On this page:
- Guided building tours (20 & 21 September)
- Family Baking Session – Bake chocolate marshmallow teacakes (20 September)
- Family Activity for Glasgow Doors Open Days: Miss Cranston’s Classroom (21 September)
- Public Talk: The colours of tea with Dr Yupin Chung (28 September)
- Free Family Activity: The Vampire’s Kitchen (4 & 11 October)
- 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.
September events
Guided building tours for Glasgow Doors Open Days
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September, 10am and 11am
Tickets: Free (places are limited, booking is essential; bookings open 1 September)
Join us for a very special free tour to learn more about the history and design of the original Willow Tea Rooms building, the restoration of this Mackintosh masterpiece, and the visionary Edwardian entrepreneur, Miss Kate Cranston.
Learn about the stories of the tea rooms and experience first-hand the astounding interior design work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald in their commitment to an Art Nouveau ‘total artwork’ approach to the building.
The tour includes visits to the ground floor saloons, as well as the less-often accessed Salon de Luxe and Billiard Room.
Places are limited and booking is essential. If you are unable to attend, please refund your tickets so that others can participate.
To enquire further, please contact obraid@nts.org.uk or telephone 0141 204 1903.
Find out more about accessibility
Book your ticket online (from 1 September)
The Scots Kitchen: Family Baking Session – Bake chocolate marshmallow teacakes
Saturday 20 September, 11.30am–1.30pm
Tickets: £7
Bring your family along to bake and decorate historical Scottish sweet treats to take home!
In this session our Head of Pastry, Jazmine Spears, will teach you and your family how to bake chocolate marshmallow teacakes. While your sweet treats are baking, we will take you on a family-friendly tour of the original Willow Tea Rooms building.
Part of The Scots Kitchen: Saturday Morning Baking Sessions for Families in 2025.
- Workshops are suitable for children aged 5–12, but all are welcome.
- Places are limited, and booking is essential.
- All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- All children must have a booked paid place, but adults accompanying a child do not need to book paid places.
To enquire further, please contact obraid@nts.org.uk or telephone 0141 204 1903.
Family activity for Glasgow Doors Open Days: Miss Cranston’s Classroom
Sunday 21 September, 1.30–2.30pm
Tickets: Free (places are limited, booking is essential; bookings open 1 September)
Bring your family and get a taste of 1903 in this extra-special Living History experience.
Meet Miss Kate Cranston and take part in her interactive classroom to find out if you have what it takes to work in a turn-of-the-century tea room. Practise your mental arithmetic, copper-plate handwriting, Mackintosh-inspired design skills and – most importantly – the art of serving the perfect cup of tea!
This workshop is suitable for families with children that are 9-12 years old, but all are welcome. Please be aware that Miss Cranston may be loud and sometimes strict; this may be alarming for younger children or children with additional support or sensory needs.
- Places are limited and booking is essential.
- All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Both children and adults must have booked places.
- If you are unable to attend, please refund your tickets so that another family can participate.
This new workshop was originally developed for primary schools with Yilin Zhu and Qiyao Hu, students from University of Glasgow's MSc Museum Education, and actress Lesley Robertson. Costume, hair and make-up were generously produced by Flavia Burroni Miglio, Gilberto Miglio and Scottish Opera. Testing for the workshop was undertaken in collaboration with Golfhill Primary School, St Brides Primary School and St Aloysius Junior School.
To enquire further, please contact obraid@nts.org.uk or telephone 0141 204 1903.
Find out more about accessibility
Book your ticket online (from 1 September)
The Dug Out – Public Talk: The colours of tea with Dr Yupin Chung
Sunday 28 September, 1–2.30pm
Tickets: £7
From one plant, tea makers can create different categories of tea. In this talk, Yupin will explore the colours of tea, followed by a unique tea tasting. Enjoy the delicate flavours of teas enhanced by the sweetness of Scotland’s famous soft water.
Dr Yupin Chung is a curator, art historian and Chair of The Seven Strings – Tea Connoisseur Society based in Glasgow. Drawing on historical sources and her own extensive experiences as she journeyed throughout China, Yupin not only provides piquant impressions of a beauty now departed but also gives practical information for the enjoyment of fine teas and of the attractive ceramic accessories that enrich the experience of brewing and drinking varied teas. In her research areas she specialises in oriental design influences in the Western world, the visual culture of tea and the Scottish tea merchants.
Part of The Dug Out: Sunday afternoon talks for the public in 2025.
Dig deeper into the inspirations and history surrounding the original Willow Tea Rooms building with our series of talks for the public. An expert leads all talks in their field and includes a chance to ask questions in one of our historical tea rooms.
To enquire further, please contact us on obraid@nts.org.uk or 0141 204 1903.
October events
The Vampire’s Kitchen
Saturday 4 October
10.30am–12.30pm or 2–4pm
Saturday 11 October
1.30–2.45pm or 3–4.15pm
Tickets: Free
Please note: The workshop runs across two Saturdays, and participants will be expected to attend one session on both dates.
A sweet and spooky event for 7–12-year-olds in collaboration with the University of Glasgow. Learn about the history of sugar while making your own spooky afternoon tea stand and cupcakes.
Are you a family living in Glasgow or the Central Belt? Join us to take part in a University of Glasgow research project about sugar awareness, ethical choices, and the sweet and spooky history of sugar. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires as part of the research, and during the sessions participants will:
- Design your own ‘sweet-and-spooky’–inspired afternoon tea stand to take home and use
- Make elaborate sugar-craft cupcakes with pastry chefs from David Duncan Sugarcraft School
Learn more about the history of sugar through spooky stories and true tales from the past to develop a better understanding of why we crave sugar and how we can consume it ethically and in moderation to avoid becoming ‘a sugar vampire’.
- Free family activity
- Workshops are suitable for children aged 7–12 years old and one accompanying parent.
- Places are limited; booking is essential.
To enquire further, please contact laura.eastlake@glasgow.ac.uk.
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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