I’m calling it- Glasgow is criminally underrated. Less than an hour from Edinburgh, it sees far fewer tourists despite having a ton to offer and a vibrant culture.
I visited Glasgow for the first time recently, and was kicking myself for not spending more time in this city. The museums are particularly nice, and you can’t forget about their iconic cone-headed statue!
Although there are a ton of excellent day trips that launch out of Glasgow, don’t forget to spend time exploring the city itself. Don’t skip this city on your trip to Scotland!
Duke of Wellington Statue
One of the most iconic and unintentional landmarks of Glasgow is the Duke of Wellington statue. What would have normally been a normal and unspectacular statue was transformed by the addition of a traffic cone perched on its head. Just a normal traffic cone.
A traffic cone has been placed on the statue’s head since at least the 1980s, much to the chagrin of the Glasgow City Council who have to pay approximately £100 each time they want to remove the iconic cone.
At this point, the cone headed statue is such a part of Glasgow culture that it appears on their souvenirs and guidebooks- sometimes it’s even themed for the occasion such as adding a pro-Scottish Independence “YES” cone, or a gold painted cone in celebration of the 2012 Olympics.
It’s considered a symbol of the city’s irreverent sense of humor.
Buchanan Street
Every city has an iconic high street and Glasgow is no exception. Take a stroll down Buchanan Street and admire all the shops and cafes along this pedestrian boulevard. This is usually where you’ll spot some street performers and pretty architecture.
Glasgow Cathedral
Fans of gothic architecture must stop by the Glasgow Cathedral. Dedicated to St. Mungo, the patron Saint of the city of Glasgow, this cathedral has been overlooking the city since the 12 century.
The Necropolis
Just above the Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis is a great spot to view grave monuments from the Victorian era. Despite its low hill, it’s also a great spot to take a look over Glasgow.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Whether you’re looking for a way to get out of poor weather, or looking to enjoy some sunshine in Glasgow, the Botanic Gardens are the way to go.
There are several temperate greenhouses, the most famous of which is Kibble Palace- a huge 19th century greenhouse that was once used as an exhibition and concert venue.
In addition to the greenhouses, the Botanic Garden has 20 hectares of landscaped grounds to wander.
The gardens are entirely free to visit and offer guided tours three times a week.
Glasgow Central Station
The busiest train station in Scotland, Glasgow Central Station sees 25 million visitors each year. You’ll probably see it either coming or going on your visit to the city, but it’s still nice to see regardless with its huge concourse full of shops and famous glass walled bridge across Argyle Street.
The Clydesdale Distillery
Looking to check out a whisky distillery without leaving the city? Look no farther than the Clydesdale Distillery which offers Distillery tour and whisky tastings. Visitors can even choose to create their own bottle!
Museums
There’s a plethora of stunning museums in Glasgow that are worth a visit- and they’re free! Most of the museums are about a half day’s visit with the exception of the Kelvingrove, which can take hours to fully explore.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery is Glasgow’s premiere museum. The pretty red sandstone building was opened to the public in 1901 and remains the most popular museum in the city- and for good reason!
The Kelvingrove hosts a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, artifacts, taxidermy, and armor from all over the world, but my favorite part was how they organized it!
Unlike most museums I’ve visited, who arrange their collections by region or medium type, the Kelvingrove seemed to organize their collection by concept- something I haven’t seen before!
I liked this museum so much I wrote a detailed review about it here.
The Huntarian
This museum was recommended to me by several locals, and it’s actually a complex of museums operated by the University of Glasgow.
The two most famous portions of the complex are the Hunterian Museum and the the Hunterian Art Gallery, but the complex also includes the Mackintosh House, the Zoology Museum and the Anatomy Museum.
Established in 1807 after a generous donation from former Glasgow University student William Hunter, this is the oldest museum in Scotland!
The Burrell Collection
Housed within the historic Pollok House- the once family seat of the Stirling-Maxwell family- this 9,000 piece collection spans medieval art and weapons, Islamic Art, ancient Egyptian artifacts, and Impressionist masterworks.
A few pieces of the original collection can be seen in other museums such as the Kelvingrove, but the majority of the pieces remain in the Burrell Collection.
This collection reminds me a lot of the Wallace Collection- a similar private collection made open to the public in London.
Riverside Museum
This modern museum was purpose-built to house the Museum of Transport collection. Opening in 2011, the spiky building is worth a look even just for its architectural design.
This museum hosts all forms of transport from bikes to trains to boats to cars- it’s almost overwhelming.
Some of the highlights include a recreation of a cobbled Glasgow street, an 80s era record shop, a small skate park, and even an actual subway carriage!
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