News and Events

GLASGOW’S FAMOUS TALL SHIP WAVES A TEMPORARY GOODBYE TO HER MASTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE DECADES

UNIVERSALLY known in Glasgow as The Tall Ship Glenlee, its distinctive masts are a familiar and much-loved sight, reminding people of the time when the River Clyde was bustling with traffic on its water. Now, this week, for the first time in 30 years, the floating museum’s famous masts are being removed for essential conservation work. […]

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The Tall Ship Glenlee Welcomes Spanish Navy Delegation

On Wednesday, 11 March, the Tall Ship Glenlee was delighted to welcome representatives from the Spanish Navy and the Spanish Consul General based in Edinburgh on board the ship. The visit celebrated Glenlee’s long and meaningful connection with Spain. From 1922, the ship served for sixty years under Spanish ownership as a training vessel for […]

We Are Hiring! : Office Administrator (Communications and Funding)

Job Title: Office Administrator (Communications and Funding) Responsible to: Development Director Salary: £26,500 Hours of Work: Full-time About the Tall Ship: The Tall Ship is one of the city’s busiest, most vibrant visitor attractions, located in the heart of Glasgow at the Riverside Museum and River Clyde. Of the many hundreds of ships built in […]

A Coin for Luck: Rediscovering a Hidden Moment from 1998

On Thursday, 16 July 1998, all three lower mast sections were successfully lifted and carefully slotted into position. Beneath the main mast, a small wooden box was ceremonially placed by Hamish Hardie and Jamie White. Inside were a 1998 gold sovereign and a silver dollar, along with a scroll acknowledging the members of the Trust […]

GLASGOW’S FAMOUS TALL SHIP WAVES A TEMPORARY GOODBYE TO HER MASTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE DECADES

UNIVERSALLY known in Glasgow as The Tall Ship Glenlee, its distinctive masts are a familiar and much-loved sight, reminding people of the time when the River Clyde was bustling with traffic on its water. Now, this week, for the first time in 30 years, the floating museum’s famous masts are being removed for essential conservation work. […]

Tall Ship Glenlee Closed Wednesday 29th April – Sunday 10th May for Essential Maintenance

Calendar icon 29-04-2026

The Tall Ship Glenlee will be closed 29 April–10 May as crane operations reinstall the main and mizzen masts following essential conservation work and new historic discoveries.

Celebrating 129 Years of Maritime History Aboard Glenlee

On 3 December 1896, Glenlee first slipped into the water at Port Glasgow—beginning a remarkable life that would take her across the world’s oceans. Over the decades that followed, she sailed under several flags, weathered countless voyages, and served in roles her original builders could never have imagined. In 1993, nearly a century after her […]

Celebrating John: Winner of the 2025 Marsh Volunteer Award

We are delighted to announce that our very own volunteer John Aitken has been named Joint Winner of the 2025 Marsh Volunteer Individual Award, presented as part of this year’s National Historic Ships UK Awards. The Awards celebrate outstanding contributions to maritime heritage across the UK, recognising the volunteers, organisations, and vessels working to keep […]

Tall Ship Glenlee Closed Thursday 11th December

Calendar icon 11-12-2025 10:00 am

The Tall Ship Glenlee will be closed for a private event on Thursday 11th December. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Farewell to Falls of Clyde

Today, we share in the deep sadness felt around the world at the news that the historic vessel Falls of Clyde has been scuttled in Honolulu. Built on the River Clyde in 1878, Falls of Clyde was a proud example of Scotland’s shipbuilding heritage and a symbol of the ingenuity, skill, and ambition that once made the […]

The Tall Ship Glenlee wins top regional tourism award

The Tall Ship Glenlee is thrilled to announce that it has been recognised as the winner of a prestigious tourism award. The Scottish Thistle Awards, with headline sponsors Abbey: The Destination Experts, celebrate the very best of the tourism and events industry in Scotland. They have become an annual celebration of excellence, collaboration and innovation […]

Join Us for Glasgow Doors Open Day 2025!

Calendar icon 20-09-2025 10:00 am

We’re thrilled to be part of this year’s Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival! When: Saturday, 20th SeptemberAdmission: FREE Step aboard our historic ship and enjoy a day packed with fun and discovery: Don’t miss this chance to explore an icon of Glasgow, learn something new, and have a fantastic day out. We can’t wait to […]

A Special Gift for the Tall Ship Glenlee

This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Rodney and Liz Jones to the Tall Ship Glenlee. Rodney is the grandson of Charles Sleggs, who served as Chief Officer of the Islamount between 1918 and 1919, before the ship passed into Italian ownership. Rodney brought a wonderful gift with him: a beautifully framed photograph of […]

Dr Christopher Mason MBE 1941-2025

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the death of our former Chair, Dr ChristopherMason, in Lanzarote. The Tall Ship Glenlee Trust, along with our staff and volunteers, mournhis passing. Dr Mason worked tirelessly from 1991 until his retirement in 2012 to secure the restorationand future of Glenlee. During that time, he witnessed […]

We’re Nominated – Thistle Awards 2025

Glenlee Shortlisted for Prestigious Scottish Thistle Award!

