Scotland: Glasgow’s Art Treasures featuring the Burrell Collection 569

Scotland: Glasgow’s Art Treasures featuring the Burrell Collection 569

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4 Days From

$975

Scotland: Glasgow’s Art Treasures featuring the Burrell Collection 569

4 Days Starting and ending in Glasgow, UK

Visiting: Equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington, Glasgow, Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow, Hunterian Art Gallery, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Holmwood House, The Burrell Collection

Tour operator:

Brightwater Holidays

Tour code:

BGAT

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

6 - 25

Physical rating:

Gentle

Age range:

1-99

Special diets catered:

Meat, Vegans, Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

UK tours by Coach

From: $975

NB: Prices correct on 01-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Re-opened in March 2022 after an ambitious refurbishment, Glasgow’s Burrell Collection allows visitors for the first time to explore all three floors in the building, set out as galleries, visible stores and special exhibition spaces. This incredible collection holds treasures from all over the world, including 5,000 year-old porcelain from China, paintings by renowned French artists including Manet, Cézanne and Degas and medieval artefacts such as stained glass, armour and tapestries.

We will also take the opportunity to discover some of Glasgow’s other great art treasures, such as those housed within the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, where notable works of art from across Britain and Europe are featured alongside a diverse collection of exhibits. Nearby is the Hunterian, Scotland’s oldest public museum and home to over a million items, including some outstanding works of art.

Housed in a magnificent neo-classical building in the centre of Glasgow is the Gallery of Modern Art, a world class art museum which borrows and collects artworks from all around the world, while at Holmwood House we explore the classical elegance of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thompson’s finest domestic creation. Our tour concludes at the House for an Art Lover, built in the 1990s to a design by Charles Rennie Mackintosh from 1901.

Highlights

  • Explore the newly refurbished Burrell Collection

  • Visit Scotland’s oldest public museum

  • Discover one delight after another at Kelvingrove

  • See world class art (and a Glasgow icon) at the Gallery of Modern Art

  • Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s design brought to life at the House for an Art Lover

Places You'll See

Scotland: Glasgow’S Art Treasures Featuring The Burrell Collection 569

Scotland: Glasgow’S Art Treasures Featuring The Burrell Collection 569

Scotland: Glasgow’S Art Treasures Featuring The Burrell Collection 569

Scotland: Glasgow’S Art Treasures Featuring The Burrell Collection 569

Itinerary

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Day 1

Location: Equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington, Glasgow, Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Best Western Garfield House Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

We depart from our designated pick-up points and travel to Glasgow, where we begin with a visit to the Gallery of Modern Art, housed in an impressive neo-classical building in Royal Exchange Square. It was originally built in 1778 as the townhouse of a wealthy merchant, later becoming first a bank and then the Royal Exchange. Since 1996 it has been home to the Gallery of Modern Art, which borrows, collects and displays contemporary artworks from around the world an ever-changing series of exhibits across its four galleries.
Outside the museum sits one of Glasgow’s iconic landmarks, the equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington, upon whose head there invariably sits a traffic cone, and there will be a photo opportunity here before we depart for our hotel, where dinner is served in the evening.

Day 2

Location: Hunterian Art Gallery, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Best Western Garfield House Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast we return to Glasgow and head for the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which first opened its doors to the public on 2 May 1901 when it formed a major part of the Glasgow International Exhibition. Since then, it has established itself as one of the finest civic collections in Europe. French, Italian and Dutch art feature alongside exhibits as diverse as Ancient Egypt, Dinosaurs and Scotland’s Wildlife. There will be an opportunity for lunch on arrival here (not included).
In the afternoon we travel a short distance to the Hunterian Art Gallery, part of the University of Glasgow, which is famous for its Whistler and Mackintosh collections and has a wide range of outstanding works on show. It was the first museum in Britain with a gallery of paintings and today the Hunterian Art Gallery holds one of the most distinguished public art collections in Scotland. Works range from Rubens and Rembrandt to the Scottish Colourists and Glasgow Boys, as well as an important collection of works by leading contemporary artists. It also features an outdoor sculpture courtyard with a selection of works by British artists.
You may be interested in visiting the Mackintosh Collection, numbering around 1,000 items, including architectural, furniture and interior designs, textile designs, flower drawings and watercolours. Entrance to the Macintosh House is optional (entrance charge approx. £10 adult, £6 senior citizen) and subject to availability since entrance is restricted to 12 guests at a time and cannot be pre-booked.
We return to our hotel later in the afternoon.

Day 3

Location: Holmwood House, The Burrell Collection, Glasgow

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Best Western Garfield House Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we head for the south side of Glasgow and visit the newly renovated Burrell Collection. This ambitious refurbishment allows visitors, for the first time, to explore all three floors in the building, set out as galleries, visible stores and special exhibition spaces. When Sir William Burrell and his wife, Lady Constance, gifted his collection of over 9000 works of art to Glasgow, the city acquired one of the greatest collections created by one person.  William Burrell had been an art collector since his teens and the collection is made up of a vast array of works of all periods from all over the world.  You can wander round important collections of medieval art, tapestries, alabasters, stained glass and English oak furniture, European paintings including works by Degas and Cézanne, an important collection of Islamic art and modern sculpture including works by Epstein and Rodin.
Our afternoon visit takes us to Holmwood House, the finest and most elaborate residential villa designed by Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson. It is also rare in retaining much of its original interior decor. Holmwood was constructed for James Couper, a paper manufacturer in 1857-1858. Couper owned the Millholm paper mill in the valley of the White Water of Cart immediately below the villa. The polychromatic decoration was designed by Thomson and executed by Campbell Tait Bowie. The most notable survival is in the dining room which has a frieze of panels enlarged from John Flaxman’s illustrations of Homer’s Iliad. The sculpture on the hall chimneypiece was by George Mossman.

