give it a try read more

Great day out and good venue for special occasions. Nice and toasty in the winter garden especially if it's crappy weather outside.