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Founded in 1451, Glasgow's venerable university is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world.
Glasgow's most significant building is its imposing cathedral, which has its origins in the 12th century. It's a superb example of Gothic architecture and appears in its completed 15th-century form, having survived the turmoil of the Reformation in the 16th century almost intact. The cathedral's exterior is spectacular in its grandeur, but wait until you get inside.
The cathedral's interior is noted for its wooden ceiling, with some of the timber dating back to the 14th century. It's decorated with a series of impressive shields. Rising above the 15th-century stone choir is a modern flourish—four stained-glass panels depicting the Apostles, created in the 1950s by English artist Francis Spear (1902–1979).
One of Scotland's most popular tourist attractions, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum was established in 1901 and is housed in a magnificent Victorian-era sandstone building. The collections are vast and eclectic, set in 22 galleries.
Exhibits range from Renaissance and Scottish art to taxidermy, artifacts from ancient Egypt, and 19th-century sculptures. A defining piece is the Spitfire LA198 (pictured) of the 602 City of Glasgow Squadron. An icon of the Battle of Britain, it's suspended over the West Court.
Named after King George III, Glasgow's handsome civic square lies at the heart of the city. It's distinguished with 12 statues of famous historical figures associated with Glasgow, including Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Sir Robert Peel. Dominating the east end of the square is the City Chambers building, which can be visited, and is certainly worth investigating.
One of Glasgow's premier tourist attractions in fact lies 4.5 km (3 mi) out of town in Pollok Country Park—a museum displaying the Burrell Collection, rare and valuable works of art amassed by wealthy industrialist Sir William Burrell (1861–1958).
The Burrell Collection includes medieval art and tapestries, oak furniture, weapons, and armor. Islamic art and artifacts from ancient Egypt are also displayed. One of the most recognized paintings in the collection is 'The Charity of a Beggar at Ornans' (1868) by French realist painter Gustave Courbet.
Set behind Glasgow Cathedral is a 19th-century necropolis, famously described as the "city of the dead." It's a Victorian cemetery featuring the elaborate tombs of the city's wealthy industrialists and local dignitaries. The tree-shaded walks among the memorial stones offer wonderful views across the city.
Visitors can explore the university grounds, which include the beautiful vaulted cloisters connecting the university's quadrangles. Set within the premises is the Hunterian Museum of Art, named after William Hunter, an 18th-century Glaswegian doctor who bequeathed his collection of anatomical parts, coins, and objets d'art to form the core of the museum's exhibits.
The angular and curved form of Glasgow's Riverside Museum is a standout design feature of this visually impressive cultural facility. Berthed alongside the building is the splendid Glenlee, a Glasgow-built three-masted barque launched in 1896. Nip on board first before taking a look inside the museum.
The Riverside Museum's maritime-themed collections extends to all things public transport (it houses many of the exhibits from the city's former Transport Museum). Here you'll find numerous vintage trams, locomotives, and horse-drawn carriages, in fact anything that's old and on wheels.
Glasgow caters for techies too with its futuristic Science Museum. A great family group visit option, the museum dazzles with an array of interactive exhibits and displays where the emphasis is on the practical and the educative. There's also an IMAX theater, planetarium, and science theater.
Standing 127 m (416 ft) next door to the museum is a observation tower, often referred to as the Glasgow Tower. It claims to be the world's tallest freely-rotating structure, and offers giddy views across the surrounding area.
This elegant mid-18th century Edwardian mansion stands in manicured grounds within Pollok Country Park, and is open to visitors. Decorating its walls are several notable works of art, including a collection of Spanish paintings by El Greco, Goya, Murillo, and Velázquez.
The 146-hectare (361-acre) grounds of Pollok House have been designated as a country park. The estate is home to a herd of Highland cattle. The park also contains the aforementioned Burrell Collection.
Budding botanists will be in their element at Kibble Palace. Built in 1873, the palace is the largest of several glasshouses set within the grounds of Glasgow's Botanic Gardens.