Day 4

Location: Glasgow

Meals Included: Breakfast

Returning to Glasgow once more, our final visit is to the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park. The origins of this unique building lie in drawings prepared by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1901 as his entry to a competition to design a ‘Haus Eines Kunstfreundes’ or ‘Art Lovers House’ set by German design magazine ‘Zeitschrift Fur Innendekoration’. The entry, though highly commended, was unsuccessful and for more than 80 years Mackintosh’s concept remained an unrealised design on paper, until Graham Roxburgh, the Consulting Engineer responsible for restoring Mackintosh interiors in nearby Craigie Hall, had the idea finally to build the House for an Art Lover. After much detective work and various setbacks Roxburgh’s dream finally became a reality in 1996 when the house opened to the public and today it offers a remarkable insight into the work of an architect of extraordinary vision and imagination.
Following our visit we return to our original pick-up points.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

  • Services of a professional tour manager

  • Comfortable coach travel throughout

  • Meals - as per the itinerary

  • All visits as outlined in the itinerary

What's Not Included

Check out our Q&As

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Yes

  • Are flights included in this tour?

    No

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    No

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?

    You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.

  • What facilities do your coaches have?

    Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.

  • Do I have to go on the included excursions?

    Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.

  • Is there time to relax?

    Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.

  • Do I need to be an expert?

    Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.

  • How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?

    You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding

  • Do you have self-drive holidays?

    Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!

  • What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?

    There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.

  • Where are your departure points?

    UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .

  • What about the company that will be kept?

    For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.

  • What is a Brightwater Holiday?

    Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.

  • Why is there a single supplement?

    Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.

  • How much are your optional excursions?

    Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.

  • Can I pre-book my coach seats?

    Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.

  • How to get there? Easy!

    With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.

  • Do I need to have travel insurance?

    Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.

Reviews of this operator

Trusted Customer  

Brightwater Holidays offers great value

28-Nov-2019

I would highly recommend Brightwater Holidays. It offers excellent service and value for money. This was my first tour as I normally arrange holidays myself, but this tour - which was to the gardens of Kent and Sussex - was a very pleasant change of pace.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Brightwater Holidays Customer  

My experience with Brightwater Holidays

08-Aug-2019

The tour was well managed, the sites visited were all interesting and linked to the theme of the Picts and their place in history, the hotel was comfortable and the coach journeys were well paced. I have been with Brightwater before and will certainly travel with them again

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Alan Hawkes (Google Reviewer)  

We were on the Tour...

28-Aug-2022

We were on the Tour of the Outer Hebrides. We had a great experience, in no small part due to the excellence of the tour manager and driver.

Brightwater Holidays Custome  

Wonderful experience with brilliant information

31-Jul-2019

The most important factor was an amazing guide in Alastair Walker whose knowledge and care for clients was fantastic. The whole trips are superbly organised

Feefo Trusted Reviews
David MacLennan (Google Reviewer)  

Noted a comment on taking...

23-Aug-2023

Noted a comment on taking coaches on A814 by a local person who didn't know the facts: When the A82 was blocked and the POLICE divert you onto that road you do as instructed not what a you know are tight roads but they only way to your destination as intructed by officials. We know this route is not suitable for large vehicles but the driver does as instructed by someone in authority.

Eric Webb (Google Reviewer)  

Recent (September 2023) Scottish holiday...

07-Oct-2023

Recent (September 2023) Scottish holiday not so good. Various 'issues' to do with scheduling and organisation. I'm happy to report however that - after an interval - a letter expressing disappointment brought a full response - including a generous refund. So - with fingers slightly crossed - we'll be booking with Brightwater again in due course.

Kevin Barrett (Google Reviewer)  

The recent tour in Northumberland...

30-Sep-2023

The recent tour in Northumberland turned out to be a shambles. Our South London driver took us to Newcastle, but no guide to meet us. Next day still no guide and the bus driver attempted to salvage the tour the best he could despite having no knowledge of the attractions. Fortunately one of the passengers Googled the tides for Holy Island. No holiday guide ever showed up. Coach and hotel were fine. Do these people only offer self guided tours? Take Shearings next time.

ALEXANDRA MCQUEEN (Google Reviewer)  

Been trying to get a...

17-Oct-2023

Been trying to get a reply from them for over a week. Booked Xmas tour, confirmation said pick up subject to numbers, they never said anything when booking and theyve been paid in full. Would not recommend!

Dp Green (Google Reviewer)  

I had heard this company...

20-Feb-2024

I had heard this company was a nightmare to deal with, but thought I'd give it a go. Signed up for a tour, then emailed them about how to pay off the balance. No response to 3 emails. I've never encountered a tour company that ignored questions on how to pay off a balance. Looked into other reviews and found many complaints about cancelled tours and refusals to refund deposits.

Kieran Thompson (Google Reviewer)  

Two of your tour busses...

26-Jul-2021

Two of your tour busses used the A814 from Garelochhead to Arrochar on 24th July 2021. This route is not suitable for large vehicles and your drivers should not have taken the huge coaches that way. There are clear signs at both ends of the road indicating it is not suitable for HGV's. Our car had to go off into the soft verge to allow your coaches to pass. Please amend your routes to avoid this road in future.

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Mar 21, 2025 - Mar 24, 2025
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Prices last published on 31-Oct-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Brightwater Holidays allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform brightwater holidays, 25 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Brightwater Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.

    At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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