Save the Planet with Stephen Halkett!

Calendar icon 05-08-2025 1:00 pm

Science teacher and stand-up comic Stephen Halkett is on a mission to save planet Earth, and he needs your help!

The Tall Ship Glenlee Tour & Afternoon Tea

Calendar icon 16-07-2025 12:00 pm

Voucher is valid from July 2025 until September 2025, Wed & Fri only, 2 pm-4 pm; subject to availability.

A Grand Day Out Doon the Watter: Team Glenlee Aboard the Waverley

On Sunday 29th June, the staff, volunteers, and trustees of the Tall Ship Glenlee swapped their usual decks for another historic vessel – the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, the iconic PS Waverley

Glenlee and the Tall Ship Races

With Aberdeen preparing to welcome the international fleet of the Tall Ships Races this July, it’s the perfect time for us aboard Glenlee to reflect on the significance of this event in our own recent history.

Glenlee welcomes back Enrique Gómez Lopez!

A few weeks ago, we had the profound honour and joy of welcoming Enrique Gómez Lopez and his two sons, Paco and David, aboard Glenlee.

Celebrating Pride Month at the Tall Ship Glenlee

Flags have long played a vital role in maritime culture. Historically, they’ve been used to declare national identity, signal...

The Tall Ship Glenlee Tour & Afternoon Tea

Guided tour with afternoon tea and optional Prosecco for two aboard The Tall Ship Glenlee.

James (Jim) Ramsay 1935 – 2025

The Trustees and crew of Tall Ship Glenlee were saddened to hear of the death of Jim Ramsay last week.

The Tall Ship Glenlee Trust Board Trustees / Non–Executive Directors Required

The Tall Ship Glenlee Trust is a registered Scottish Charity, accredited museum, and popular Glasgow visitor attraction/events venue welcoming over 100,000 visitors onboard per annum.

Marine Projects Scotland Ltd secures contract for the first phase of Tall Ship Glenlee restoration

Marine Projects Scotland Ltd has been awarded a prestigious contract to undertake the first phase of restoration and remedial work on the internal hull and steelwork of the historic Tall Ship Glenlee.

Joe Duffy 1943 – 2024

It is with great sadness that the Tall Ship Glenlee team learnt the passing of Joe Duffy on Thursday, October 31st.

Roy Smart 1929 – 2024

It was with great regret that everyone at the Glenlee learned of the death last week of one of its longest serving and much respected volunteers, Roy Smart, at the grand age of 95.

Alex Anderson 1946 – 2024

A few days ago we lost Alex Anderson one of our most respected volunteers. Alex worked on Glenlee for over a decade and shared his wide-ranging expertise in electronic engineering on board the ship and in the offices and workshop of the Trust.

The Tall Ship Glenlee to become a paid attraction once again

The Tall Ship Glenlee in Glasgow will become a paid attraction again and reintroduce a small admissions charge for visitors coming onboard from Monday 1st July onwards. Up until now, the iconic and much-loved visitor attraction on the River Clyde, which welcomes 200,000 visitors from around the world annually, was the only free-to-visit historic vessel or museum attraction of […]

Spanish Rear Admiral visits Glenlee/Galatea

On Monday 20th May, keen observers might have noticed a slight novelty aboard Glenlee. Alongside the British Red Ensign flying at the jackstaff, a second flag was hoisted—one that hadn't been seen on the ship in 25 years.

Apply to be our new Events Coordinator!

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours a week, flexible between office admin time and events requirements.

Iain MacDonald 1927 – 2024

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Iain MacDonald.

7 free or affordable things to do with kids in Glasgow

If your kids have ever wondered what lide was like on the high seas, the Tall Ship Glenlee will transport them back to the folden era of sea-faring.

Hamish Hardie MBE 1928 – 2023

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Hamish Hardie (1st December 2023) aged ninety-five.

Families of Wartime Apprentices Visit Glenlee

Wednesday 11th October was a day much awaited by The Tall Ship Glenlee family.

Restoration work begins on Tall Ship Glenlee after £1.8m funding boost

We were delighted to welcome Susan Ripoll to the ship and share the scope of the work that will be happening over the next two years and explain why protecting and maintaining our beautiful Glenlee is so important.

£1.8m funding pot floats The Tall Ship Glenlee’s boat!

The Tall Ship Glenlee has landed £1.8 million in funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) through its Covid-19 Response Fund, successfully keeping the icon of the River Clyde afloat and securing its future for years to come.

The Apprentice’s Tale – Ailsa Dixon

November 2022 saw me skipping university to spend a week aboard the tall ship Glenlee sharing the story of apprentice Ernest ‘Andy’ Andersen with local Glasgow schoolchildren.

Grace and Joe Blog Post

Hi! We are Grace and Joe, we are two university students who are barely in our twenties, and we know more about ships than we ever thought was possible.

The Apprentice’s Tale -Funding Announcement

The Tall Ship Glenlee is delighted to announce that we are one of the recipients of Visit Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 funding.

‘A tall ship and a star to steer her by – setting a course for the future of maritime heritage’.

