Densely populated (the 3rd most populated UK City), Glasgow stands proudly on the Scottish western lowlands on River Clyde. It gained its prosperity during its 18th to 20th-century shipbuilding era and has never since looked back as it slowly ascended towards a cultural and intellectual superiority.
Officially known as the world’s friendliest city, Glasgow exudes warmth and vibrancy that will surely capture your heart. The calendar here is always packed with events; Doors Open Day, Glasgow Loves Christmas, Great Scottish Run, Glas GLOW and a bevy of music festivals. The city is distinctive and has diverse neighbourhoods filled with world-class architecture and amazing cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Attractions & Tours
It’s a pure delight that one of the richest museums in the world; Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum on Argyle Street is free of admission charge. Check out the beautiful exhibits ranging from natural history to armour and weapons. The red sandstone structure of the museum is pretty and so is its setting… it’s right beside the beautiful 34 acre Kelvingrove Park which has great statues, lovely bridges over rivers, playing arenas, a bandstand, cafe and a lot more.
One day is not enough to see all of it… there are 22 themed state-of-the-art galleries that have a minimum of 8000 exhibits. Look out for the Christ of Saint John of the Cross that’s a creation of Salvador Dali.
Another stunning and free museum is the Riverside Museum with its modernistic jagged exteriors. This is a transport museum with its 3000 plus exhibits showcasing everything from prams to locomotives to antique paintings of cars. Watch the interactive exhibits especially if you are going with kids. Hop on the bus/ train etc. and get the idea about old school Glasgow transport.
Also, feel like a hero when you douse out a simulated fire with the interactive fire quencher engine. The city has rich shipbuilding history and this is the place to learn all about it. The Tall Ship (Glenlee that’s a 3 masted barque restored by maritime trust Clyde) is anchored outside and free to explore.
Yet another free museum – The Burrell Museum was created by the wealthy businessman William Burrell and his wife Constance who magnanimously donated their vast art collection (9000 object strong) to Glasgow back in 1944. You will find this in Pollok Country Park. Do visit for its ancient Chinese porcelain collection (touted to be the richest in the world) and good collections of Cezanne Manet and Degas. More than 200 tapestries, stained glass and armour from medieval times are displayed here.
Then there is the Gallery of Modern Art, Kelvin Hall, Open Museum, Scotland Street School Museum, Mungo museum of Art and Life (all free entry). However, the icing on the museum cake is the one of a kind National Piping Centre that’s an awesome chance for anyone intrigued with Scotland’s national instrument; bagpipes. There is a museum of piping inside which displays a wide range of bagpipes, and the centre has bagpipe courses, bagpipe tours and workshops. Every August this centre organises the world pipe band championship (a truly unique event) on Glasgow green.
Scotland is famous for its splendid architecture and Glasgow contains a hefty portion of that splendour. This is historically a rich city and hence has some of the most lavish Victorian architecture in Europe. Stroll through the city chambers of George Square in the city heart. The square is adorned with flowers and has statues of 12 famous people linked with Glasgow…queen Victoria, Robbie Burns and Walter Scott are amongst them.
Go beyond and you will enter the prosperous merchant district… the epicentre of trade activities that made Glasgow so wealthy in the past. Load up your shopping bags as this area has the best shopping streets in the city. Talk about shopping and the famous architecturally brilliant Buchanan street that’s Glasgow’s biggest pedestrian boulevard, is sure to come up at the top of the list. This boulevard that sweeps from Sauchiehall street to St Enoch street is said to offer one of the best shopping experiences in Europe.
However, one of the stunning architecture that you can see is of Glasgow Science Centre with its elliptical shape and simmering titanium-clad body which every photographer craves for. Inside there are fantastic hands-on science & technology exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, cafes, shops etc. In the same complex, there are Glasgow Tower and the country’s first and best IMAX that hosts planetarium shows and other documentaries on full-dome screen.
Look to the east and you will see Town Hall with its 230 feet tower that was completed in 1890 and capital of Britain’s oldest Commerce Chamber; Merchants House (this is even older; 1605). Look to the south and there are 19th century ornamented warehouses that comprise the merchant city district (now a shopping and restaurant hub).
Glasgow’s main and the busiest station Glasgow Central Station (in fact the largest and busiest in the whole of Scotland) is a huge attraction by itself. This station with Queen Anne style brilliant architecture has had a remarkable past and history since it was first built in 1879.
