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Glasgow might be Scotland’s second city but it is Scotland’s largest city and possibly most vibrant city. Since Glasgow held the title of European City of Culture in 1990, it has regenerated itself as a major visitor friendly city. It might not be the most central of cities with regards to its attractions but it offers plenty of variety and scope for all visitors.
These pages will highlight the attractions in Glasgow. They are broken down into various sections which are: City Centre, Merchant Quarter, West End and East End before finally concluding with Glasgow’s other attractions. Glasgow is synonymous with Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his key Glasgow sights are included.
GLASGOW CITY CENTRE
Glasgow City Centre can be classed to be the grid planned area which is bordered by Cowcaddens Road to the North and Argyle Street to the south, whilst the M8 Motorway borders it to the west and Buchanan Street to the east. Beyond Buchanan Street is the Merchant City. This page will focus on Sauchiehall Street and Buchanan Street, as this is where most of the attractions are situated. The city centre is characterised by the very steep glacial drumlins.
TENEMENT HOUSE: Buccleuch Street. Open: Saturday to Monday, 1100-1600 The tenement was owned by Miss Agnes Toward and is a time capsule into Glasgow’s past.
GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART: CLOSED Until further notice.
WILLOW TEA ROOMS: Sauchiehall Street. Open: Monday to Saturday, 0900-1700, Sunday, 1300-1700. A Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed tearoom, with many original features still in situ. They also have a sister café on Buchanan Street, same hours of opening.
BUCHANAN GALLERIES: Glasgow’s major indoor shopping centre with the statue to Donald Dewar at its entrance.
THE LIGHTHOUSE: Open: Monday to Saturday, 1030-1700, Sunday, 1200-1700. Cost: Free Admission*. Café: Monday to Saturday, 1030-1630, Sunday, 1200-1630. The ‘Doocot’ Café is located on the fifth level. The Lighthouse is officially the Glasgow Centre for Architecture and Design, and houses the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Centre. The former home of the Glasgow Herald was designed by Mackintosh and the helical staircase offers fine views across the city. There is also a viewing platform on the fifth floor. *The Lighthouse used to charge entry to the Mackintosh Centre, this has been dropped but double check. The ground floor is now a Pasta restaurant – Sugo.
MERCHANT CITY
The Merchant City was developed from the 1750 period onwards and became an area associated with the Tobacco Lords, who dealt in Tobacco, Sugar and Tea. The area was symbolised by their residences and warehouses. Over time the area became the centre for the fruit, vegetable and cheese markets. The Merchant City boundaries are Buchanan Street to the West and the High Street to the East.
GALLERY OF MODERN ART: Open: Monday to Wednesday and Saturday, 1000-1700. Thursday, 1000-2000, Friday and Sunday, 1100-1700. Free Admission. Café: As Gallery, last service 30 minutes before closing. Gallery is housed in the Neo Classical Royal Exchange. Look out for the Duke of Wellington festooned with a traffic cone. Exchange Square is very much a coffee and food location.
GEORGE SQUARE: This is the civic centre of Glasgow and main gathering place. A fine open space, festooned with monuments, laid out in 1781. The imposing City Chambers and the Milan inspired Italian Chambers (shopping and cafes) are both at the East End.
HUTCHEON’S HALL: Open: Monday to Saturday, 1000-1700. Café Restaurant and Hall can be viewed. Built, 1802-05. Hutcheon’s Hall is one of Glasgow’s finest buildings.
MERCHANT’S SQUARE: Ingram Street,Part of the old fruit and vegetable markets. Merchant’s Square has many cafes, bars and restaurants all under one roof.
WEST END
The West End of Glasgow has some fine attractions and some of the best museums in the United Kingdom, as well as the University of Glasgow and Kelvingrove Park.
KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM: Argyle Street, G3 8AG. Open: Monday to Thursday and Sunday 1000-1700, Friday and Sunday 1100-1700. Free Admission. Café: Museum has a well sized café, Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 1000-1600, Friday and Sunday 1100-1600. Museum also has a coffee shop. Kelvingrove is a wonderful museum, revamped a few years back. It offers a mix of exhibits, plus some great art. On a fine day Kelvingrove Park is a fine place to wander. Transport: U/Kelvinhall 5 Mins or buses 9/16/23/42/62
RIVERSIDE MUSEUM: Pointhouse Place, G3 8RS.Open: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 1000-1700, Friday and Sunday, 1100-1600. Free Admission. Café: Same opening as Kelvingrove Museum above. Transport: U/Kelvinhall 10 Minutes or U/Govan and take the ferry across the Clyde, Cost: Adult £3, Child £2. Mainly a transport museum with a Clyde built tall ship on the quay.
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW: Founded in 1451 and originally based at the Cathedral. The University moved to Kelvingrove in 1870 and its main entrance is on University Avenue, G12 8QQ. The University has a number of excellent museums. The campus has numerous refreshment outlets. Each museum requires that large groups inform them of planned arrival times. Transport: U/Hillhead, 5 minutes to University Gates along University Avenue
HUNTERIAN MUSEUM: Open: Tuesday to Saturday, 1000-1700, Sunday, 1100-1600, Closed Monday. Free Admission. William Hunter’s collection ranges from paleontology through to archaeology.
HUNTERIAN ART GALLERY: Open: Tuesday to Saturday, 1000-1700, Sunday, 1100-1600. Closed Monday. Free Admission. A magnificent gallery that has a great collection of works by Whistler, some excellent Charles Rennie Mackintosh interiors and some other fine art, especially Scottish Colourists.
HUNTERIAN MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY: Open: Monday to Friday, 0900-1700, Closed Saturday and Sunday. Free Admission. It is Imperative to book for groups of eight or more.