In rounding off a weekend of celebrations for Glenlee’s 125th the director of Nationals Historic Ships (NHS), Hannah Cunliffe, came to the present the annual lecture entitled, 'A tall ship and a star to steer her by - setting a course for the future of maritime heritage'.

The Tall Ship presents – The Long Voyage.

It was a varied history that has enabled the Tall Ship Glenlee to reach 125 years of age has been captured in a short video, created by Vera Rennie of our Learning Team, as part of our 125th-anniversary celebrations.

125th Anniversary Signals Change for the Tall Ship Glenlee

During The Tall Ship Glenlee’s 125th celebrations the Clyde Maritime Trust announced ambitious plans to ensure the Clyde-built vessel is ship shape for future generations to learn and enjoy from its unique maritime past.

‘Mary Doll’ gets 125th Anniversary Celebrations underway for the Tall Ship Glenlee

As part of The Tall Ship Glenlee’s 125th celebrations the Clyde Maritime Trust welcomes the support of Elaine C Smith as the real-life figurehead for the charity after the ships own ‘Mary Doll’.

The Tall Ship Glenlee: An icon of Glasgow

In addition to the new weather deck, the restoration of Glenlee also included the installation of a new tween deck.

The Restoration of Glenlee begins

Now that Glenlee had returned home to the River Clyde, there was much work to be done. The ship had survived a long and eventful life at sea, but periods of neglect and decay had left the vessel unrecognisable.

The Return to Glasgow: Galatea becomes Glenlee again

Galatea’s final seagoing voyage was in 1959, after which it became a shore-based ship at Ferrol, Spain and continued to serve an educational role.

“…a tall ship and a star to steer her by” Setting a Course for the Future of Maritime Heritage – Tall Ship Glenlee Anniversary Lecture 2021

Every year we mark the anniversary of our launch with our annual lecture. This year we are delighted to welcome Hannah Cunliffe, Director of National Historic Ships, of which we are proud to be a flagship for 2021. Hannah will share her vision of the future for historic vessels.

El orgullo de España – The Pride of Spain

The Galatea years are an incredibly important part of the ship’s history. Being purchased by the Spanish Navy and transformed into a sail training vessel meant that the ship was able to serve a new purpose, and survive long after the end of its days as a cargo vessel.

Changing times for the Tall Ship, from Islamount to Clarastella to Galatea

The extraordinary last voyage of the ship under the name Islamount continued, leaving Sydney on 8th January 1919 heading to Java, a Dutch colony at the time still operating under the restrictions of war, and collecting a cargo of sugar. The ship then travelled to Samarang in Indonesia.

The Last Voyage of the Islamount

The eighteen years spent as Islamount was a fascinating period, encompassing the First World War and one of the ship’s most extraordinary voyages.

Green Credentials Highlighted in National Historic Ships Climate Change Report

The Tall Ship, Glenlee has been highlighted by National Historic Ships for its leading use of renewable energy, and not the wind that powered the ship, but from the Clyde waters it floats upon.

Celebrating 125 years, back where it all began…

The 3rd December 2021 will mark 125 years since Glenlee was first launched on the River Clyde at Port Glasgow in 1896.

Boatbuilding on the Clyde – New Onboard Exhibition

The purpose of the 10-foot dinghy project was two-fold; to work with volunteers to build a traditional wooden dinghy, which could then be displayed on The Tall Ship Glenlee.

Summer of Play

The Scottish Government has designated the summer of 2021 as the summer of play, and we have taken this wholeheartedly, with a range of choices available for the whole family this summer.

Merchant Navy Day 2021

Today we mark Merchant Navy Day. As well as flying the Red Ensign on a daily basis, we are lucky enough to work closely with retired radio officers who proudly served in the Merchant Navy in their younger days.

Nathan Evans

On 15 March, Glenlee was delighted to play host to Nathan Evans. Nathan leapt to fame with his TicTok Electro-Shanty the 'Wellerman'.

Guided Tours are back! With Added Tea!

We are now running two Guided Tours of Glenlee each week. These are on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m. (Tour lasts approx 1 hour)

Ian Ramsay – a Shipbuilding Stalwart

It is with considerable sadness that the team at The Tall Ship Glenlee note the passing of Ian Ramsay.

Fever Concerts

The Event promoter Fever are running a number of concerts on board Glenlee throughout the Summer. 

Tall Ship New Website

The site supports not only Glenlee but also our related activities of Learning Visits, Venue hire and Kelvin Harbour.

Eight Bells

It is with sadness that the Team at The Tall Ship Glenlee learned of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh.

Echoes International

On a cold day in March, Echoes International used Glenlee for continuity for thier annual conference. Using Glenlee as the link, Echoes International were able to link across all their projects for use at the conference.

The Tall Ship Glenlee Tour & Afternoon Tea

Guided tour with afternoon tea and optional Prosecco for two aboard The Tall Ship Glenlee.

Tall Ship Glenlee Closed Wednesday 29th April – Sunday 10th May for Essential Maintenance

Calendar icon 29-04-2026

The Tall Ship Glenlee will be closed 29 April–10 May as crane operations reinstall the main and mizzen masts following essential conservation work and new historic discoveries.