On this page:
- October Week Family Activity: Make a spooky castle afternoon tea stand (14, 15 & 16 October)
- Adult Art Workshop: Make a hand-bound book with Toben Lewis (18 October)
- Family Baking Session: Bake pumpkin pie (25 October)
- Adult Halloween event: Spirits of the Tea Rooms (25 October)
- Adult Art Workshop: Make an embossed copper box with Bryony Knox (15 November)
- Family Baking Session: Bake Scottish snowballs (29 November)
- Family Baking Session: Decorate gingerbread cookies (13 & 14 December)
Family and adult learning activities at Mackintosh at the Willow offer different ways to engage with and discover the stories of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, his wife Margaret Macdonald and their patron, the Edwardian businesswoman Kate Cranston. We run regular adult art workshops, public talks, special seasonal events and a popular family activity programme during the school holidays.
October events
October Week Family Activity: Make a spooky castle afternoon tea stand
Tuesday 14 October, 2–3.30pm
Wednesday 15 October, 2–3.30pm
Thursday 16 October, 2–3.30pm
Tickets: £7
Did you know that Charles Rennie Mackintosh loved the type of Scottish castles that would also inspire famous Gothic horror stories? In this workshop, you will learn more about the connections between Mackintosh and Dracula while decorating your own spooky Scottish castle-themed afternoon tea stand to take home and use. It will be the perfect complement to any Halloween sweet treats and parties you might be having.
- Workshops are suitable for children aged 5–12 years.
- Places are limited, and booking is essential.
- All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- All children and adults wishing to attend an afternoon tea event must have a booked and paid place.
- Adults solely accompanying a child do not require a paid place.
To enquire further, please contact obraid@nts.org.uk or telephone 0141 204 1903.
The Glasgow Style – Adult Art Workshop: Make a hand-bound book with Toben Lewis
Saturday 18 October, 10.30am–4pm
Tickets: £95 per person
Learn how to create a hand-bound book with tutor Toben Lewis, inspired by Glasgow Style artists such as Talwin Morris and Ethel Larcombe. The workshop begins with a tour of our historic building, followed by the bookbinding workshop, and a break for soup and a sandwich with tea or coffee. All materials, food and drink are included in the ticket price of £95.
Part of The Glasgow Style: Saturday Art Workshops for Adults in 2025
Learn techniques associated with the iconic Glasgow Style in our workshops for adults. All workshops include a guided tour of the original Willow Tea Rooms building, professional tuition, and refreshments in our historic tea rooms.
To enquire further, please contact obraid@nts.org.uk or telephone 0141 204 1903.
The Scots Kitchen – Family Baking Session: Bake pumpkin pie
Saturday 25 October, 11.30am–1.30pm
Tickets: £7 per child
Bring your family along to bake and decorate historical Scottish sweet treats to take home!
In this session our Head Chef, Jaz Spears, will teach you and your family how to bake a pumpkin pie. While your sweet treats are baking, we will take you on a family-friendly tour of the original Willow Tea Rooms building.
- Workshops are suitable for children 5–12 years old, but all are welcome.
- Places are limited and booking is essential.
- All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- All children and any adults wishing to bake the recipe must have a booked paid place, but adults solely accompanying a child do not need to book paid places.
Part of The Scots Kitchen: Saturday Morning Baking Sessions for Families in 2025
To enquire further, please contact obraid@nts.org.uk or telephone 0141 204 1903.
Adult Halloween event: Spirits of the Tea Rooms
Saturday 25 October, 6.15–9.15pm
Tickets: £29 per person (includes arrival cocktails and canapes)
Join us for an unforgettable night of mysticism, fortune-telling, mind-reading and historical intrigue with Cara Hamilton and Avi Lago!
Avi Lago teaches the ancient art of tasseomancy and Cara Hamilton presents an evening filled with spiritualism, fortune-telling, historical artefacts and uncanny powers.
Cara is a specialist in mind-reading, the paranormal, mesmerism and spiritualism, and she captivates audiences worldwide. Her shows, named a top ten must-see by The Times, have sold out across the UK, Germany, Canada and the USA. As an astrologer, psychic and paranormal consultant, her insights are both entertaining and informative.
Avi Lago leads an interactive workshop on tasseomancy, the art of reading tea leaves. With roots in magick, shamanism and Western occultism, Avi’s expertise in tarot, mediumship and traditional witchcraft will leave you spellbound. As an Ayurvedic Consultant and member of the British Association of Vedic Astrology, he offers Jyotish consultations, combining birth chart analysis and Vedic counselling.
Immerse yourself in the mystical world of Spirits of the Tea Rooms, where tea leaves reveal the future and spirits share their secrets. Book now for an unforgettable evening of wonder and intrigue.
November events
The Glasgow Style – Adult Art Workshop: Make an embossed copper box with Bryony Knox
Saturday 15 November, 10.30am–4pm
Tickets: £80 per person
An extra date due to popular demand! Learn how to create an embossed copper box with tutor Bryony Knox, inspired by Glasgow Style artists such as Margaret Gilmour or Frances Macdonald. The workshop begins with a tour of our historic building, followed by the embossing workshop, and a break for scones, cream, and jam with tea or coffee. All materials, food and drink are included with the ticket price of £80.
Part of The Glasgow Style: Saturday Art Workshops for Adults in 2025
Learn techniques associated with the iconic Glasgow Style in our workshops for adults. All workshops include a guided tour of the original Willow Tea Rooms building, professional tuition, and refreshments in our historic tea rooms.
To enquire further, please contact obraid@nts.org.uk on 0141 204 1903.
The Scots Kitchen – Family Baking Session: Bake Scottish snowballs
Saturday 29 November, 11.30am–1.30pm
Tickets: £7 per child
Bring your family along to bake and decorate historical Scottish sweet treats to take home!
In this session our Head Chef, Jaz Spears, will teach you and your family how to bake some Scottish snowballs. While your sweet treats are baking, we will take you on a family-friendly tour of the original Willow Tea Rooms building.
- Workshops are suitable for children 5–12 years old, but all are welcome.
- Places are limited and booking is essential.
- All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- All children and any adults wishing to bake the recipe must have a booked paid place, but adults solely accompanying a child do not need to book paid places.
Part of The Scots Kitchen: Saturday Morning Baking Sessions for Families in 2025
To enquire further, please contact obraid@nts.org.uk or telephone 0141 204 1903.
December events
The Scots Kitchen – Family Baking Session: Decorate gingerbread cookies
Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December, 11.30am–1.30pm
Tickets: £7 per child
Bring your family along to bake and decorate historical Scottish sweet treats to take home!
In this session our Head Chef, Jaz Spears, will teach you and your family how to decorate gingerbread cookies. While your sweet treats are setting, we will take you on a family-friendly tour of the original Willow Tea Rooms building.
- Workshops are suitable for children 5–12 years old, but all are welcome.
- Places are limited and booking is essential.
- All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- All children and any adults wishing to bake the recipe must have a booked paid place, but adults solely accompanying a child do not need to book paid places.
Part of The Scots Kitchen: Saturday Morning Baking Sessions for Families in 2025
To enquire further, please contact obraid@nts.org.uk or telephone 0141 204 1903.
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