An expert historian and tour guide will take you below the concourse level and reveal the secrets of the station… you will walk through dark tunnels, climb down and upstairs to see many artefacts that date back to the time of the First World War. You can also see pictures of a village (Grahamstown) that disappeared when the station was constructed. You can also see a Victorian-era platform… and a lot more.
While you will spend some time admiring the Glasgow Cathedral with its medieval design don’t miss the Glasgow Necropolis – a Victorian cemetery located to the east of Glasgow Cathedral that has a thousand stories to say besides its fascinating sculpture.
The 12th century Glasgow Cathedral is also known as High Kirk or Saint Mungo Cathedral. All clear Spartan lines that are free from ornamentation, the most gorgeous room is the ancient crypt that contains the tomb of Saint Mungo (bishopric’s founder) who was buried here in 603 AD. Egyptian mummies and Hindu statues are next doors in the religious museum.
Interestingly the architecture of the city has prompted many directors to choose it for their movie backdrop…watch fast and furious 6 and World War 2 and you will recognise the city. Another fascinating aspect of the city architecture is it’s quite modern… it’s the work done by the famous architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery has rich collections of Reynolds and Rembrandt and Ruben besides hosting separate sections on archaeology, zoology, geology etc. The University Hall with its archers and carvings will remind you strongly of Hogwarts. Also, drop into the Visitor Centre for buying university merchandise and typical Scottish gifts.
Visit the Mackintosh House (his home full of collections from across the world) and the ‘House for an Art Lover’ that sits in a parkland. Peep into the Mackintosh at the Willow that is an exhibition space, tourist centre, and gift shop and tea room rolled into one. . Charles Mackintosh is Glasgow’s hero and cultural icon and incidentally the year 2018 was his 150th birth year.
Mackintosh’s Art Academy with its art nouveau thee deserves special mention for its 3 huge 65 foot swirled windows and a bevy of smaller ones that will remind you of a castle. Check out the iconic rooms inside; the principal’s room, Mackintosh room, gallery and library etc. A student-led guided tour is recommended.
While you are on the Mackintosh House that’s a part of the Hunterian Gallery in the University of Glasgow campus, take the opportunity to tour this historic university. The campus is incredibly pretty and has more than 100 listed buildings and there are dozens of stories about its 550 years history that can fill a book. Take the services of a student guide and go on a guided campus tour…it will last for approximately an hour and you will derive immense pleasure from it.
Incidentally, Glasgow means “Dear Green Place” in Gaelic and there are more than 90 gardens and parks to choose from here. In the south of the city, there is the expansive Pollok Country Park that you can cycle in or picnic in. there is the scope of visiting Pollock house and waving to the Highland cows.
West Glasgow has the Kelvingrove Park along the banks of the River Kelvin. Also, there is the Glasgow Botanic Gardens that has impressive glass miniature houses and a rich collection of tropical flora. Notable amongst these is 1873 dated Kibble Palace that’s the biggest glasshouse of Britain and it has an array of rare orchids, ferns sourced from New Zealand and Australia and flora from America and the east. Also, drop in the Bella Houston Park that held the empire exhibition which almost 13 million people came to visit.
Go east and you will find the tranquil Glasgow Green that’s the city’s oldest park. The ravishing Doulton fountain (46 feet high and the biggest terracotta fountain) and the Arch of Mac Lennan/ Nelson’s Monument (1806 built to celebrate Horatio Nelson’s conquests) are just a few of the attractions here. The winter garden that lies at the back of People’s Palace in Glasgow green has a lovely selection of tropical fauna.
The People’s Palace chronicles the lives of the Glaswegian working class and is aptly known as the social history museum of Glasgow. Check out fascinating aspects of the lives of commoners like the Barrowland Ballroom, Steamie, Single End etc. Once you are at the Glasgow Greens don’t forget to pay a visit to the iconic Templeton Carpet Factory… after all, it supplied carpets for many British coronations.
You can learn a lot about the culture, heritage, history, architecture and even the traditional cuisine of the city when you take a walking tour. There are both group and private walking tours offered, and some of them are excellent.
Read: Great walking tours of Glasgow.
