Looking for something different to do in Glasgow? At Bridgeton Bus Garage, in the heart of the East End, the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust cares for one of Scotland’s largest collections of historic buses, coaches and commercial vehicles. This is not a museum behind glass. On our open days you can explore the collection, enjoy our stalls and activities, chat to the volunteers who keep these vehicles running, and even ride buses that once worked the city’s streets. It makes a great family day out, and a real treat for anyone who loves transport history.
A different kind of transport museum in Glasgow
Glasgow is lucky to have the Riverside Museum on the Clyde. If you enjoy that, add us to your list too. We are a volunteer-run charity based in a working garage, focused on Glasgow and Scottish transport heritage, and we are hands-on and personal. Exploring the collection on our open days is also one of the more affordable days out in the city, with plenty to see whether you are five or ninety-five.
What to see and do
Every vehicle in the collection has a story, from a Glasgow-built Albion that spent decades in Sydney to a London Routemaster that later ran Glasgow’s Magicbus routes. Browse the Collection before you come and pick your favourites, then see them in person on an open day. There is more than buses, too: our Museum & Archive tells the wider story of Glasgow and Scottish transport through photographs, records and artefacts. Many events include free rides on our historic buses, guided tours of the garage, and our signature days out through the year. See what’s on to plan your visit.
When you can visit
Our home, Bridgeton Bus Garage, is only open to the public on our advertised event days. These are usually the first Sunday of each month from Spring until Autumn, as well as our Annual Open Weekend in October. We also run regular Guided Tours throughout the year, which require advance booking. Unfortunately we do not have the facilities to accommodate visitors on other dates except by prior arrangement, so please do not turn up on the off-chance, as we hate to disappoint.
Members of the GVVT can visit the Garage on members’ days. For more details about becoming a member, please see our membership page.
For group visits or educational bookings, please get in touch by emailing info@gvvt.org.
Getting here
Public access on our open days is through our entrance at 171-185 Broad Street, opposite Clow Ladders. At other times, and for Guided Tours, our entrance is at 76 Fordneuk Street.
We are located just off the A74, London Road, in the East End of Glasgow, 10 minutes from the M74 and M8 motorways. Car parking is free and unrestricted in the streets around the Garage.
Bridgeton Railway Station is a 10 minute walk from the Garage.
Local bus services
- 64 and 164 stop near the Garage on London Road
- 18, 46, 164 and 263 stop outside Bridgeton Railway Station at Bridgeton Cross
- 2, 8, 61, 240 and 255 stop on Gallowgate
Refreshments
Our Clippies Cafe is usually open on event days, serving hot and cold drinks, sweets and snacks. We also have additional catering at our bigger events, like our Open Weekend.
Accessibility
Bridgeton Bus Garage is all on one level with wide doorways for easy access, and we have an accessible toilet. Assistance dogs are of course very welcome. If you require any assistance when visiting one of our events, please speak to one of our stewards, who will be happy to help.
Due to their historic design, the vehicles we operate on our free bus services are not fully accessible. We are usually able to accommodate a wheelchair user if they are able to step out of their chair onto the bus and the wheelchair can be folded. We are unfortunately unable to carry mobility scooters. We do have a modern accessible vehicle that we endeavour to operate as often as possible, so that everyone can experience a bus ride when we offer a free bus service.
Visiting dogs
We welcome well behaved dogs to most areas of Bridgeton Bus Garage, except the Clippies Cafe (assistance dogs excepted). Please note that dogs must be kept on a lead at all times, and any droppings must be cleaned up. We can provide water on request.
Plan your visit
Ready for a different day out in Glasgow? See what’s on and come and ride a piece of the city’s history.