Glasgow Chamber Of Commerce

Glasgow's much anticipated newest visitor attraction, the Riverside Museum, opened its doors at the end of June.

The museum was designed by Zaha Hadid, arguably the world's most in-demand architect. The £74 million project is Hadid's first major public commission to open in the UK. It has been funded by Glasgow City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Riverside Museum Appeal.

The museum's major attractions have been designed and built into the structure of the building - with some arriving before the completion of the structure, such is their size. Highlights include, the Wall of Cars, the hanging Bicycle Velodrome, South African Locomotive, No9 Tank Engine, Motorbike Deck, Ship Launch Show, the Rest and Be Thankful, and three re-created period streets.

As well as the old, there are more recent star attractions, including Graeme Obree's hand-made bikes which made him a world-champion and the late Colin McRae's Subaru Impreza that he drove to win the World Rally Car Championship. Danny MacAskill became a YouTube sensation after the release of his terrifying video Way Back Home. At the museum, visitors can see the bike made famous through gravity defying stunts and social media.

The Riverside Museum Appeal (RMA) is a charitable trust established to raise £5 million in sponsorship and donations from companies, trusts and individuals for the development of the new Riverside Museum. To date, it has raised almost £4.6 million, during one of the worst economic downturns in recent memory.

The museum offers something incredibly eye-catching to offer Glasgow's overseas tourists, just when it is most needed, as well as providing a great facility for local people. This glorious mixture of the authentic history of the city and of contemporary architecture and design, and its position on the river is a real attraction, and one of which Glasgow will become very proud.

The Riverside Museum is at 100 Pointhouse Place, Glasgow, G3 8RS.