A great activity in Glasgow would be to take the Brewery tour… this city prides itself on Tennent’s as much as Dublin prides itself on Guinness. So naturally a trip to the Well Park Brewery; the birthplace of the Tennent is in order. The brewery focuses on Scotland’s football and music legacy as the brand Tennent’s closely identifies with these aspects. There are lots of exhibits inside that take you through almost 450 years of music and sport history so a guided tour is recommended; the tipple at the end is just the bonus.
Another yet more marvellous activity will be to pay a tribute to the highland single malt at the Glengoyne Distillery that has been operating since 1833 at Dumgoyne i.e. a little north of Glasgow. Take a distillery tour to know why their whiskies taste so different and indulge yourself with their whiskey chocolate pairing sessions.
Read: The best distillery tours in and around Glasgow you should not miss.
Once breweries are done, a tour of the famous stadiums is a must especially if you are a sports lover. Ibrox or Celtic Park is one of the best venues along with Hampden Park (Scotland’s national stadium) and a visit to the Football museum should naturally follow. Celtic Park, the home ground of the legendary Celtic FC has such a fan following that it has been nicknamed ‘Paradise’. The newly refurbished stadium offers great tours that expose visitors to the club’s thrilling history.
North of the Glasgow city centre there is the Pinkston Water Sports Centre that’s popular amongst tourists. You can also try your hand at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. There is also an indoor snowboarding facility with ski slopes that have actual snow and an ice arena.
Read: All the great places to visit in Glasgow
Glasgow is a great place for exploring the lovely Scottish countryside via day trips. Loch Lomond is just a short train ride away and then you can go on a scenic train ride from Balloch to Oban here exploring the Isle of Hebrides and Skye begins. If you go southwest from Glasgow you can explore the Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire region which are connected deeply with poet Robbie Burns. Go east and you can explore historic Edinburgh.
Read: The wonderful day trips from Glasgow
Food & Drinks
Ashton Lane is a must-visit for sampling the authentic Glasgow flavour. It’s a winding cobbled street in west Glasgow that has a great mix of restaurants and bars and an independent cinema. Winter evenings see it lit up with twinkling lights and summers see people sitting out and enjoying their food while the odd musician plays away. Stop at Ubiquitous Chip that’s one of Glasgow’s best restaurants. They are known for their traditional Scottish dishes like Haggis. The bar inside Wee Pub is also great for a glass or pint.
For breakfast visit Martha’s which serves health-oriented delicious eats and packed cold meals with the calorie value printed on the menu. Their in-house nutritionist offers free consultations. Try the chipotle chicken pack with avocado salad. For vegan food visit Momo that has a bar and an independent record shop too. All the favourite pub food of the world have their own vegan versions here.
Kimchi Cult is in the West end and serves Korean traditional food like fried chicken in gochujang sauce, Korean purple rice with fried egg and vegetables. Also in West end is Hug and Pint that serves pan Asian comfort eats like jackfruit curry and mushroom rice pudding with shallots. They usually have a 5 dish menu that changes every day.
The Mini Grill Steakhouse is near Bath Street and it’s a mid-range place that does wonderful steaks and dim sums with fresh seasonal produce. Try the haggis, burgers and hanger steak meals …the menu keeps changing. Number 16 on 16 Byres road serves excellent Gnocchi, pork belly and bavette steaks…the food is a mix of Scottish and world food.
Nippon Kitchen on George Street serves delish sushi platters and some have more than 30 pieces. The bento boxes are very popular amongst the locals and so is the Nippon old fashioned Cocktail. Riverhills Courtyard operates a restaurant, bar and baker in Gordon Street….everything from breakfast to after-dinner drinks is served here with panache.
For fine dining check out Bilson Eleven on Anfield Place… very elegant amuse-bouche offerings and excellent cheese platters. The Dakota Bar and Grill on West Regent Street is also a fancy set-up with an amazing champagne bar and lovely food. Try lobster, monkfish curry and the in house bread; everything is presented beautifully.
On Argyle Street is the iconic Two Fat Ladies At The Buttery which is sort of a decadent celebration of rich food. Steak, haggis, scallops, salads, and lemon soles…just try each item from the menu and you will like it. Cail Bruich on Great Western road serves vegan food too and in a sophisticated setting overlooking the water. The stone bass, smoked pigeon and strawberry gazpacho are an absolute delight. Try the tasting five-course menu and you will be hooked.
