Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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St. Vincent Street Church:
Access is limited as the Free Church of Scotland
is still using this kirk in Glasgow, but the landmark is a beautiful example of the
work of Alexander “Greek” Thomson, Glasgow's largely unknown genius of the
Victorian era. The clock tower is decorated in all manner of exotic yet sympathetic
Egyptian, Assyrian, and even Indian-looking motifs and designs. See p. 199.
THE
best
GALLERIES &
MUSEUMS
Edinburgh
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Museum of Scotland:
In 1998, the collections of the Royal Museum of Scot-
land and the National Museum of Antiquities were united into a coherent whole.
Here you'll find practically everything you ever wanted to know about Scotland
from prehistory to the Industrial Age, housed in an attractive modern building.
See p. 96.
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National Galleries of Scotland:
The country's art collection is held in a set of
buildings, collectively known as the National Galleries. The flagship, in Princes
Street Gardens, offers paintings by artists such as Velázquez and Cézanne, plus
Scottish master works. Adjacent is the Royal Academy, which has space for tour-
ing exhibits. Other branches include the National Gallery of Modern Art and the
associated Dean Gallery near the Water of Leith, as well as the National Portrait
Gallery on Queen Street. See p. 95 and 97.
Glasgow
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The Burrell Collection:
The contents of this gallery were accumulated by
industrialist Sir William Burrell (1861-1958), who spent much of his fortune on
collecting art and artifacts—then ensuring they all went to the city of Glasgow.
Now on display in a postmodern building in Glasgow's Pollok Country Park, it's
one of Scotland's most admired museums, with a strong focus on medieval art,
19th-century French paintings, and Chinese ceramics. See p. 201.
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Hunterian Art Gallery:
This museum owns much of the artistic estate of James
McNeill Whistler, as well as housing a re-creation of the home of Scotland's most
famous architect and designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. See p. 200.
Highlights of Historic Edinburgh
Gladstone's Land,
owned by the
National Trust for Scotland, is a
17th-century merchant's house near
Edinburgh Castle. Visit it to get an
impression of just how cramped living
conditions were—even for the rich—
some 400 years ago. On the second
floor, you can also see the original
exterior facade with its classical friezes
of columns and arches, as well as the
painted timber ceiling. Across town, the
Georgian House
is on Charlotte Square,
which was designed by the great Rob-
ert Adam around the time of the Amer-
ican Revolution. This town house is set
out and decorated in the manner of the
18th century. See p. 97.