Kibble Palace is renowned for its collection of rare orchids, but is also celebrated for its abundance of tree ferns from Australia and New Zealand. After the heat of the moment, why not cool down in the gardens' quaint tearoom?
Part of the Hunterian Museum complex is the Mackintosh House, the reconstructed home of the famous Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868–1928), who lived here with his wife Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (1864–1933), herself a noted artist.
Speaking of tea, back in the city center there's the Willow Tearooms, designed by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Opened in 1903, it's the most famous of the many Glasgow tearooms that opened in the late 19th and early 20th century.
South of George Square is Glasgow's trendy Merchant City district, recognized by the tall Tolbooth Steeple with its sky blue clock face. This is the place to browse rows of chic boutiques and discover some of the city's best cafés, restaurants, and late-night music bars all tucked in under solid 19th-century granite facades.
Hidden behind the neoclassical facade of a grand late 18th-century mansion house is the Gallery of Modern Art, home to works by national and international contemporary artists. Note the horseback statue of the Duke of Wellington outside. He's crowned by a traffic cone, the result of cheeky pranksters following a years-old tradition.
In 1893, Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed his first building, the new headquarters for the Glasgow Herald newspaper. Built within the premises is a tower, the top floor viewing platform of which is reached by climbing a steep helical staircase for headline views.
This unusual museum, set in a reconstruction of the bishop's palace that once stood in the cathedral forecourt is the only one of its kind to focus not on one religion, but all of them. And it succeeds, highlighting the world's major religions with an assortment of artifacts all under one roof.
Glasgow's City Chambers is the grand seat of local government and was built in the 1880s. The opulent ground floor can be inspected during opening hours and regales visitors with a stately interior dripping with more marble than the Vatican. In fact, the three ornate levels were built using Carrara marble imported from Italy.
Soccer fans should make a pilgrimage to Ibrox, home to the beloved Rangers FC team. Match tickets are snapped up quickly, but guided tours are available (including of the trophy room). Similar tours are given at Celtic Park, home to Celtic FC. Over at Hampden Park, the national stadium, you can browse the Scottish Football Museum, which covers the history of the game in Scotland and its influence on the world soccer stage.
Fossil Grove is found within Victoria Park, and constitutes the fossilized stumps of 11 extinct Lepidodendron tree species. The ancient arbors originally grew 325 million years ago in the area, and their preservation is, frankly, remarkable.
Another signature exhibit is the museum's impressive concert pipe organ. Commissioned in 1901 as part of the Glasgow International Exhibition, the mighty musical instrument takes pride of place in the Grand Centre Hall. It's played on occasion, usually at 1pm.
Allow yourself a good two hours to absorb the museum and gallery. Look out for Salvador Dalí's superb 'Christ of Saint John of the Cross,' which first went on display at Kelvingrove in 1952. Pictured is the great man himself creating the painting in 1951.
And in keeping with the spirit of adventure, why not round off a day's Glasgow sightseeing by taking a guided tour of the Clydeside Distillery? This includes the tasting of some fine malts.
Sources: (The Art Story)
See also: Liverpool: the friendly city of soccer and culture
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest city, and one of the most popular destinations in the United Kingdom. Set on the River Clyde in the country's West Central Lowlands, Glasgow seriously impresses with its wealth of architectural head turners, from venerable Victorian mansions and public buildings—many of which house world-class museums—to modern, purpose-built structures that have rapidly become local icons. Renowned for whisky, soccer. and a vibrant nightlife, isn't it about time you got along to Glasgow?
Click through for ideas of where to go and what to see.
Let's go to Glasgow
Exploring Scotland's biggest city
TRAVEL Scotland
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest city, and one of the most popular destinations in the United Kingdom. Set on the River Clyde in the country's West Central Lowlands, Glasgow seriously impresses with its wealth of architectural head turners, from venerable Victorian mansions and public buildings—many of which house world-class museums—to modern, purpose-built structures that have rapidly become local icons. Renowned for whisky, soccer. and a vibrant nightlife, isn't it about time you got along to Glasgow?
Click through for ideas of where to go and what to see.