Glasgow Attractions

Glasgow offers visitors a range of local attractions both in the city of Glasgow and in the surrounding areas. The city has a number of attractions located across the various districts offering visitors plenty of places to discover. The largest city in Scotland includes a choice of attractions including museums, galleries, historic buildings, theatre, concerts and events. Glasgow’s location means national parks, the coastline and scenic countryside in North, South and East Ayrshire are all within reach; providing visitors with a choice of things to see and do.

We have outlined a number of interesting attractions and places to visit for visitors to Glasgow, these include:

There are many sites to visit in Glasgow among them is the Burrell Collection located in Pollok Country Park to the south of the city centre. When Sir William Burrell gifted his collection of over 9,000 works of art to Glasgow, the city was fortunate enough to acquire one of the greatest collections held by one person. The collection is made up of a wide range of art works from all over the world. You can see significant collections of medieval art, alabasters and English oak furniture.

There are European paintings, including works by Degas, Islamic art is also represented in the collection as are modern sculpture including works Rodin. There are fine works from yesteryear including works from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. The Burrell Collection is situated in the Pollok Country Park in South Glasgow and is nearby to Pollok House.

The Gallery of Modern Art is located close to Buchanan Street in the heart of the city. The gallery is the second most visited contemporary art gallery outside of London; it offers a programme of temporary exhibitions and workshops. The gallery displays work by both local Scottish and international artists. It first opened back in 1996; the Gallery of Modern Art is situated in Royal Exchange Square, the elegant building that hosts the collection was refurbished to house the city's contemporary art collection and the building is a combination of old and new architecture. The gallery is developing all the time and now has a dedicated Education and Access studio allowing for facilitating workshops.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum is located in the West End area of Glasgow and is one of the most popular free attractions in Scotland. The gallery includes over 20 themed galleries that display over 8,000 items, the quality collection is of international importance and includes collections on natural history and arts and armour. The museum includes a number of exhibitions and features hands on displays and houses one of the finest civic art collections in Europe.

Glasgow Cathedral is a historic cathedral located just off Castle Street in Glasgow. The historic cathedral dates back 800 years to the 12th century, the church is in regular use and has an active congregation. Visitors can see the impressive architecture of the imposing building with guides available to show visitors around the cathedral.

Glasgow Botanic Gardens is located in the West End area of Glasgow. The gardens are known for their impressive glass houses and extensive collections of plants from around the world. The most famous glasshouse here is Kibble Palace dating back to the 19th century; the glasshouse forms a spectacular sight that houses a range of international plants and tree ferns. The palace is the showpiece attraction at the botanic gardens providing both a fun and educational day out for the whole family.


The University of Glasgow is one of Scotland’s oldest and best known universities. The campus at Gillmorehill is located in the West End of Glasgow approx 3 miles from the city centre. Guided tours are available led by trained student guides that last for approx one hour, where visitors can learn more about the university, the acclaimed architecture and over 550 years of history. Other attractions visitors can see are Hunterian Museum, Scotland’s oldest public museum; the Hunterian Art Gallery that includes The Mackintosh House and the Zoology Museum with a range of exhibitions and displays. There is a visitor centre shop that offers university merchandise and gifts.

Glasgow Science Centre is located on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow. A visit to the centre offers an interesting day out with more than one attraction; there are a number of attractions for visitors to enjoy. The main centrepiece is the Science Mall. The mall has three floors of exhibits; there are also cafes and shops. A great place for those that like to explore and be challenged there are hundreds of exhibits, live science related shows, an E-learning centre and an impressive Virtual Science Theatre. The IMAX cinema at the Glasgow Science Centre has an awesome light and sound system that is sure to amaze. The 3D film experience is an impressive one. The Glasgow Tower at the Science Centre is the first tower able to revolve around 360 degrees from the ground up. It is around 400 feet in height and presents a great opportunity for far reaching views for miles around.

Pollok House is located a few miles from Glasgow city centre in Pollok Country Park. The impressive historic mansion dates back to the 18th century and contains wonderful examples of Spanish art, antique furniture and ceramics. The house also boasts an interesting library. A visit to Pollok House shows a quick glimpse at country life within a stones throw of the city. The gardens of the house are superbly maintained and include a collection of over 1,000 species of rhododendrons; these can be viewed by visitors.

Glasgow Shopping offers visitors with plenty of choice. Shoppers have a range of high street shopping facilities at Argyle Street, Buchanan Street, and Sauchiehall Street; the streets are pedestrianised and offer shoppers the chance to wonder round browsing at the range of High Street shops that include famous High Street names along with smaller and independent. It city has a number of shopping centres including the St Enoch Centre and Buchanan Galleries whilst the Argyll Arcade is a famous covered shopping street known for its impressive collection of jewellery shops.

Barras Market is located to the east of the city centre; here visitors can find a range of goods including clothing, fashion, computer games and antique furniture. The market has a lively atmosphere and offers an interesting alternative for shoppers searching for a bargain.

It is recommended that prior to visiting Glasgow; visitors do their research and ensure any sights and attractions they plan on visiting are actually open on the days you intend on coming. The transport is also worth checking as maintenance and engineering works can mean a restricted service on public transport.

For visitors to Scotland’s largest city Glasgow is a relatively compact city that is easy to get around with its grid system. The city includes a wealth of attractions, from its famous creative arts and culture scene, to its lively and varied nightlife and shopping facilities there is plenty for visitors to see and enjoy here. The city has enjoyed an upturn in fortunes in recent years with plenty of modernisation and regeneration making it an interesting place to enjoy a short break, weekend away or for a longer stay.



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