Top 25 Attractions in Glasgow

Glasgow is better known as a major industrial and engineering center of Great Britain than a tourist city. However, it is not for nothing that the name "Glasgow" is rooted in the Gaelic "Glaschu", which means "green valley". Indeed, the city is immersed in parks and picturesque green spaces.

Like any ancient Scottish city, Glasgow has several significant architectural monuments from the Middle Ages. But, nevertheless, the main building was carried out during the industrial boom of the XVIII-XIX centuries. The authentic area of ​​Merchant City is a witness to an unprecedented rise in the city's economy in those days.

A trip to Glasgow is a great opportunity to learn more about the history of Scotland, walk along the corridors of one of the oldest European universities and admire the slender features of the Scottish Gothic architectural style.

What to see and where to go in Glasgow?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Area Merchant City

The area was formed by the second half of the 18th century. Mostly wealthy merchants settled on its territory, so it was already considered prestigious in those days. By 1970, the area had gradually fallen into disrepair. In the 80s. a decision was made on a large-scale reconstruction of Merchant City, since there were many buildings within its boundaries - historical monuments. Today it is a hub of luxury housing, trendy restaurants and branded stores.

Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum

Art Museum, which is considered one of the most visited in Scotland. The building was erected at the beginning of the 20th century in the Spanish Baroque style. Construction was timed to coincide with the opening of the 1901 International Exhibition in Glasgow. The museum collection is based on paintings from the frequent collection of A. McLellan. The gallery has paintings by Titian, Botticelli, Rubens, Picasso, Rembrandt, Dali, as well as works by Scottish painters.

Riverside Transportation Museum

The museum has an exhibition dedicated to the development of urban transport in Glasgow. There are bicycles, horse-drawn carts, buses, trams, cars and model trains. The museum collection consists of 3 thousand copies. Among them there are even vintage racing cars. Moored next to the museum building on the River Clyde is the Glenlee, a ship built in 1896 that was decommissioned in 1993.

Burrell Collection

The art collection that came to the city from businessman W. Burrell in 1944. The collection has about 9 thousand exhibits, many of which are real pearls of the Renaissance. Burrell was an enthusiastic fan of art, during his life he managed to collect many items belonging to different eras and countries. A separate building for the museum was erected in 1983.

Gallery of modern art

The museum is housed in the former building of the Royal Exchange, built in 1829. Until 1996, there was a library here. Large spaces of the gallery are reserved for temporary exhibitions, as the own collection is at the stage of active formation. In front of the museum building is an equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington from the middle of the 19th century, which the locals constantly decorate with a cap. It is not known where this “tradition” came from, but the authorities were unable to fight this form of soft vandalism.

Glasgow Science Center

A modern museum with an interactive exposition, which is designed to demonstrate various scientific achievements. The collection is located on 3 floors, it includes more than 250 exhibits. Also on the territory of the Glasgow Science Center is the largest planetarium in the UK, an IMAX cinema and a 127-meter Glasgow tower with an observation deck and an exhibition center.

People's Palace and Winter Garden

The People's Palace is an architectural monument of the late 19th century. Previously, there was a public reading room. Nowadays, the city historical museum is located on its territory. The Winter Garden adjoins the palace, where plants from all over the Earth are collected. Thanks to a special temperature regime, which is maintained inside, exotic species can exist in their usual conditions.

Botanical Garden

The City Botanical Garden opened two centuries ago. Since then, its natural diversity has increased quite strongly. The plant collection is so diverse and extensive that even species are specially grown here for sale in gardens throughout the country. The architecture of the Glasgow Botanic Gardens is also of considerable interest. The most elegant building is the Kibble Palace greenhouse, built at the expense of the merchant D. Kibble.

Home for art lovers

The complex was built in the period 1989-1996. It houses the education center of the local art school and a digital design studio. The building was erected according to the project of 1900, created by architects Ch.R. McIntosh and M. McDonald. They participated in a competition for the construction of a special structure that would become a refuge for art lovers. The project was discovered by researcher G. Roxburgh.

Royal Concert Hall

The stage is located in the center of Glasgow at the intersection of Sauchihall Street and Buchanan Street. Basically, the hall is used for opera and ballet performances. But it also hosts concerts of contemporary music, graduation balls and various celebrations. The building was erected in the period 1988-1990. designed by architect L. Martin. The hall can accommodate about 2.5 thousand people. In addition to the concert stage, the complex has souvenir shops, cafes and an exhibition gallery.

city ​​council building

A picturesque architectural monument of the 19th century, designed by W. Young. The building is located on George Square, it is easy to get here from any part of the city. The building houses the Glasgow City Council, as well as a museum, an art gallery and a festive banquet hall for the reception of the royal family. Some of the interiors are made in a lush Italian style.

