Glasgow
Work in progress but it’s time to get this up as it is and do all the editing later 🙂 Hopefully maybe even this weekend… blame two different house renovations! And now a new granddaughter, first grandchild 🙂
Places, I think, might be like people. Sometimes what draws you to them is an amalgam of things that are hard to define. They might be welcoming, friendly, quirky, arty, intelligent, self-effacing, lively, dynamic, grungy, but all combine to be the friend you know and love and will defend to the end because they took you to their heart.
Maybe this is too dramatic but then maybe that is just how I am as far as Glasgow is concerned. And I want to share that with you.
I want you to see inside Glasgow and love it dearly.
I was not born in Glasgow, born almost as far away from Glasgow as you can get, but more importantly I chose to live in Glasgow.
So let’s get that misinformation out of the way first Glasgow isn’t just an airport 😉 and Glasgow does have castles.
http://thecastleguy.co.uk/blog-post/the-best-castles-in-glasgow/
Glasgow, a fairly comprehensive list of things to do…
Pre-warning:- Don’t try to do all this in a couple of days.
Your own individual taste, how long you have, if you’ve been to Glasgow before etc will ultimately be what you use to decide which of the myriad of things to do and love in Glasgow are your must see places, experiences. Obviously google what’s currently on so you don’t miss something seasonal or extra special.
Firstly if you are flying in then there is a great shuttle bus from Glasgow airport that goes to the city and drops off at quite a few of the hotels. Get a return ticket if that’s needed. (There’s also other ways to get in to town, like local buses, but this really is easy when you don’t want to think too much.) Like many other cities around the world a car can actually be a hassle not a benefit. Renting a car for a Glasgow holiday really isn’t necessary.
So you’re in Glasgow what now? For an overview there’s a hop on hop off bus it covers a lot of the tourist attractions. Maybe do the full loop to get the commentary then get off at the attractions you want to visit. Discounts apply on these if you’ve got a ticket from another city.
Don’t forget there’s also walking tours. Walking tours are an exceptionally good way of seeing a place and finding out about the history, sights etc. Use a local guide. Some are even free. Here is a self guided tour west from the centre http://scotlandtime.co.uk/places/glasgow-a-wander-westwards/
If you think it is possible for me to create a full list of things to do while you enjoy Glasgow you are sadly mistaken there is SO much that I am pretty sure even local born and breed Glaswegians haven’t done it all. But here goes:-
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum – I love museums and galleries but I know that even if I didn’t this one is a must visit. It’s not only one of the best in Scotland it’s one of the best in UK. This is a lovely area to walk around with the Park and River Kelvin.
Riverside Museum – this is a transport museum but it is also a very interesting history of Scotland and Glasgow. In its fairly new accommodation it has a wonderful placement on the bank of the Clyde River. Do take a walk. The building is a very interesting piece of architecture and makes for beautiful photos. It is also where you’ll find the Tall Ships just out the front. I love the architecture of this building with its zig zag zinc-clad roof.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens & Kibble Palace. Peaceful, beautiful, and some unusual plants you wouldn’t be expecting. It really looks spectacular in the snow. Located in the West End by the River Kelvin. Kibble Palace is a glasshouse designed by John Kibble and houses the national collection of tree ferns amongst other surprising things. There’s a children’s play area and Tearoom.
Burrell Collection – sadly currently closed for renovation but a bit of the collection is at Kelvingrove etc. You’ll have to visit Glasgow again won’t you? 😉
Pollok House and Country Park – is an 18th Century house, for house read massive mansion, gardens, art. For a period of time Pollock House was used as an auxiliary hospital for convalescing soldiers. There is an interesting story of Anne Stirling Maxwell, as a young girl during the first world war, breeding white mice for use by sailors on Royal Navy submarines to warn them of any build up of toxic gases.
For conservation reasons some of the art has been removed but can be seen by appointment at the Glasgow Museums Resource centre http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/GMRC/Pages/default.aspx
George Square – City Chambers… Beautiful building and totally missed by most people. They have tours which are well worth doing. Honestly. And if I can’t convince you any other way Outlander filmed here too 😉
People’s Palace and Glasgow Green 🙂 People’s Palace kinda sums up Glasgow for me 🙂
Merchant City https://peoplemakeglasgow.com/discover/districts/merchant-city
Glasgow University – Founded in 1451 this is stunningly beautiful campus. If you like buildings it’s a must but there’s so many another reasons to wander around. You may/will see Scotsmen in kilts at graduation time. There are guided tours or you can explore on your own. Accommodation can sometimes be obtained for holidays.
