Glasgow Museums Resource Centre

The Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC) is the hidden treasure of the city’s museum network. A vast, purpose-built storage facility that houses over 1.4 million objects not currently on display in Glasgow’s main museums. Located in the south of the city, GMRC is a behind-the-scenes space where visitors can explore the collections through pre-booked tours, workshops, and events. From ancient artefacts to contemporary artworks, it’s the place where Glasgow’s stories are preserved and shared.

• Admission: Free, though donations are welcome.
• Accessibility: Fully accessible with lifts, ramps, and facilities for visitors with additional needs.

Some of our favourite highlights

Guided behind-the-scenes tours, giving access to rarely seen parts of the collection.
Vast stores of art, archaeology, natural history, transport, and world cultures.
Opportunities to view specialist collections, from coins and medals to taxidermy specimens.
Hands-on workshops and events, making it a popular choice for schools and groups.
The sheer scale of the centre — with 17.5 kilometres of shelving holding Glasgow’s treasures.

Bookable Behind The Scenes tour

Spend an hour on one of our tours and discover some of the highlights of the 1.4 million objects.

Wednesdays 2.30-3.30pm – free.

Paintings

The are paintings stored here at Glasgow Museum Resource Centre by Botticelli, Raeburn and Howson.

Natural History Collection

The Glasgow Museum Resource Centre’s Natural History Collection is vast and varied, with over 580,000 objects.

Visiting Information

Why Visit?

The Glasgow Museums Resource Centre offers a completely different experience from a traditional museum. Instead of polished displays and exhibition halls, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of museum curation and conservation. It’s here that you’ll discover the depth of Glasgow’s collections. Objects too fragile, large, or numerous to fit into the city’s main galleries.

A visit to GMRC is a chance to see history, art, and science in a new light. Guided tours are led by knowledgeable staff who bring the objects to life, sharing stories that you won’t find anywhere else. For children and families, the workshops and activities make learning fun, while researchers and enthusiasts can explore specific interests in detail.

Because visits are by pre-booked tour, the experience feels intimate and special, almost like a private viewing of Glasgow’s cultural treasure trove. It’s the ideal destination for those who want to go beyond the surface and uncover the hidden layers of the city’s heritage.