Glasgow Cathedral
One of the most impressive sights in Glasgow, the Cathedral is simply awe-inspiring. Sitting on the original site where St. Mungo built his first church in 614 A.D., it’s safe to say there’s an extremely ancient history in this city. In fact, many people believe Edinburgh is an older city, but St. Margaret’s Cathedral in Edinburgh is actually younger than the Glasgow Cathedral you see today, which was built in the 12th Century.
High Street
On your tour, you’ll also get to experience what’s left of Medieval Glasgow. As you head along High Street, one of Glasgow’s oldest streets, you can marvel at the ancient buildings – and perhaps catch sight of the famous Tollbooth Steeple where the city’s witches, thieves and murders were hanged.
Merchant City
The Merchant City is one of Glasgow’s oldest quarters and is filled with stunning architecture. Every street is named after a famous merchant who built their wealth trading in the Indies in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Today, it’s an area bursting with eateries and shops, so it’s an excellent place to walk around and explore.
Finnieston Square
As you travel out of the city centre, you’ll spot the Finnieston Crane dramatically silhouetted against the River Clyde. It’s an icon for the Scottish shipbuilding industry – although it was never used to build ships. It was actually used for lifting extremely large items onto ships – like locomotives and steam trains. Around the Finnieston area, you’ll get to witness ‘Modern Glasgow’ with the SECC and The Hydro, a central place for music and arts.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery
Built in 1901, Kelvingrove Art Gallery is not only a sensational building architecturally, but also with its wealth of information and history. Here you can learn all about the fascinating history of Glasgow, from its creation, to its Merchant history, the Industrial Revolution and the rise of communism known as ‘Red Clyde’. There’s also the famous ‘floating heads’, a real-live spitfire, an Egyptian exhibit, and an extensive art gallery – and even a live organ recital if you catch it at the right time.
West End
Being driven through the West End is a great way to see all the sights. It’s an affluent area with many stunning buildings and plenty of stories to tell. Your guide will point them out as you go, such as the ancient, gothic-style University of Glasgow which was founded in 1451. The University is actually the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world!
George Square & Winterfest
Right at the heart of Glasgow, George Square is somewhere you absolutely have to see and once again it will be transformed into a stunning winter festival. Food lovers can enjoy a variety of delicious treats, including Grilled dishes, Salt & Chilli specialities, Yorkshire Pudding, and more. Sweet options such as Churros and freshly made Crepes will also be available to indulge your cravings. Throughout the square, you’ll find many statues of famous Scottish politicians, literalists, military personnel and royalty. Perhaps the most notable part of George Square is the Glasgow City Chambers. On a weekday, you are allowed to go inside and marvel at the 3-storey marble staircase – which we believe rivals The Vatican’s two-storey staircase.
