Glasgow
I have to confess I've had a "Road to Damascus" moment with Glasgow. Earlier visits to Glasgow had been brief and centred on the City Centre near Central Station and like most cities, the area around the main station isn't always the most salubrious and that affected my judgement.
Yes there are a lot of rough sleepers in the City Centre, yes there are people wandering round looking like they are spaced out and yes there are ladies looking to see if you're interested in "doing business"
But travel further away and the city delights and surprises.
Getting There
Glasgow Airport is located 7 miles to the west of the city and, in fairness, is not the world’s best airport for getting to the City Centre.The Air Express Service 500 bus is the most direct link to the city operates 24 hours a day, roughly every 10 - 12 minutes during the day, every 30 minutes in the evening until midnight and hourly from midnight to 04:00. The journey taking around 15 minutes, traffic dependent. Cost Adult £11.00, single £17.50 return, Child £6.50 single and £10.50 return.
For travellers arriving by train Glasgow Central Station is centrally located in the city centre, with frequent services from London and other major UK cities. The station itself is arguably one of the most attractive stations in the UK.
What To See
If you want to familiarise yourself with the city there is no better way to start than joining an open top bus tour. Most journeys have a multi lingual audio commentary, but some journeys have a live guide and they are most interesting. The service is hop on, hop off but, if you have the time, start with a full loop which will help you get your bearings. The full loop takes 1 hour and 40 minutes
Frequency:- Peak Summer (June 26 to August 30) every 15 minutes (9:00 AM to 5:30 PM), Late Spring / Early Autumn (May 22 to June 25 & August 31 to September 28) every 20 minutes (9:30 AM to 4:30 PM) and every 30 minutes (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM) the remainder of the year
Cost:- Adult £20.00 one day and £27.00 two day, child £11.00 / £16.00, Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £44.00 / £56.00
One of the iconic sights in the city centre is the Duke of Wellington statue near George Square, with a traffic cone sitting on the Duke's head. For many years there was an ongoing battle between the city and locals with the Council removing the cone and locals replacing it almost immediately. At one point the Council did consider raising the height of the plinth to try and deter the locals but in the end the Council realised they were not going to win and took the pragmatic approach let things be. Several other statues around the city now sport traffic cones and the cones have become synonymous with the city.George Square is the symbolic centre of the city and at the time of writing (July 2026) it is closed off, undergoing a major renovation, with the reopening expected around October 2026. Home to many statues the renovated square will also feature a fountain. The square is home to statues of many Scottish notables.
The square is the centre of St Andrews Day celebrations on November 30th and the city's Hogmanay celebrations.
The square is surrounded by impressive building including the impressive 19th Century City Chambers, the former Bank Of Scotland building, now home to restaurants and Queen Street Station, a terminus for domestic Scottish trains.
At Christmas the Square houses an ice rink and is host to other festive events.
Glasgow is home to many impressive museums and art galleries.
The most famous is probably the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.One of Glasgow’s most popular attractions, housed in a striking red sandstone building that opened in 1901. Admission is free, and the museum features 22 galleries covering art, natural history, archaeology, world cultures, and Scottish heritage.
Highlights include Salvador Dalí’s Christ of Saint John of the Cross, Charles Rennie Mackintosh exhibits, armour and weapons, and an impressive collection of animals.
Regular organ recitals take place in the central hall, adding to the atmosphere. With interactive displays, family-friendly exhibits, and a café and gift shop, Kelvingrove offers an engaging experience for visitors of all ages.
The Riverside Museum is Glasgow’s award-winning transport and technology museum, located on the banks of the River Clyde in a striking building designed by Zaha Hadid. Admission is free, and the museum showcases more than 3,000 objects, including vintage cars, locomotives, trams, bicycles, and historic street scenes.
Visitors can explore Glasgow’s rich industrial and maritime heritage, with interactive exhibits that appeal to all ages.
Outside, the tall ship Glenlee is usually open to visitors for a small admission charge, adults £5.50 and children £3.70..
With hands-on displays, a café, and riverside views, the Riverside Museum is an enjoyable and educational attraction for the whole family.
The Glasgow Science Centre is a family-friendly attraction on the south bank of the River Clyde, housed in a very impressive building, offering hundreds of hands-on exhibits that make science fun and accessible for all ages. Opened in 2001, it features interactive galleries covering space, engineering, energy, and the human body, alongside live science demonstrations.
Visitors can also enjoy Scotland’s largest planetarium and an IMAX cinema, both requiring separate admission.
The centre regularly hosts temporary exhibitions and special events, encouraging learning through exploration and play. With a café, shop, and spectacular riverside location, it is one of Glasgow’s most popular educational attractions.
Opening Hours:- April - August, daily 10:00 - 17:00, September - March Wednesday - Friday 10:00 - 15:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 - 17:00, Monday - Tuesday closed.
Admission:- Adults £12.33, concessions, £10.97, children £9.53,
Now I’m sure the last thing you expect to see recommended in a travel guide is a car park, but I’m going to throw Mitchell Street Car Park in your direction.
You’re thinking the Old Moaner has finally cracked but humour me on this one because one side of this open air car park is a wall.
So what?
I’ll tell you what, the wall is home to the most amazing mural, depicting Scottish wildlife.
And that’s only the start of things because Glasgow is home to some amazing murals. Many in plain sight, others in hidden nooks. You can be adventurous and try and find them yourself, that’s what I tried but I missed too many.
Alternatively you could join a 1½ hour walking tour, starting at the car park, and taking in some of the more famous murals. Tours are daily at 14:00 and cost £12.72 for adults and £8.48 for children book here
(prices quoted correct as at July 2026)
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