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 dale". Indeed, the city is surrounded by 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 18th-19th centuries. The authentic Merchant City area witnessed an unprecedented rise in the urban economy in those days.
A trip to Glasgow is a great opportunity to learn more about the history of Scotland, stroll the corridors of one of the oldest European universities and admire the slender features of the Scottish Gothic architecture.
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What to see and where to go in Glasgow?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Merchant City area
The area was formed by the second half of the 18th century. Mainly wealthy merchants settled on its territory, therefore it was considered prestigious already at that time. By 1970, the area gradually fell into decay. In the 80s. a decision was made on a large-scale reconstruction of Merchant City, since there were many buildings - historical monuments within its boundaries. Today it is a hub of luxury housing, trendy restaurants and brand stores.
Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum
An art museum that 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. The 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 Transport Museum
The museum has an exhibition dedicated to the development of urban transport in Glasgow. There are bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, buses, trams, cars and model trains. The museum collection consists of 3 thousand copies. There are even vintage racing cars among them. The ship "Glenlee", a ship built in 1896, which was decommissioned in 1993, is moored next to the museum building on the River Clyde.
Burrell Collection
A collection of works of art that passed to the city from businessman W. Barrell in 1944. The collection contains about 9 thousand exhibits, many of which are real pearls of the Renaissance. Burrell was an avid art lover, 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 contemporary art
The museum is housed in the former building of the Royal Exchange, erected in 1829. Until 1996, there was a library here. Large spaces of the gallery are reserved for temporary exhibitions, as its own collection is at the stage of active formation. In front of the museum, there is an equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington from the mid-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 combat this form of mild 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 and includes more than 250 exhibits. Also on the territory of the Glasgow Science Center is the largest planetarium in Great Britain, the IMAX cinema and the 127-meter Glasgow tower with an observation deck and exhibition center.
People's Palace and Winter Garden
The People's Palace is an architectural monument of the late 19th century. Previously, it housed a public reading room. Nowadays, the city history museum is located on its territory. The Winter Garden adjoins the palace, where plants from all over the world are collected. Due to the special temperature regime that is maintained inside, exotic species can exist in their usual conditions.
Botanical Garden
The City Botanical Garden was opened two centuries ago. Since then, its natural diversity has increased significantly. The plant collection is so varied and extensive that species are even specially grown here for sale in gardens throughout the country. The architecture of the Glasgow Botanical Garden 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 local arts school's education center and digital design studio. The building was erected according to a 1900 project created by architects C.R. Macintosh 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 Saucihall Streets and Buchanan Streets. The hall is mainly used for opera and ballet performances. But also concerts of modern music, graduation balls and various celebrations are held here. 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, built according to the project of W. Young. The building is located on Georg Square and is easily accessible from any part of the city. The building houses the Glasgow City Council, as well as a museum, art gallery and a festive banquet hall for the royal family. Some of the interiors are made in lush Italian style.
Glasgow University
The largest university in Scotland, ranked among the UK's top educational institutions and also in the top 1% of 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 founded in 1877 with funds from the tobacco magnate S. Mitchell. In 1911, a separate building was built for it, which later became the hallmark of Glasgow. Today, the Mitchell Library is a vast complex that includes reading rooms, an electronic database, a café and a theater.
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow Graduate School of Theater, founded in 1845. Painting, sculpture, photography, design, architecture and much more are taught here. The modern school building was erected in 1909 by the design of Charles R. McIntosh, a talented architect and founder of the Scottish Art Nouveau style. The work on the construction of the School of Arts was the master's most outstanding achievement.
Provands Lordship
Historic building of the 15th century, which was previously part of the complex of the hospital 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 introduces the visitor to the life of a medieval Scottish city. Provands Lordship is considered to be the oldest civil building in Glasgow.
Glasgow Cathedral
The temple was erected in the XII 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 style 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 burials 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.
St. Andrew's Cathedral
Temple of the early 19th century, which is Glasgow's main Catholic cathedral. The building is built in the neo-Gothic style with characteristic openwork towers and colored stained-glass windows located along the perimeter. The facade has survived to this day without changes, the interior space has been reconstructed more than once. A statue of the Apostle Andrew, who is considered the patron saint of Scotland, is installed on the facade.
Ibrox
The arena was built in 1899 and is one of the oldest stadiums in Scotland. Ibrox is the home court of the Glasgow Rangers, which have won the Scottish Premier League more than once. The arena has a capacity of over 50 thousand spectators. The stadium became infamous for several incidents related to the mass stampede in the 60s, as well as the 1971 tragedy (also associated with the stampede), which killed 66 people.
Celtic Park
The home arena of the Celtic football team, built at the end of the 19th century. Despite its fairly advanced age, Celtic Park is a modern stadium equipped with all the necessary equipment for holding large-scale matches. The arena is designed for 60 thousand spectators, which makes it the largest in all of Scotland. The last large-scale reconstruction was carried out in 1998.
Clyde Arc Bridge
Bridge over the River Clyde, located near the Glasgow Science Center. The structure was erected in 2006 by the Edmund Nuttall architectural bureau and quickly became 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, over which a high steel arch rises. Pedestrian and car traffic is open on the bridge.
Titan clydebank
A huge 46-meter crane, which was specially designed to lift heavy parts of ocean liners and warships. The structure was created by John Brown & Co and used in its shipyards. The largest English ships of the 20th century, the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth II, were built with the help of the Titan Clydebank mechanisms. Since 2007, the crane has been functioning as part of the shipbuilding museum.
Glasgow necropolis
Historic cemetery, located near the cathedral. The necropolis is interesting because more than 3.5 thousand monuments have been erected here. Some of them are true works of art. On many tombstones, not only the dates of life are indicated, but also whole narratives about the life of a person are set out. There are a lot of graves and crypts in the cemetery of the early 19th century.
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 Clyde River. 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
An extensive natural area located within the Glasgow city limits. The park has repeatedly been recognized as the best in Europe and Great Britain. Here you can go mountain biking, 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 Trossachs
National Park of Scotland, a popular destination for outdoor activities. The area is distinguished by incredibly picturesque landscapes. Here you can practice rock climbing, cycling, water skiing, fishing and even playing golf. Tourists inclined to a more relaxed pastime have the opportunity to pick mushrooms and berries or watch the life of wild animals.
