People's Palace

Overview

The People's Palace and Winter Gardens is a museum dedicated to the social history of Glasgow, housed in a striking Victorian building on Glasgow Green. It is currently closed for a major refurbishment project with no confirmed reopening date in 2026 (closed since April 2024).

Highlights

• Social history: Documents the everyday lives of Glasgow's working people from 1750 to today.
• Winter Gardens: A vast domed glasshouse (one of the largest in the UK) attached to the museum.
• Free admission: Entry is free when open.

History

Opened in 1898 as a cultural centre for the East End working class, the People's Palace has always been one of Glasgow's most beloved museums.

Visitor Tips

• Currently closed for refurbishment. Check glasgowlife.org.uk for reopening updates.
• Glasgow Green, the surrounding park, remains open and free.