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Glasgow Botanic Gardens

Glasgow Botanic Gardens

Tourist Guides | March 8, 2017 |

Submitted by Bulmer Hobson on Tue, 2010-03-23

The Botanic Gardens are located at Kelvinside in Glasgow’s West End between the River Kelvin, Great Western Road and Queen Margaret Drive.

The gardens can be accessed on foot from Great Western Road, Queen Margaret Drive, Kirklee Circus and from the Kelvin Walkway.

History

The Botanic Gardens were founded on an 8-acre site at the West End of Sauchiehall Street at Sandyford in 1817. This was through the initiative of Thomas Hopkirk of Dalbeth who gave his own plant collection to form the nucleus of the new garden.

  • It was run by the Royal Botanical Institution of Glasgow and an agreement was reached with Glasgow University to provide facilities for teaching, including supply of plants for botany and medical classes.
  • Professor William J. Hooker, Reguis Professor of Botany at the University of Glasgow (1820-41), took an active part in the development of the Gardens, which became well known in botanical circles throughout the world.
  • The early success led to expansion and the purchase of the present site at Kelvinside, which was established in 1842.
  • At the time entry was mainly restricted to members of the Royal Botanical Institution and their friends although later the public were admitted on selected days for the princely sum of one penny.
  • The Kibble Palace which now houses a forest of tree ferns was originally a private conservatory located at Coulport on Loch Long. It was moved to its present site in 1873 and originally used as a concert hall and meeting place, hosting speakers such as Disraeli and Gladstone.
  • Increasing financial difficulties led to the Gardens being taken over by the then Glasgow Corporation in 1891 on condition they continued as a Botanic Garden and maintained links with the University.
  • The Botanic Gardens are still a popular venue for visitors throughout the year with around 400,000 visitors per annum.
  • In recent years the grounds have undergone significant improvement and a new World Rose Garden was opened in the upper part of the Gardens in 2002.

Outstanding Features

  • Kibble Palace Glasshouse – This is an “A” listed 19th century, curvilinear iron structure of exquisite design and form.
  • Main Range of glasshouses – This is a Victorian glasshouse originally built in teak in the early 1880s and has recently been restored.
  • There are several significant plant collections including:
    • large collection of tropical orchids
    • National collection of begonia species
    • National collection of tree ferns (Dicksoniaceae) in Kibble Palace
    • extensive tropical plant collections including economic plants in Main Range

There is also a large collection of tree and shrubs in the grounds – some mature trees worthy of special note are, for example –

  • Weeping Ash (200 years old)
  • large specimen of Betula maximowiciana
  • large black oak and numerous specimen beech trees.

Fine collection of marble statues in Kibble Palace including ‘Eve’ by Scipione Tadolini

Facilities

Park Rangers are based in the Botanic Gardens and regularly patrol the grounds. Ranger led guided tours are also available and should be arranged in advance.

  • Main Range of glasshouses with conservatory and tropical plants
  • Hopkirk Building for special events, workshops etc.
  • Arboretum with various tree themes
  • various gardens are situated within the grounds:
    • World Rose Garden
    • Herb Garden
    • Flower Garden
    • Uncommon Vegetable Garden
    • Chronological Garden
  • Children’s play area – for under 12s
    • The Children’s Garden
    • visitor centre
    • public toilets
    • enquiries office

Travel Info

Train – Hillhead Underground Station is a 5-minute walk along Byres Road from the Botanic Gardens.

Bus – various routes operate from the city centre to Great Western Road

Car – by car follow M8 to Junction 17 and take the A82 (Great Western Road) west for about a mile.
On street parking is available on Byres Road and on adjacent side streets.

Walking – the Gardens form part of the Kelvin Walkway. It is approximately a 40-minute walk from the City Centre.

Cycling – the Gardens form part of the Kelvin Walkway that links with the Glasgow Loch Lomond Cycleway and the West Highland Way.

Find out more by visiting out Heritage Trail page and downloading our heritage trail : http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Parks_Outdoors/Heritage/HeritageT… .

Land and Environmental Services General Enquiries

Phone: 0141 287 5918

Glasgow City Council Cycling Line

Phone: 0141 287 9171

Email: g…@land.glasgow.gov.uk

Website: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Parks_Outdoors/Parks_gardens/bota…

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