The specialist gin and whiskey bars of Glasgow are worth an entire evening of discovery. Learn about the local home-brewed tonics and their very first craft gin brand ‘Makar Glasgow Gin’ that was launched in October 2014 by the Glasgow distillery company. Self-confident Brewdog (near Kelvingrove) and Indy brewers (Templeton building) have icon wheat beers and lagers that the locals are faithful to. The Drygate brewing company offers a nice chance to sample 24 types of lager beers and observe the brewing process.
You can explore several nice food tours in Glasgow and book online from this Viator site.
Nightlife
Glasgow is UNESCO’s first city of Music and more than 100 events happen every week. Catch the ones that fall your way when you visit. The 12,000 capacity worth dazzling SSE Hydro is one of the best venues but there is also King Tut’s that’s something of a local legend.
700 bars, nightclubs and pubs light up Glasgow at night and there are 7 cinemas so you will be spoilt for choice. Add to this cabaret clubs and comedy clubs and you will be positively confused about what to choose.
For a pure Scottish night out visit the heritage bars and pubs of Glasgow. Sions is one such example… there is the traditional Friday night Ceilidh where the night can be danced away with the locals who actually help you dance the Scottish way. Scottish folk music and fine whiskey are best enjoyed in old pubs like The Clutha, Teuchters Triangle (Park bar, Islay Inn and Ben Nevis), and Babbity Bowster (Merchant City Blackfriars street) etc.
The 19th century Horseshoe bar on Drury Street is 32 meters high and has a long Victorian bar that serves solid ale and great pub food. On Bell Street, there is the cask beer hub Blackfriars who have 5 ale taps and regular brewer events.
Then there is the Scottish ale house Bon Accord on North Street that sells 800 different beers and has a whiskey bar with more than 400 malts. Gin 71 Glasgow on Renfield street offers great gin-based cocktails…it stocks more than 70 gin blends from across the world. You can buy their homemade tonics too.
For some sophisticated settings visit the baroque style music venue and bar Arta that’s on Albion street. It has got velvet upholstery, candlelight and a great cocktail list. Or head off to Club O that’s on Byres road…there are 2 bars here and a club and the whole place is on the site of an erstwhile church. The Corinthian Club on Ingram Street is 5 floored and has a pub, piano bar, casino and huge chandeliers and opulent mosaics. You will be intrigued to know that this was once a bank and then became a court.
For live music King Tut’s Wah Hut is good. It’s small, intimate and has live bands each night and believes in promoting new talent…this is on Vincent Street. Below the Glasgow central station is Arches that has a theatrical other-worldly vibe. Catch Avant-garde productions and listen to live music ranging from indie to folk. The 1030 dancehall converted concert venue Barrowland is good for catching longer productions, concerts and dance shows.
The west end of Glasgow is particularly conducive for whiskey tours…catch one that will take you across different bars and learn about the history of whiskey. Alternatively, check out the comedy clubs of Glasgow; there is the Stand comedy club and Chris Henry comedy crèche on woodlands road and the Rotunda comedy club on Tunnel Street.
Explore the best bar, nightclub, pub tours in Glasgow and book online from this Viator site.
Shopping
The city is considered to be one of the best shopping destinations in the world with its self-designated ‘Style Mile’ or a square mile of gorgeous independent boutiques, designer outlets of almost all international brands and a record number of flagship stores all creating the largest concentrated retail centre in Britain.
Head off to Buchanan Street, the heart of the style mile and flip through stores like Bench, Zara, Russell and Bromley, Diesel etc. At the end of Buchanan Street is the dizzying House of Fraser with its opulent beauty hall and in-house boutiques of Prada, Gucci and Hermes. At the other end of the street are the giant Buchanan galleries with 4 floors packed with 90 retail outlets.
In the middle of everything, there is Princes square that is a super stylish mall lying below a carved glass roof. The Scottish Craft Centre here is a must-visit…it showcases the work done by Scotland’s best craft smiths.
Move on to the Argyll Arcade that’s the oldest covered shopping arcade in the UK and is bests known for its collection of jewellery brands. More than 30 jewel stores huddle together under its iron-framed roof that’s an attraction in itself. The arcade dates back to 1904 and is worth a look even if you don’t buy anything.
