Glasgow, which is situated on the River Clyde, is the largest city in Scotland. Glasgow has been transformed from an industrial city to Scotland’s cultural center, with its excellent museums, art galleries, concert venues, and festivals. Here is a list of the interesting things to do in Glasgow.
Contents
Interesting Things to Do in Glasgow
1. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Situated within the heart of Glasgow’s famous West End you can find Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Standing for more than a century it was purpose-built to be what it is today, with stunning architecture and a range of separate exhibit rooms. As a free attraction, it really shouldn’t be missed, and it’s only a quick walk away from the Kelvingrove subway station, making it easy to get to. Inside you’ll find more than 22 themed galleries, and 8000 objects to capture your attention. Go from seeing Salvador Dali’s Christ of St. John of the Cross to seeing exhibits on dinosaurs and prehistoric mammals. Not to mention all of the beautifully displayed animals, and the skeleton of a stag who could make even the tallest of people feel short.
2. George Square
George Square is the heart of Glasgow and the main square of the city. Located in the city center, this pedestrian square was named after King Georges III. There, you can admire beautiful statues of historical characters, enjoy a coffee, stroll around or just take a rest on the bench or on the grass.
On George Square, you will also find Glasgow City Hall (Glasgow City chambers), famous for its Renaissance architecture.
You will see, both the exterior and the interior of the buildings are magnificent! The great news is that you can visit them during one of the free guided tours organized during the week.
Visiting George Square is one of the interesting things to do in Glasgow and it’s really a great starting point to visit the city.
3. Glasgow Cathedral
The city’s most significant historic building is the 12th-century Glasgow Cathedral, also known as St. Mungo Cathedral or the High Kirk of Glasgow. Seen from both inside and out, it looks as if it dropped out of a giant mold: the lines are clear, and there’s no superfluous ornamentation.
Projecting from the south transept is the Blacader Aisle, named after the first bishop of Glasgow. The grandest room in the cathedral, however, is the crypt, which houses the tomb of St. Mungo, founder of the bishopric, who was buried here in AD 603. Although a visit to the cathedral is regarded as one of the top free things to do in Glasgow, donations are always welcome. Guided tours are also available free of charge.
4. Buchanan Street
Are you one of those travelers who absolutely has to go shopping no matter where in the world you travel to? If so, then Buchanan Street will feel just like home to you. It forms the central stretch of the city’s shopping district, linking you to an array of shops in each direction. It’s best known for the variety that it offers both tourists and locals alike, and most shoppers spend a lot of time inside of Buchanan Galleries. In there you can find everything from Hollister and Pandora, to Millie’s Cookies and The Whisky Shop. Given that Scottish weather isn’t exactly known for being the best, it would also be a great way for you to escape the rain.
5. The Necropolis
The Necropolis is a small Victorian cemetery located on the top of a hill, close to St Mungo’s Cathedral.
There, you can see about 3500 monumental tombs and mausoleums dating from the Victorian era. In addition to discovering the typical architecture, you will also enjoy a beautiful view of the whole city.
Necropolis Cemetery is open every day from 7 am until dusk.
It’s one of the most original places to visit in Glasgow!
6. Riverside Museum and Tall Ship
Glasgow’s ultra-modern, award-winning Riverside Museum includes many of the exhibits from the city’s former Transport Museum, including model ships, locomotives, trams, vintage cars, and horse-drawn carriages. The majority are Glasgow-built.
A superb reconstruction of a 1938 Glasgow street has been added to the displays, as well as exhibits on immigration and disasters, featuring the sinking of the Lusitania. The Tall Ship at Riverside is docked just outside, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the Glenlee, a Glasgow-built three-masted barque that has been carefully restored by the Clyde Maritime Trust. Interesting guided tours are available, sometimes with costumed guides.
Those interested in museums and antiquities should also plan on paying a visit to the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre. This fascinating facility is where many of the city’s museums store their collections when they are not on display.
