Glasgow is Scotland’s biggest city, known for its friendly people, vibrant music and arts scene, and mix of historic and modern architecture. We visited on a day trip back in 2019, but only really scratched a very small surface, so we decided to spend five nights here after leaving Edinburgh. We had a great time and really loved the city. There are three Waterstones in the city of Glasgow – we did the one in Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street ones during our earlier visit. This time we visited the one at Byres Road, which opened in 2015. We walked there from our hotel and loved the area. The Waterstones is in an attractive red sandstone building, part of Grosvenor Mansions, built in 1931. I am going to share lots of pictures covering the time we were in Glasgow, so there will be plenty of pictures – do take a look if you have time!
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens opened in their present location in 1842 and feature several glasshouses, included the one pictured below, Kibble Palace, which was erected in 1873. It houses a great number of different plant species, and includes koi carp pond and a section devoted to carnivorous plants!
Riverside Museum
The Riverside Museum is Glasgow’s award-winning transport museum, free to visit and home to a fascinating collection of cars, bicycles, trams, trains, model ships, and much more. Opened in 2011, it’s a must-see for visitors of all ages. We spent a couple of hours here.
Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum opened in 1901 and features around 800 exhibits spread across 22 galleries. The star of the collection is arguably Salvador Dalí’s Christ of Saint John of the Cross, acquired in 1952 for £8,200 – a controversial purchase at the time, which even faced a public petition against it. Since then, it has been vandalised twice, but still draws a crowd. There was quite a queue to see it when I visited, but it was well worth the wait. Entry to the museum is free, and the building itself is a masterpiece – never mind the many treasures inside. Peter left me to explore at my own pace, and I happily lost several hours there.
Glasgow Tenement
Cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, 145 Buccleuch Street is a preserved tenement flat that once belonged to Miss Agnes Toward, a dressmaker who lived and worked there from 1911 to 1965. Known for her frugality and reluctance to throw anything away, Agnes left behind a remarkable time capsule of mid-20th-century life. Visitors can explore four original rooms – the kitchen, parlour, bedroom, and bathroom – all faithfully preserved. There’s also an exhibition space on the ground floor, spread across two additional rooms. We found it to be very interesting.
Glasgow City Chambers
Designed by William Young and completed in 1888, the City Chambers is one of Glasgow’s most ornate buildings, known for its opulent interiors. Highlights include grand marble staircases, intricate mosaics, a stunning Banqueting Hall, and the richly decorated Council Chamber, lined with Spanish mahogany. Free guided tours run on weekdays (unless the building is in use), with tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis half an hour before each tour. We were lucky to get spots on a morning tour. Although we were warned that access might be limited due to meetings, we were delighted to be shown into the Council Chamber after all, just before a session began. The building is absolutely breathtaking — well worth a visit.
Glasgow Cathedral
St Mungo’s Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland and was consecrated in 1197. The pews or chairs have been taken out of the main nave (the section before the quire screen) – presumably for use as some sort of performance space, but the section behind the quire has pews, and I imagine this is where the services now take place.
The Hill House
The Hill House, located about 30 miles northwest of Glasgow, was designed by the renowned Scottish architect and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh, in collaboration with artist Margaret Macdonald. Commissioned by Glasgow-based publisher Walter Blackie, the house was both designed and decorated by the pair to reflect their distinctive style. Now managed by the National Trust for Scotland, who took over in 1984, the interior is beautifully preserved and truly stunning. The exterior, however, has suffered some weather-related damage and is currently undergoing restoration. As part of the conservation effort, a protective structure – complete with a viewing platform – has been built over the entire house, allowing visitors to walk above it. We were lucky enough to visit while it was in place and got a fantastic bird’s-eye view!
Glasgow Shots
Various views from the Central Lowlands of Scotland
Janet's Adventures in Waterstones 