Glasgow

📌 City
★★★★★

People make Glasgow has become the popular slogan for Scotland’s largest city, again voted to be the world’s friendliest in a 2021 survey by travel publisher Rough Guides. That pesky capital and rival, Edinburgh, may be the more popular destination for tourists; Glasgow with its “gritty” stereotype can’t compete for dramatic cityscapes, history or scenic beauty. But we think it really is the people that “make” Glasgow… along with Scotland’s best shopping, best night scene, outstanding (and mostly free) museums, and the only place in the country with a big city feel. The sights in the grid-like central district are listed below: a bustling zone connected by the three main shopping thoroughfares of Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street. Further from the centre (and further down this page), we’ve divided Glasgow into four areas loosely derived from compass points, with dozens more attractions to see.

🌍 Location

📌 George Square in the city centre is at:

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 593654

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.861170,-4.250178

🚶 The city centre is compact. Most of the East End attractions are also walkable from here.

🚆🚇🚌 Glasgow is a major air, rail and coach hub. Within the city there’s an excellent bus and suburban rail network, with a subway line linking the city centre to the West End.

🚗 City centre parking is expensive during the day, except Sunday. Driving between central attractions is not recommended.

📝 Glasgow West End – 1 day itinerary

>> Available to download from the Itineraries page

City Centre (enclosed by the M8, A8 & River Clyde)

>> Centre for Contemporary Arts ★

>> Gallery of Modern Art ★★★

>> Glasgow City Chambers ★★★

>> Mackintosh at the Willow ★★

>> St Andrew’s Cathedral (Glasgow) ★★★

>> Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre ★★★

>> Tenement House ★★★

>> The Glasgow Police Museum ★★

>> The Lighthouse ★★

>> The Museum of Piping ★★

North Glasgow

>> Mackintosh Queen’s Cross ★★

>> Speirs Wharf ★★

East End (& east of the A8 / High Street)

>> Alexandra Park ★★

>> Glasgow Cathedral ★★★★

>> Glasgow Green ★★

>> Glasgow Necropolis ★★★

>> People’s Palace and Winter Gardens ★★★

>> Provan Hall ★★

>> Provand’s Lordship ★★★

>> St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art ★★★

Southside (& south of the Clyde)

>> Bellahouston Heritage Centre ★★

>> Bellahouston Park ★★

>> Cathkin Braes Country Park ★★

>> Crookston Castle ★★★

>> Holmwood House ★★

>> House for an Art Lover ★★★

>> Linn Park ★★

>> Pollok House ★★★

>> Queen’s Park (Glasgow) ★★★

>> Scotland Street School Museum ★★★

>> The Burrell Collection ★★★★

>> The Govan Stones ★★★

>> Walk: The Magnificent 11… ish ★★★

West End (& beyond)

>> Anatomy Museum (The Hunterian) ★★

>> Country Surgeon Micro Museum (The Hunterian) ★

>> Fossil Grove ★★

>> Glasgow Botanic Gardens ★★★★

>> Glasgow Science Centre ★★★★

>> Hunterian Art Gallery and The Mackintosh House ★★★

>> Hunterian Museum ★★★★

>> Hunterian Zoology Museum ★★

>> Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum ★★★★

>> Kelvingrove Park ★★★

>> Riverside Museum ★★★★

>> St Mary’s Cathedral (Glasgow) ★★★

>> The Clydeside Distillery ★★★★

>> The Tall Ship ★★★

>> University of Glasgow ★★★

>> Victoria Park ★★★