The largest city in Scotland is famous for its Victorian architecture. One of the most visited cities in the UK, it won the titles of the European City of Culture and the European City of Architecture & Design. Its museums and galleries are renowned worldwide.
A UNESCO City of Music hosting over 130 concerts a week!
A big and cosmopolitan city and the people of Glasgow are warm and friendly.
Things to see and do in Glasgow:
The best way to see the city is getting one of the hop-on, hop-off bus services. Current ticket prices (valid until April 2012*) are £11 adults, £5 child (5-15 years old) and free for children under 5. The tickets are valid for 2 days so it’s quite a good deal. It stops at all tourist attractions.
If you don’t have much time, just make sure you do not miss:
The University of Glasgow, The Hunterian Museum and The Mackintosh House
The fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second oldest in Scotland, founded in 1451. It is renowned for the schools of medical and veterinary science, and also business and art.
It’s home to The Hunterian, Scotland’s oldest public museum with an impressive collection of over a million items from mummies to art.
Opening hours:
Tue – Sat 10am – 5pm
Sun 11am – 4pm
Mon CLOSED
Admission: Free
The Mackintosh House the reassembled interiors from the house occupied by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his artist-wife Margaret Macdonald from 1906 to 1914. The interiors are furnished with Mackintosh’s original furniture and fitments and decorated as closely as was possible to the original.
Opening hours:
Tue – Sat 10am – 5pm
Sun 11am – 4pm
Mon CLOSED
Admission charge: £5.00
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
It’s one of Scotland’s most visited attractions. An impressive building! Many visitors spend as much time appreciating its exteriors with architectural details and sculptures as its collection.
With 22 galleries displaying a collection of around 8,000 objects ranging from natural history to art movements items.
Opening hours:
Mon – Thu & Sat 10am – 5pm
Fri & Sun 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Glasgow Cathedral
An incredible historic building consecrated in 1197. It has had a regular congregation for more than 800 years. It has one of the finest post-war collections of stained glass windows in Britain.
It’s considered the best preserved example of a large church to have survived from the medieval period in Scotland.
Opening hours:
Apr – Set Weekdays 9.30am – 5.30pm, Sat 9.30am – 5.30pm and Sun 1pm – 5pm
Oct – Mar Weekdays 9.30am – 4.30pm, Sat 9.30am – 4.30pm and Sun 1pm – 4.30pm
Glasgow Green – People’s Palace & Winter Gardens
The People’s Palace tells the story of Glasgow and its people from 1750 to the 20th century through historic artefacts, paintings, prints and photographs, film and interactive computer displays. Visit the Winter Gardens adjacent to it.
Opening hours:
Mon CLOSED
Tue – Thu & Sat 10am – 5pm
Fri & Sun 11am – 5pm
St Andrews in The Square
A beautiful 18th century restored church, one of the finest classical churches in Britain. The last service was held in 1993. It was offered to the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and now is a centre for performing arts, particularly Scottish Dance.
The Lighthouse
The building was originally designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1893 as offices for Glasgow Herald newspaper.
Nowadays is a centre dedicated to architecture and design home to the Mackintosh Interpretation Centre. The Mack Centre is an exhibition dedicated to Glasgow’s most famous architect and includes detailed histories and scale models of some of his buildings.
It holds around 15 exhibitions per year, among those at least 3 are of international stature.
Opening hours:
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat 10.30am – 5pm
Tue 11am – 5pm
Sun CLOSED
Admission: Free
Riverside Museum
The Riverside Museum is the Museum of Transport with a display of over 3,000 objects. Visitors can hop on some of the exhibits to have an insight of public transportation across the time.
Next to it you will find the Tall Ship Glenlee (find more information below) which is worth a visit.
Opening hours:
Mon – Thu & Sat 10am – 5pm
Fri & Sun 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The Tall Ship Glenlee
The Glenlee is one of only five Clyde built ships still afloat in the world and the only one of her kind in the UK. It first sailed as a bulk cargo carrier back in 1896. Today it’s an independent museum that holds themed events and activities the whole year round. Here the visitors will have the opportunity to discover more about the maritime heritage of the city in a dynamic and interactive way.
Opening hours:
Daily
Mar – Oct 10am – 5pm
Nov – Feb 10am-4pm
Admission charge: Adults £5.00
Other interesting places to visit are the Merchant City the heart of historic Glasgow, Glasgow Science Centre a great place for families, the Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
How to get to Glasgow from Edinburgh:
From Edinburgh Waverley Station take a train to Glasgow Central. The service runs every 15 minutes. Return ticket from £15. You can book tickets in advance at the ScotRail website.
*Please note that opening hours and admission charges may change without notice. The links on this post will take you to each attraction’s official website, please visit them before planning your trip.
A big and cosmopolitan city and the people of Glasgow are warm and friendly.
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