First Time Must See List – Things to do in Glasgow
Visiting Glasgow for the first time? We’ve come up with some ideas of things you should see and do while you are in the city – be sure to add them to your list!
1. Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
No visit to Glasgow would be complete without a trip to one of the city-owned museums and galleries. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is rated number 1 on TripAdvisor for things to do in Glasgow, it has a diverse, world-class collection of art and artefacts from Natural History to Arms and Armour. It’s also one of the many museums that are FREE to visit! Welcoming over one million visitors a year, housed in an iconic red sandstone building which sits next to the beautiful Kelvingrove Park, it’s arguably the top must-see attraction in the city.
2. Amazing architecture
Glasgow has a rich and varied architectural heritage. The city’s wealthy past has left a legacy of some of the finest Victorian architecture like the iconic City Chambers which sits majestically overlooking George Square – the civic heart of the city. While Glasgow Cathedral is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture that remains in Scotland and adjacent to the Cathedral is the mesmerising Necropolis – a cemetery full of wonderful sculptures and fascinating stories.
The appearance of Glasgow’s buildings is so striking, they have been used as the backdrop in many Hollywood movies including World War Z, Fast & Furious 6 and Cloud Atlas. So when you’re wandering around the city don’t forget to look up!
3. Take a ride around the city on the Subway
The 120-year-old Glasgow Subway is the third oldest underground system in the world after London and Budapest. With only 15 stops and two lines, it’s handy for reaching some of the city’s best attractions, for dipping into local life in one or two of the city’s distinctive neighbourhoods (the lines serve the city centre, west and south), and thankfully it’s almost impossible to get lost!
4. Take a Glasgow Music City Tour
Glasgow’s music scene is legendary. It was the first city in the UK to be designated a UNESCO City of Music and with so much variety – the city hosts around 130 live gigs every week – it can be difficult to know where to start. So why not take a guided walking tour of the city’s top venues with the help of the team at Glasgow Music City Tours. These lively and informative tours bring to life the people, places and performances that have helped shape the city’s music scene. From the world’s oldest surviving music hall to the bars where Scarlett Johansson hung out in when she was filming in the city and the venue that launched the career of Oasis; the city’s musical heritage will astound you.
5. Marvellous Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a pioneering Glaswegian architect and designer and no trip to the city is complete without a visit to one of his magnificent works. From Mackintosh House, a collection of items from his original home, to the stunning House for an Art Lover in its tranquil parkland setting. Be sure to visit the newly reopened Mackintosh at the Willow, Miss Cranston’s original Tea Rooms in Sauchiehall Street which have been painstakingly and beautifully restored to include a new exhibition, visitor centre, tea room and gift shop.
2018 marks the 150th anniversary of Mackintosh’s birth and a year-long programme of events is underway to mark the incredible legacy and creative genius of Glasgow’s great cultural icon.
6. Take a tour of Glasgow’s Tennent’s Brewery
Tennent’s is to Glasgow as Guinness is to Dublin so a tour of the historic Wellpark Brewery, where it’s created, is a must. The tour around the brewery also focuses on the brand’s passion for Scottish football and proud musical heritage, as it takes you through more than 450 years of history. And yes, you’ll be able to enjoy a wee tipple at the end.
7. Visit Ashton Lane
Ashton Lane is a hidden cobbled street in the city’s west neighbourhood that is lined with a mix of great bars and restaurants and even an independent cinema. The lane is lit with twinkling fairy lights in winter and in summer it’s a hot spot for al fresco eating and drinking in the sunshine. Make a stop at the Ubiquitous Chip – one of Glasgow’s finest Scottish restaurants – where you can try the house speciality of home-made haggis and their bar, the Wee Pub, is a great place to go for a pint or a wee dram.
8. Sporting experiences
Glaswegians are known for their passion for the beautiful game so a tour of one of the city’s iconic football stadiums, Celtic Park or Ibrox, is a popular choice for visitors. You can also take a guided tour of Scotland’s National Stadium, Hampden Park and include a visit to the Scottish Football Museum. If football isn’t your game, there are plenty more spectator experiences to enjoy whether its rugby, basketball, netball or even speedway. If you prefer to get active then take a spin at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome or try your hand at some watersports at Pinkston Watersports Centre just north of the city centre.
9. Have a wee dram and hear Scottish music in a traditional pub
For a truly Scottish experience, be sure to visit one of the city’s oldest bars and restaurants, Sloans, for the Friday night ceilidh, where you can dance the night away with the friendly locals who will help you perfect your moves! If you’re after something a little more laidback, there are also plenty of pubs like Ben Nevis, Babbity Bowster and The Clutha, where you can sit back and enjoy a wee dram of whisky and some traditional Scottish folk music. For more inspiration read about Glasgow’s traditional pubs.
10. Hit the Shops
Glasgow is the largest retail centre in the UK outside London. Buchanan Street is the main pedestrianised shopping area, connecting Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street, all lined with big names you’d expect from the great British high street. The city’s neighbourhoods are where to uncover some unique shopping treasures. The cobbled streets and lanes in the West offer vintage stores and independent boutiques and The Hidden Lane in Finnieston is where you can discover a quirky mix of designers and crafters who you can see hard at work while you peruse the delights they have on sale. Ingram Street in the Merchant City is known as the designer boulevard while the East is home to some great weekend markets and independent traders.
11. Dear Green Place
Meaning ‘dear green place’ in Gaelic, Glasgow really lives up to its name as the city has over 90 parks and gardens to choose from. Head South to discover Pollok Country Park, one of the city’s best-loved green spaces. You can enjoy a cycle, pay a visit to Pollok House or just take a wander to meet the Highland Cows. The West is home to the picturesque Kelvingrove Park, set on the banks of the River Kelvin, and Glasgow Botanic Gardens, known internationally for its impressive glass houses and extensive tropical plant collections. Glasgow Green in the East is the city’s oldest park, where you’ll find the spectacular Doulton Fountain, the largest terracotta fountain in the world, and the beautiful McLennan Arch.