University of Glasgow

The largest university in Scotland, which is included in the list of leading educational institutions in the UK, as well as in the 1% of the best places to study in the world. The university was founded in 1451 and has seven Nobel laureates alumni. The institution owns an outstanding library, which contains rare works written in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Students from dozens of countries around the world study at the university.

Mitchell Library

The Mitchell Library is one of the largest book collections in Europe. Its funds contain more than 1.3 million books, manuscripts, periodicals and maps. The library was formed in 1877 at the expense of the tobacco magnate S. Mitchell. In 1911, a separate building was built for her, which later became the hallmark of Glasgow. Today, the Mitchell Library is a sprawling complex that includes reading rooms, an electronic database, a café, and a theater.

Glasgow School of Art

Glasgow Higher Theater School, founded in 1845. Here they teach painting, sculpture, photography, design, architecture and much more. The modern building of the school was erected in 1909 according to the project of C. R. McIntosh, a talented architect and founder of the Scottish Modern style. The work on the construction of the School of Arts was the most outstanding achievement of the master.

Provence Lordship

A historic building of the 15th century, which was previously part of the complex of the infirmary of St. Nicholas. The hospital was closed after the victory of the Reformation, the building passed from owner to owner for a long time until it was turned into a museum. Inside there is an exposition that acquaints the visitor with the life of a medieval Scottish city. The Provence Lordship is said to be the oldest civil building in Glasgow.

Glasgow Cathedral

The temple was erected in the 12th century on the site of the chapel of St. Mungo, the patron saint of the city. The building of the cathedral was built in the manner of "Scottish Gothic", which inherited some severity of architectural forms from the earlier Romanesque style. Inside the temple is the tomb of St. Mungo, as well as the burial places of members of the noble families of Glasgow. The atmosphere of the Middle Ages reigns in the cathedral due to the preserved architectural appearance and interior decoration.

Andrew's Cathedral

An early 19th-century church that is Glasgow's main Catholic cathedral. The building was built in the Neo-Gothic style with characteristic openwork towers and colored stained-glass windows located around the perimeter. The facade has survived to this day unchanged, the interior space has been reconstructed more than once. On the facade there is a statue of the Apostle Andrew, who is considered the patron saint of Scotland.

ibrox

The arena was built in 1899 and is one of the oldest stadiums in Scotland. Ibrox is the home ground of the Glasgow Rangers team, which has won the Scottish Premier League more than once. The capacity of the arena is more than 50 thousand spectators. The stadium became infamous for several mass stampede incidents in the 1960s, as well as the 1971 tragedy (also stampede-related) in which 66 people died.

Celtic Park

The home arena of the Celtic football team, built at the end of the 19th century. Despite its rather advanced age, Celtic Park is a modern stadium, which is equipped with all the necessary equipment for holding large-scale matches. The arena has a capacity of 60,000 spectators, making it the largest in all of Scotland. The last major renovation took place in 1998.

Clyde Arch Bridge

Bridge over the River Clyde, located near the Glasgow Science Centre. The building was erected in 2006 according to the project of the architectural bureau "Edmund Nuttall", it quickly turned into a local landmark. The architecture of the bridge is quite original - the main span over the river is made in the form of a large radius arc, above which a high steel arch rises. The bridge is open to pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

Titan Clydebank

A huge 46-meter crane, which was created specifically for lifting heavy parts of ocean liners and warships. The design was created by John Brown & Co. and used in its shipyards. With the help of Titan Clydebank mechanisms, the largest English ships of the 20th century were built: the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Elizabeth II. Since 2007, the crane has been functioning as part of the shipbuilding museum.

Glasgow Necropolis

Historical cemetery, located near the cathedral. The necropolis is interesting because there are more than 3.5 thousand monuments. Some of them are real works of art. On many tombstones, not only the dates of life are indicated, but also whole stories about the life path of a person are set out. There are a lot of graves and crypts of the beginning of the 19th century in the cemetery.

Glasgow Green Park

The park has existed since the 15th century. It is located in the eastern part of the city on the banks of the River Clyde. For quite a long time there was just a public area where people grazed cattle, fished, washed and dried clothes. Only by the beginning of the 19th century, attempts were made to improve the area. The park is decorated with a monument in honor of Admiral Nelson, a fountain and a complex of buildings of the People's Palace.

pollock park

A vast natural area located within the city limits of Glasgow. The park has repeatedly been recognized as the best in Europe and the UK. Here you can ride a mountain bike, visit a stable or a farm. The main attraction of the park is Pollock House - the family estate of the Maxwell family, turned into a museum, which contains a large number of works of Spanish art.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

National Park of Scotland, a popular place for outdoor activities. The area is characterized by incredibly picturesque landscapes. Here you can go rock climbing, cycling and water skiing, fishing and even playing golf. Tourists who are inclined towards a more relaxed pastime have the opportunity to pick mushrooms and berries or observe the life of wild animals.