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Kibble Palace Restoration
The Kibble Palace glasshouse at the Botanic Gardens has undergone a multimillion-pound restoration. This was completed in November 2006 and the glasshouse re-opened to the public on Thursday 30th November 2006. You can read more about the restoration project here. |
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Opening Times
The Gardens are open from 7.00am till dusk daily however the specific facilities within the park are subject to opening times.
Glasshouses: 10.00am – 6.00pm (4.15pm in winter)
Visitor Centre: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Toilets: 10.00am – dusk (this varies through the year)
Quick Links
Facilities, History, Travel, Contact Details
Size
20 hectares (50 acres)
Outstanding Features
- Find out more by visiting out Heritage Trail page and downloading our heritage trail.
- 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
Trees and ferns in Kibble Palace
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
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Statue in
Kibble Palace
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Local Facilities
- public toilets
- adjacent to Kibble Palace
- public telephone
- Byres Road (300 metres from main entrance)
Events
There is an extensive range of events throughout the year including
- exhibitions
- concerts
- talks by the Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens
- guided walks through the Gardens including Night Time Walks and History Trails
- children’s arts and crafts
Group visits to the Botanic Gardens are very welcome. A guide may be available provided advanced booking is made through the Gardens’ office.
Palm House, Main Range Glasshouses
- The Glasgow branch of the Scottish Orchid Society meets in the Hopkirk Building every third Monday of the month at 7.30pm between September and May
- The British Cactus and Succulent Society, Glasgow Branch, meets in the Hopkirk Building on the first Thursday of every month between September and June at 7.30pm
A bridge over the River Kelvin
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.
Gates at Great Western Road in 1923
- 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.
Postcard of the Botanic Gardens c.1907
Travel
- 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.
Disabled Access
Information on disabled access at this location can be found on the DisabledGo website using the following link:
Contact Details
Botanic Gardens
Phone: 0141 276 1614
Fax: 0141 276 1615
E-mail: gbg@land.glasgow.gov.uk
Land and Environmental Services General Enquiries
Phone: 0141 287 5918
E-mail: les@glasgow.gov.uk
Glasgow City Council Cycling Line
Phone: 0141 287 9171
Public Transport Journey Information
Traveline Scotland
Phone: 0871 200 22 33