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW CAMPUS TOURS: Tours: Tuesday to Sunday at 1400. Private tours are available on request. Tours depart from visitor centre in main building beyond University Gates.
EAST END
The East End of Glasgow is historically where Glasgow was located before it shifted westwards from the eighteenth century onwards. It begins at the Tolbooth/Glasgow Cross, with the High Street bringing you towards the religious heart of Glasgow, whilst London Road will bring you towards Glasgow Green. Transport: U/St Enoch, then 10 minute walk.
TOLBOOTH STEEPLE: Situated at the Glasgow Cross and historically the heart of Glasgow. It was here that executions took place, ranging from witches to traitors.
TRON THEATRE: Trongate. Café, Monday to Saturday,1000 and Sunday, 1200.
PEOPLE’S PALACE: The Green, G40 1AT. Open: Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday, 1000-1700, Friday and Sunday, 1100-1700. Free Admission. WINTER GARDENS: Daily, 1000-1700. But as of 2019 Currently Closed. The People’s Palace covers Glasgow life from 1750 to the 21st Century and is situated on Glasgow Green, common land since the medieval period. The Doulton Fountain is magnificent.
BARRAS MARKET: Open: Saturday and Sunday, 1000-1700. Certainly not Covent Garden, but if you have the right group might be an eye opener.
GLASGOW CATHEDRAL: Open: April to September, Monday to Saturday, 1000-1600, Sunday, 1300-1600. October to March, 1000-1630, 1300-1600. Free Admission, but donation greatly appreciated. Last admission is 30/45 minutes before closing. Cathedral is dedicated to St Mungo (St Kentigern), present Cathedral consecrated in 1197. Well worth the effort. Only Cathedral to escape the Scottish Reformation unroofed. Toilets in building opposite.
PROVANDS LORDSHIP MUSEUM: Open: Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday, 1000-1700, Friday and Sunday, 1100-1700, Closed Monday. Free Admission. No Café. Medieval house.
ST MUNGO’S MUSEUM OF RELIGIOUS LIFE: Open: Monday to Saturday, 1000-1700, Sunday, 1100-1700. Free Admission. Contact: 0141 276 1625. Café: Hours as Museum, hot food until 1500. A tranquil spot with Zen garden.
NECROPOLIS: Looming behind Glasgow Cathedral, with the John Knox monument dominating the skyline is the Glasgow Necropolis. A 19th Century necropolis, which is a wildlife haven. Some fine funerary monuments.
OTHER GLASGOW ATTRACTIONS:
These attractions are ones which lie outside the centre of the city and are well worth the effort if there is the inclination.
BURRELL COLLECTION: Pollokshaws Road, G43 1AT. Open: Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 1000-1700, Friday and Sunday, 1100-1700. Free Admission. Tremendous museum. The nucleus is the collection of William Burrell, a Glaswegian shipping merchant. Transport: Involves a fair walk whether by bus or train. This attraction is best with a coach. That is the only downside. Closed for renovation until 2020.
SCOTLAND STREET SCHOOL MUSEUM: Scotland Street, G5 8QB. Open: Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday, 1000-1700, Friday and Sunday, 1100-1700. Closed Monday. Free Admission. The last major commission for Charles Rennie Mackintosh in Glasgow is a masterpiece. Transport: U/Shields Road.
HOUSE FOR AN ART LOVER: Bellahouston Park, G41 5BW. Open: Daily 1000-1700. Closes for events. Café: 1000-1600. Group bookings accepted. Opened in 1996 to Charles Rennie Mackintosh designs, the house is exceptional.
TITAN CRANE CLYDEBANK: Open: Seasonal opening, call ahead to organise a group booking. Titan was built in 1907 and is the last remnant of a Ship Building Industry that boasted 33 shipyards and 100,000 workers. Transport: Clydebank Train Station.
RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB: Stadium Tours at Ibrox on Friday and Saturday, Sunday, No tours on match days. Formed in 1873 and champions of Scotland (before bankruptcy) over 50 times, who play at Archibald Leitch’s finest stadium. Transport: U/Ibrox
CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB: Stadium Tours at Celtic Park on Monday to Sunday, 1100 and 1330. Friday Hourly. Weekend match day morning tours available. stadiumtours@celticfc.co.uk. Formed from a soup kitchen in 1888, Celtic went on to become the first British team to lift the European Cup in 1967. Transport: Bus 43 or a thirty minute walk from city centre. Coach is best option.
GLASGOW SCIENCE CENTRE: Pacific Quay, G51 1EA. Open: Monday to Friday, 1000- 1500, Saturday and Sunday, 1000-1700. The Science Centre is an interactive centre situated in the old dockyards. On site are an IMAX, a Planetarium and a viewing tower. Transport: U/Govan
CLYDESIDE DISTILLERY: Distillery Tour and History of Whisky. 100 Stobcross Road,
RIVER CLYDE: Glasgow is dominated by the River Clyde flowing through theheart of the city. There is a 19th century pedestrian bridge which offers a chance to walk across the river and enjoy the views. This is located on the Broomielaw. River Cruises depart from the Glasgow Science Centre, Pacific Quay, G51 1EA. Group bookings can be arranged.
TRANSPORT: Glasgow has the SPT Subway, a fifteen station, 24 minute circular subway (two rings that go in opposite directions) . Cost: Singles-Adult, £1.85, Child 00.90/Returns-Adult, £3.50, Child, £1.65. Discovery All Day Travel Card: £4.45/£2.20. The SPT is the world’s third oldest subway after London and Budapest.
GLASGOW TOURIST INFORMATION: www.peoplemakeglasgow.com