TRNSMT, Glasgow: Things to Do

Summary

The TRNSMT music festival is staged in Glasgow each year in July, usually in Glasgow Green public park which is notable for the People’s Palace museum.

The festival presents the cream of British musical talent over 3 days and facilities include food and drink stalls, souvenir stands and a chill-out area.

The highlights

1: The line-up is always excellent and the atmosphere is amazing. It’s also quite relaxed compared to events like Glastonbury.

2: The facilities are excellent for an event this size. If you don’t mind splashing out, the VIP ticket offers a chill-out zone away from the mayhem, a better selection of food and much nicer toilets.

3: Glasgow is an amazing city and there’s a bucket-load of tourist attractions if you return after the festival. Find a selection of things to do in the Glasgow archives.

Visiting tips

1: Book your tickets early as they sell out fast. Take a look at the official website for the latest prices.

2: Like the festival tickets, you’ll need to book your accommodation early as well. Hotels fill up fast during TRNSMT but there are tips to find cheap rooms further down this page.

3: Use public transport to get to and from the event. See the First Bus and SPT subway websites for details.

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Overview

Following on from the incredibly popular but now-defunct T in The Park, the TRNSMT music festival is fast becoming the biggest music event in the Scottish calendar.

After receiving extremely positive reviews when the festival was first hosted in 2017 the music extravaganza continues to be held in Glasgow’s centrally-located Glasgow Green in July each year, with some of Britain’s biggest headlining acts performing sets on enormous purpose-built sound stages.

TRNSMT is also becoming famous for featuring an eclectic mix of bands and that’s something that makes it a little bit different from many other large music festivals.

Each year you’ll find big, brash rock groups playing back to back with electro-synth, followed by the latest girl/boy band and debut sets from some of Scotland’s up-and-coming home-grown talent.

The sound stage is world-class too and easily competes with bigger, more over-priced arenas in the south (I’m looking at you O2) and it’s great to see some of the world’s biggest acts starting to come over to Glasgow to play to TNSMT’s energetic crowds.

Fingers crossed this event continues its journey to becoming one of the biggest music festivals in Britain.

Tourist information

Attendance figures for the event in 2018 numbered over 100,000, a figure that was surpassed in 2019 as music-loving Scots flocked to the city to catch major acts like The Stereophonics, Liam Gallagher, The Arctic Monkeys, Texas, Franz Ferdinand and The Killers.

The roster of acts at TRNSMT changes each year and inevitably some will pull out before the final sets are revealed so please check the TRNSMT website frequently for the latest information on who will be playing.

Due to its central location there are ample opportunities to book accommodation within the city boundaries and the excellent Glasgow transport system ensures that event-goers get to the show with a minimum of fuss.

Visitors to the city will know Glasgow Green for a number of reasons, mainly due to the fact it’s a landscaped oasis right in the heart of the city where visitors can relax by the banks of the River Clyde.

In addition, Glasgow Green is the location of two of the most widely photographed buildings in the city – The People’s Palace and the Templeton Building.

Those attractions won’t be of any interest to most festival attendees but it’s nice to know there are places to visit outside TRNSMT. If you’re planning on spending a little time in Glasgow when the festival is over you’ll find information about hotels and travel options further down this page

Discover more places to visit in Glasgow with: The Best Places to Visit in Glasgow – Ultimate Visitor Guide.

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2022 Line-up

FRIDAY 8th July

• Paolo Nutini
• Sam Fender
• Nile Rodgers & Chic
• Tom Grennan
• The Lathums
• Beabadoobee
• M Huncho
• Ella Henderson
• The Bootleg Beatles
• The Regrettes
• Callum Beattie
• Luke La Volpe
• Brooke Combe

SATURDAY 9th July

• The Strokes
• Foals
• The Snuts
• Fontaines D.c.
• Example
• Jimmy Eat World
• Maximo Park
• Griff
• Self Esteem
• Wet Leg
• Kennyhoopla
• Pip Blom

SUNDAY 10th July

• Lewis Capaldi
• Wolf Alice
• Dma’s
• Sigrid
• Mimi Webb
• Sigala
• Easy Life
• Gang Of Youths
• Dylan John Thomas
• Nina Nesbitt
• Thomas Headon
• Mae Muller
• Jamie Webster
• Alfie Templeman

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Glasgow transport

Buses in Glasgow

The main bus operator in Glasgow is First Bus, which provides regular bus services throughout the city with over 100 routes to choose from. Most locals prefer to use the bus network as it’s one of the easiest and cheapest options for getting around the city centre and the outlying districts.

Trains in Glasgow

The south of Scotland is linked to the city by Glasgow Central Station, while Glasgow Queen Street Station has links to Edinburgh & the north of Scotland. The ScotRail website has information about all the available routes and timetables.

The SPT Roundabout ticket gives one-day unlimited travel by rail and subway to over 110 stations in the Greater Glasgow area. You can purchase these tickets through ScotRail or SPT Travel Centres.

Please note that they are only valid after 09:00 Monday to Friday, all day at weekends, and Scottish public holidays. You can buy them either through ScotRail or SPT Travel Centres.

Taxis in Glasgow

Taking a taxi is by far the quickest way to get around Glasgow and the official Glasgow Taxis operate throughout the district, and their distinctive black cabs easily distinguish them from the private mini-cabs that also run in the city centre.

They offer 5 and 6 seater vehicles, and if their yellow light is on they can be flagged down on the street. Alternatively, telephone 0141 4297070 to book one.

Cheap Glasgow accommodation

If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay in Glasgow while TRNSMT is on try the following hostels and guesthouses. They all offer reasonable prices in clean, modern rooms.

• Euro Hostel Glasgow is located just 2.6 km from the city centre and features mixed and female-only dorms, as well as en-suite rooms if you want a bit of privacy. Prices start at just £10 per night and include free Wi-Fi.
• The Tartan Lodge provides affordable accommodation 4 km from central Glasgow in a former church which has been converted into a collection of male and female dormitories and private rooms. A dormitory room bed can be had from just £18 per night and includes access to a social room and showers.
• The Glasgow Youth Hostel offers rooms in a Victorian townhouse overlooking Kelvingrove Park in the city centre. There are private rooms as well as shared apartments and prices include Wi-Fi, social room and secure storage. Prices start at £13.50 for a bed in a shared room.
• Hampton Court Guest House is a bit more up-market than a hostel but offers reasonable prices for rooms only a 20-minute walk from the SSE Hydro and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. A single en-suite can be found for only £30 (depending on the time of year).
• Crosshill House in Glasgow features 12 budget rooms with Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, breakfast buffet and a gym around a mile from the city centre. Standard rooms can be reserved for a very reasonable £30 per night (depending on the time of year).

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Frequently asked questions