Glasgow City Tour

Glasgow Green

1 hour

A park situated on the River Clyde (North Bank) in the East of the city. It is the oldest park in the city getting back around the 15th century. During the 45 rebellion Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived at Glasgow Green with his army and with their clothes in tatters, the merchants of the city provided them with new garments, rather than have the city sacked. Some outstanding features in the park include the Doulton Fountain as well as the People’s Palace & Winter Gardens, there are also many monuments around the park which are worth seeing.

The Necropolis

1 hour

Situated near Glasgow Royal infirmary and Glasgow Cathedral the metropolis which has stunning views over the city is a burial-ground for more than 50,000 souls. A bridge that stands near the main entrance is known as the Bridge of Sighs and it gets its name for being part of the funeral processions route. When it first opened, during Victorian times around the 1830s, the necropolis was one of the only burial grounds that kept records of the deceased including ages, sex and cause of death.

Merchant City

45 min

one of the oldest quarters in the city, dating back to the mid 1700s when it was home to warehouses of wealthy merchants who shipped tobacco sugar and tea, it was a busy hub and remains so to this day, where there are many fine restaurants, bars and shops. Situated near Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow University and the River Clyde, Merchant City up until the mid 19th century was what was known as the city centre. Many of the old buildings have been refurbished now, and there is a truly cosmopolitan feel about the place. Streets within Merchant City include Bridgegate, Saltmarket and High Street, which incorporates Glasgow Cross or Merket (Market) Cross where public executions were held including that of Saint John Ogilvie.

George Square

30 min

Since its opening 1888 by Queen Victoria, the impressive looking City Chambers has overlooked George Square, where it has been the headquarters of successive councils serving the city of Glasgow ever since. I thought to be one of the most beautiful civic buildings in the UK it is a huge favourite amongst locals and tourists alike. On top of the centrepiece is Scotland and Glasgow’s own Statue of Liberty. Going on one of the free guided tours here is an absolute must. Going on one of the free guided tours here is an absolute must.
George square was first laid out around about the beginning of the 1780s, and was named after King George III. Between the late 1780s and early 1820s however, the square was lined with houses and hotels and is now a beautiful meeting place visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year, particularly around the festive season, where the decorations are outstanding and mesmerising.

Buchanan Street

1 hour

An absolute must visit for every shopper, this pedestrianised Street is full of international shops and designer makes. There also many buskers in the street which makes the walk up and down very entertaining, as you stop and listen to each of the acts.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

2 hours

An outstandingly beautiful building, Kelvingrove Art Gallery was first opened right at the beginning of the 20th century in 1901. Like all Scottish museums, entry is free, and the collections within are incredible. With exhibitions of wildlife and war, art and literature, Glasgow’s history, Scottish history and wider world history, a full-size spitfire fighter plane and massive real size dinosaur skeletons, it really has everything under one roof which will keep you coming back again and again and again.

The Mackintosh House

1 hour

The Macintosh House features the meticulously reconstructed interior from the home of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret, complete with original furniture. The couple lived at 78 Southpark Avenue (originally 6 Florentine Terrace) from 1906 to 1914. Mackintosh made substantial alterations in 1906 and the house was then demolished in the early 1960s, but before being demolished, every rooms style and layout was meticulously reconstructed, and all the couple’s furniture was used for the Hunterian Museum exhibit.