Glasgow Science Centre. Not just for children I promise. Glasgow Science Centre is located in the Clyde Waterfront area on the south bank of the River Clyde. There’s interactive exhibits, workshops, shows, activities, a planetarium and an IMAX cinema
The Lighthouse Glasgow is Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture. It was opened as part of Glasgow’s status as UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999. You can read up on the history of the building etc here.
Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery – oldest museum in Scotland. The vast Hunterian collection includes scientific instruments used by James Watt, Joseph Lister and Lord Kelvin.
Squinty Bridge (real name The Clyde Arc) – walk, cycle, some, all 🙂 of the Clyde River
Glasgow Cathedral also called the High Kirk of Glasgow or St Kentigern’s or St Mungo’s Cathedral, is today a gathering of the Church of Scotland in Glasgow. The stained glass windows are well worth the visit. Glasgow Cathedral is the most complete medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland, having survived the Protestant Reformation almost intact. Pop down to the crypt. (Inside was used as an Outlander location.)
Tenement House
Provand’s Lordship is the oldest house in Glasgow, Scotland. It was built in 1471 as a part of St Nicholas’s Hospital by Andrew Muirhead, Bishop of Glasgow. It is one of only four surviving medieval buildings in Glasgow. It has been extensively restored and houses 17th century furniture donated by Sir William Burrell. It is located at the top of Castle Street within sight of the Glasgow Cathedral and Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and next to the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.
St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.
Willow Tea Room and all things Charles Rennie Mackintosh
The Necropolis – if you like graveyards this is a particularly lovely and interesting graveyard indeed
GOMA gallery of modern art can have good exhibitions. They vary so I can’t tell you what you’ll find. Worth a quick pop in, it’s not large. You’ll meet the Duke here.
House for an Art Lover
West End
Walk down Sauchiehall Street
The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Mitchell Library I’m rather a fan of books and libraries. It is also a resource for tracking your family history.
Ibrox Stadium and/or Celtic Park – Football! Both have tours.
City Centre Mural Trail
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/citycentremurals
…
Shops – shopping is easy! I lived in London and Glasgow beats it for shopping. Has everything London does but so much more conveniently placed.
Princes Square
Buchanan Street Galleries
St Enoch Centre
All sorts of little and big shops.
The Barras Market
…
Cafes – Not even a tiny number of all the places you could try. (OK this is where there will be so much editing 🙂 but you may as well have the initial phase to browse now)
If you haven’t eaten at any of Jamie Oliver’s restaurants there’s a Jamie’s Italian in George Square.
“Butterfly and the Pig”
“Where the Monkey Sleeps”
There’s also a good cafe at the Uni but can’t remember it’s name
“Chippy Doon The Lane”
“The Ubiquitous Chip”
“Singl End”
Waxy O’Connor’s – all day breakfast and music
La Vita Pizzeria.
Urban Brasserie.
The Counting House Pub. Has wifi.
Millennium Restaurant.
Corinthian Club
Arta
Rogano
Mother India Cafe
…
For a bit more up market:-
“Restaurant at Blythswood Square”
“Urban”
“The Gannet”
Pubs
Horseshoe Bar
The Piper Bar
Waxy O’Connor’s
Stereo
The Lab
Nice N Sleazy
The Counting House, convenient in George Square and can be OK too.
I wasn’t aware of this tour when I lived there, not sure it existed, but I’m told it’s interesting:-
https://www.glasgowcentraltours.co.uk/
If you want a club guide etc I can also come up with a bit of a list…music is big in Glasgow.
Definitely Òran Mór, and Arta, The Corinthian and The Social. Many of the pubs have live music.
(King Tuts depending on what music you like.)
If you need to shop for jewellery then visit Argyll Arcade.
Outlander sites in Glasgow:- Pollock Park
Glasgow Cathedral
Tennents Brewery painting of Sam. Sorry I really don’t like their beer.
John Street, Glasgow Claire and Frank’s wedding.
George Square
Glasgow is near to many places you can do as day trips. This is not to say that some of these are worth days too just that if your time is limited then Glasgow is great base.
http://www.whiteleewindfarm.com/
Stirling
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
Dumbarton Castle
Loch Ness
Glencoe
The Highlands
Falkirk
Paisley
Hill House, Helensburgh
Ayrshire coast
Culzean Castle
It’s a simple trip to Edinburgh by public transport.
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