Then there is St Enoch Centre with its “biggest glass structure in Europe” that offers the scope of shopping for the entire family. There are Boots, Debenhams, Bhs, kids play areas and the man ride simulator along with Scotland’s largest food court. If the lure of Italian fashion is your poison then worry not, Glasgow has the atmospheric Italian centre (John Street). Most branded Italian stores along with UK’s very first Versace store are located here.
Go to the area lying east of George square and you will reach the Merchant Square Indoor shopping zone. The shopping experience is unhurried and relaxed and there are many smallish art brands and craft outlets supplying the perfect souvenir to carry home.
If independent fashion is more your thing then the cobbled paths around Hillhead underground station in west Glasgow may be ideal. For art and craft stores you should check out Cresswell Lane and Ashton Lane. Some stores worth mentioning here are Jolly Molly (eccentric home décor).
If vintage shopping is what you want then the rather unobtrusive looking Dowanside Lane and Ruthven Lane should be your haunts. Vintage clothing and jewellery and some local iconic stores like Starry Starry Nights and Glorious exist here. And if antique artefacts, carpets, pictures, jewellery and retro furniture excite you then Antiques Warehouse on Lancefield Street is the best destination… scores of dealers sell their stuff here.
The De Courcy’s Antique Craft Arcade on Cresswell Lane is famous for homeware and vintage records while the Victorian Village Antiques on West Regent street is also great. For great photographic value and a unique experience check out the Barras Market in Gallowgate that sells everything from furniture to fake CDs.
How To Reach & Get Around
Glasgow airport is 13 km west of Glasgow city and there are 130 or more flights that run here from many Scottish and European cities that include London, Paris, Amsterdam, Dubai, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Geneva etc. Get an airport bus from outside to the Glasgow city centre …they depart every 10 minutes and run all day long. Alternatively, you can take an airport taxi.
First Bus is the leading bus operator in Glasgow and they run buses on 100 routes across the whole city and its suburbs. Buchanan Bus station is the main station and Citylink buses will take you to north Scotland while Megabus and National Express coaches will take you south.
A good way to tour Glasgow is to take the open-top hop on hop off bus that run from 9.30 in the morning to 4.30 p.m.
The Glasgow subway (Metro Rail) is 120 years old (locally called Clockwork Orange) and is the 3rd oldest underground system right after Budapest and London. There are only 15 stops and 2 lines and the city’s best attractions can be reached via the subway (the city heart and south and west are serviced) and the route maps are simple. If you are in Glasgow for some days then take a subway smartcard that will get you hefty discounts…downloading the subway map might help too.
The main station is Glasgow Central (GLC) that’s linked by railways to the south like Kilmarnock, Ayr etc. and then across to England (main operator Virgin Trains). The Glasgow Queen Street station (GLQ) has connections to north Scotland and Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen.
You can buy the SPT roundabout ticket that allots subway and train travel to 110 stations in the city and suburbs. Buy the tickets through Scotrail/ SPT (Strathclyde Partnership Transport) travel centre or online from the official website.
Glasgow doesn’t have its own ferry port. The port Troon (Ayrshire) is 35 miles away while the Loch Ryan Port Cairnryan (Galloway and Dumfries) is 80 miles away. 6 daily crossings happen between Belfast and Cairnryan while 9 crossings happen between Larne and Cairnryan daily. Both ports have good connectivity to Glasgow via train, bus and rail.
There are plentiful taxis around and most of them are black with an illuminated taxi sign on the vehicle. You can also hire a taxi from any operator like Glasgow taxis for cross-city/ airport travel.
Like many European cities, Glasgow actively encourages biking as a pollution-free healthy transport option. You can try installing the Nextbike’s android app on your phone and use it to rent a bike across the 43 locations around Glasgow.
Read: How to get around Glasgow easily.
Read: Great guided and self-guided bike tours in Glasgow.
When To Visit
Scottish weather is unpredictable and Glasgow is not an exception. Summers are generally delicious and begin in mid-June signalling peak tourist season that runs till August. Attractions have longer visiting hours, daylight hours are at their peak and hotel prices and queues soar high. Transport options like flights and ferries have denser connections and night buses frequent the city.
April to May is good if you can handle the capricious weather and want to save a bit on hotel and airfare. The same holds true for September –October though chances of rainfall are higher in these months. Winters should only be attempted if you love the chill and the idea of a snow-covered sparkling city attracts you.
Read: Weather in Glasgow and other major cities of Scotland.
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.