When it comes to museums, Glaswegians - or the discerning tourist - are spoiled for choice.
Whether you're into Ancient Egypt or Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum will meet all your cultural needs. If your interests are more local, try the People's Palace for a citizen's eye view of how Glasgow has changed over the centuries. And if all that sounds too much like school, Europe's only dedicated football museum is right here in Hampden Park.
But maybe you've exhausted all the usual options - or maybe you have some pretty niche interests. Whether you're looking for an unusual day out or an especially memorable first date, why not take a look at some of the stranger museums and collections in Glasgow and the surrounding areas?
1. The Hunterian Museum
You'll need a strong stomach if the Hunterian is on your list, but it's more than worth it. Named after the 18th century scientist who donated his personal collection of scientific instruments, anatomical models and insects to the University of Edinburgh, over the years it's become a world class institution for the weird and wonderful, including a Zoological Museum and an art gallery.
2. Glasgow Police Museum
What's going on here then? It's fitting that the city who saw Britain's first police force patrol its streets also has a museum dedicated to fighting crime. This award-winning museum has everything from vintage police cars to stories about some of Glasgow's worst criminals.
3. Fossil Grove
Look, anyone can go to a forest - there are 307 of them in Scotland alone. But how often do you get to walk through a forest where the trees are 330 million years old? Located in Victoria Park, you can explore eleven fossil tree stumps from the Carboniferous Period, which were discovered in 1857.
4. St Mungo's Museum of Religious Life and Art
Named after the patron saint of Glasgow, it's built on the site of a medieval Bishops’ Castle and "aims to promote understanding and respect between people of different faiths and those of none".
5. The Burrell Collection
An eclectic and stunning art collection, it includes the most significant holdings of Chinese art in the UK, medieval treasures including stained glass, arms and armour and over 200 tapestries. But you'll have to wait until 2022 to visit - it's undergoing a massive £68m redevelopment.
6. Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre
You might want to steer clear of this one if you have automatonophobia - fear of human-shaped figurines. It boasts an impressive range of masks and puppets from different cultures around the world that shine a light on a fascinating, if overlooked aspect of Scottish theatre.
7. The Secret Collection
Renfrewshire Museums have an impressive collection of artefacts - so impressive, in fact, that they had to make a whole new section to house them. And where better but on Paisley High Street? It's the first publicly accessible museum archive on a UK high street, but they like to keep some mystique about them. The collection includes some of Paisley’s world-famous textiles, plus a mix of ceramics, world cultures, social history, art and sculpture, natural history and local archives - many of which haven't been seen by the public in decades. Tours are free, but because of the secure nature of the collection, you won't be able to view it without a guide.
