The Tall Ship in Glasgow to reintroduce paid admission fees again amid rising costs

A popular Scottish attraction in Glasgow is set to reintroduce paid admission in a matter of weeks.

The Tall Ship Glenlee has announced it will bring back admission charges for visitors coming on board from July 1.

The iconic attraction on the River Clyde, which welcomes 200,000 visitors from around the world annually, was previously the only free-to-visit historic vessel or museum attraction of its kind in the UK.

The charges will be introduced alongside a new booking system, which will allow visitors to buy tickets online in advance.

Admissions will be priced at £4.50 for adults, and £2.70 for children, £12.70 for a family of four, with concessions for students and pensioners and under 5s going free.

The Trust, which runs and maintains the ship, has taken the decision following “careful analysis of the challenging funding landscape and rising costs”.

The funds from the charges will be used to help cover running costs and deliver deliver the best possible experience and allow the independent charity to be more self-sufficient and plan for the future.

The ship was originally a paid attraction, charging for entry for 13 years between 1999 and 2012.

Fiona Greer, development director at The Tall Ship Glenlee, said: “As an independent charity, we are facing a similar situation as many other historic vessels and museum attractions across the UK who have expressed shared challenges.

“We know The Tall Ship Glenlee holds a very special place in many people’s hearts, both here in Glasgow and around the world, and we now need the public’s support to ensure we can continue to thrive.

“The ship is an icon of change that has adapted to survive over 127 years and is now embarking on its next chapter, and a more certain and hopeful future.”

The ship currently relies on revenue from a mixture of commercial income from private events, voluntary donations, and public funding and project-specific ring-fenced grants.

Regular visitors can also take out an Annual Membership which allows unlimited visits over 12 months for the cost of just three individual trips.

Ms Greer said they were “grateful” for all the support from current funders and supporters but added they were looking to fill a “significant” financial gap.

“We have looked to fix the admissions fees at a level far below the UK average museum attraction entry charge to ensure the ship continues to attract and be accessible to as large and diverse an audience as possible, while fairly reflecting the unique, quality experience of exploring an iconic ship like the Glenlee.”

Built in 1896, the former merchant sailing vessel is 127 years old and provides a space for exploration, learning, heritage and entertainment in Glasgow.

This summer will see the launch of a new immersive visitor experience for people to enjoy on board.

Funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, the new installations include enhanced interpretations delving deeper into Glenlee’s story, three distinct soundscapes which transport visitors through the chapters of the vessels’ history, from a brewing storm in the cargo hold to the rumble of the diesel engines, and a smell interpretation, which will vividly bring the realities of being at sea to life.