About: Glasgow boasts the most complete medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland with a building that features stunning stained glass windows and incredibly well-preserved ancient chapels. The Cathedral, also called St Kentigern’s or St Mungo’s Cathedral, is today a gathering of the Church of Scotland in Glasgow.
About: Glasgow Green is one of the largest green areas in the city which covers an impressive 136 acres within walking distance of the city centre. The grounds feature a variety of activities including a play village, orienteering course and viewing platforms over the River Clyde.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Address: Argyle St, Glasgow, G3 8AG
Opening Times: Mon to Sun 10:00 (11:00 Sun) to 17:00
About: This museum and art gallery opened in 1901 and has been a favourite with visitors to Glasgow ever since, with lots to see and do across 22 galleries that feature collections from ancient Egypt all the way through to Edinburgh’s most famous son, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The site also offers a café, restaurant and gift shop.
About: Surrounding the Kelvingrove Art Gallery is the extremely popular Kelvingrove Park, which stretches across 85 acres in the heart of the city. Tourists can enjoy the banks of the River Kelvin which runs through the park, as well as taking part in activities in five bowling greens, four tennis courts, and orienteering course, skateboard park, cafes and beautifully landscaped gardens.
About: Mugdock Country Park is situated north of East Dunbartonshire and south-west of Stirling. It comprises 270 hectares of woodland, moorland and heathland and is connected by a network of paths. It contains a loch, two castles, a stables complex and a walled garden. Keen walkers can enjoy several orienteering trails while kids can go wild in the playpark and adventure trail.
About: Not only is Pollock Country Park the largest in Glasgow, but it’s the only country park within the city. This Green Flag award-winner provides a quiet sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre and has a wide variety of exciting features such as a play park, orienteering course, old stables, heavy horses and roaming Highland cattle.
Strathclyde Country Park
Address: Hamilton Road, Motherwell, Lanarkshire, ML1 3ED
About: Strathclyde Country Park played host to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and the excitement of that year lives on through a vast amount of fun activities that are available throughout the 400 hectares of countryside that comprise the park grounds. There are outdoor adventure playgrounds, bike trails, a fitness gym and a watersports centre with a café for visitors to enjoy.
About: Glasgow’s famous Botanic Gardens are open all year for visitors to enjoy over 200 years of history with plant species that have been collected from across the world. In addition to the beautifully managed plant specimens, there is an arboretum and a heritage trail to explore, while guided tours are available for those wishing to learn more about Glasgow’s garden heritage.
The Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art
Address: Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, G1 3AH
Opening Times: Mon to Sun 10:00 (11:00 Sun) to 17:00
About: This centrally located exhibition of modern artworks contains four galleries which not only display some of the world’s finest modern art collections but also plays host to frequent exhibitions from artists from all over the world. The gallery aims to feature works that highlight the interests and influences which international artists share with local artists from Glasgow.
About: The Lighthouse was the first public commission designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the celebrated Glasgow architect, designer and artist. The gallery showcases a variety of art exhibitions, as well as a fascinating Mackintosh Centre which features a variety of displays about the great man. Tours are regularly held at The Lighthouse so that visitors can learn about Glasgow’s rich artistic heritage, while workshops allow anyone to get involved and learn new artistic skills.
The Peoples Palace
Address: Templeton St, Glasgow, G40 1AT
Opening Times: Mon to Sun 10:00 (11:00 Sun) to 17:00
About: The People’s Palace is located in historic Glasgow Green, and is home to a collection of objects, photographs, prints and film which give a unique view into how Glaswegians lived, worked and played from 1750 right up to the present day. Visitors can also view a diverse range of historic artefacts, paintings and interactive computer displays, while the beautiful Winter Gardens are located just outside if you fancy a stroll amongst exotic palms and plants.
The Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel
Address: 100 Pointhouse Place, Glasgow, G3 8RS
Opening Times: Mon to Sun 10:00 (11:00 Sun) to 17:00
About: This award-winning museum sitting alongside the River Clyde is home to a vast collection of cars, bikes, trains and every other form of transport in-between. There are over 3000 objects on display from Glasgow’s rich industrial history, while a faithful recreation of an old Glasgow cobbled street allows visitors to experience the past like never before.
The Tall Ship
Address: 150 Pointhouse Place, Glasgow, G3 8RS
Opening Times: Mon to Sun 10:00 to 17:00 (16:00 in winter)
About: Glasgow was once home to shipbuilders that produced sea-faring craft that spanned the globe, and this important part of the city’s history is celebrated with the faithfully restored Glenlee, one of many hundreds of sailing ships that were built on the banks of the River Clyde. Tourists can explore the majestic ship thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Clyde Maritime Trust, who also provide an interesting audio tour guide so that you can learn about the history of the grand old vessel.
You can find out more about this attraction with my complete guide to The Tall Ship.
Craig Smith is your guide to the best attractions in Scotland. He loves exploring the Scottish wilds and is happiest when he's knee-deep in a muddy bog in the middle of nowhere.
