Unique Things To Do In Glasgow
An Overview of Glasgow
Located on Scotland’s Western Coast, Glasgow is the ultimate Scottish hub for music and culture events. If Edinburgh is the capital of Scottish history, Glasgow is the icon for Scottish modernity. The city is large and filled with narrow walking streets, pubs and galleries. Glasgow is also a major ferry launching point for some of Scotland’s most famous islands. There are many unique things to do in Glasgow.
Unique Things To Do In Glasgow
Sharmanka Kinetic Theater
By far my most highly recommended itinerary item in Scotland, the Sharmanka Kinetic Theater defies accurate descriptions. Created by a Soviet-era furniture assembly man, the entire experience involves strange bells, kinetic sculptures, haunting lights, stark carving and bizarre, haunting sounds. There is nothing else in the world quite so forlorn. This is one of the most unique things to do in Glasgow.
Duke of Wellington
This famed statue has a town tradition that refuses to be broken. People continuously put orange traffic cones on top of the Duke of Wellington and his horse. Though they were removed during the COVID pandemic, dedicated citizens immediately restarted the tradition after the lockdown.
The Glasgow Necropolis
The Necropolis is an immense and daunting city on it’s own, with roads, overlooks and a cathedral spreading across a vast, historic cemetery. The Necropolis is Glasgow’s huge cemetery overlooks all of the lower city. With numerous beautiful carvings, graves of influential Scotsmen and interesting carved icons, the Necropolis is worth a walk-through. Admission is free. Visitors at the cemetery should also consider entering the Glasgow Cathedral. Located close to the Necropolis, the Cathedral stands as a green-and-gray gothic masterpiece in the lower tiers of the city.
Glasgow’s City Center Mural Trail
Located along multiple roads in the city’s center, Glasgow’s Mural Walk follows a weaving route through the urban space. The mural trail includes many colorful traditional murals decorating many of the city’s walls.
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea
This Czech-styled tea house of Bohemian design is a landmark café in Glasgow. Visitors can enjoy 80 varieties of tea, numerous vegetarian options and rustic ambiance.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery
Widely considered the grandest art museum in Scotland, the beautiful building is housed in Glasgow’s West End. Admission is free and the cultural and prehistoric exhibits are profound. There is also a fully restored Spitfire hanging in one of the gallery’s main wings. If a visitor is lucky, the enormous Kelvingrove Pipe Organ may be heard. The organ is played at 1.00pm Monday – Saturday and on 3.00pm on Sundays.
Buchanan Street
This is a large, artful shopping street in Central Glasgow. The shopping district sees an incredible amount of foot traffic, numerous street performers and most of Glasgow’s flagship stores and chains. The street has easy access to other parts of central Glasgow, including the neighboring shopping areas of Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street.
Kelvingrove Park
This greenspace is a large and beautiful park in Glasgow with kingfishers and otters living in the nearby waters. The Park is located along the River Kelvin on the West End of the city. Aside from the green spaces, cafés, statues, fountains and monuments, the park easily accesses the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
George Square
This is large central walk-through plaza in Glasgow. The Square hosts the impressive City Chambers, flanked by a pair of carved stone lions. George Square operates as the primary civic square in the city, with an important collection of statues, monuments and historical markers. Monuments to Robert Burns, James Watt, Sir Robert Peel and Sir Walter Scott can all be found here.
The Finnieston Crane and the Clyde
While this large cantilever crane is no longer an operational piece of equipment, the Finnieston Crane is the most famous, old-school loading crane of Glasgow, overlooking the Clyde river. Shipbuilding, cargo loading and ingenuity of engineering are important aspects of Glasgow. This structure personifies the city’s heritage perfectly.
Gin71
This is an upscale, stylish venue offering custom gin, mixer and garnish drinks alongside chilled cocktails and creative beverages. The unique gins here are usually found on a changing menu, special seasonal fruits and sprigs.
The Lighthouse
“The Lighthouse” in central Glasgow serves as Scotland’s Center for Design and Architecture. The distinct building is a visitor center for the city, as well as an artistic exhibition space for features and events in the heart of Glasgow. The Lighthouse can advise first-time visitors on the many unique things do in Glasgow. Even on quiet days, the Lighthouse provides impressive views overlooking the city.
The Barrowland Ballroom
This old, restored building is now a retro music theater owned and operated by several generations of Glasgow families and enthusiastically supported by locals. Shows here are interesting and vary wildly. The Ballroom’s sprung dance hall and interior music venue has served as a major concert venue in a city which thrives on festivals and culture.
Panther Milk Bar
The Panther Milk Bar operates like a semi-hidden speakeasy with only one major menu item: Leche de Pantera. This is an alcoholic dairy beverage, based on a Spanish Legion recipe in the 1920’s (though current flavors have a lot more diversity).
Botanic Gardens Railway Station
This botanic garden is a hidden restoration project in Glasgow. The gardens are in an abandoned transport hub reconverted into a semi-subterranean botanical garden. The garden has access to sunlight and rain above, growing upon open-sky, unused rails. The address of the underground botanic gardens is 730b Great Western Rd Glasgow, Scotland, G12 0UE United Kingdom.
Mugdock Gunsite
Found to the north of the city in Mugdock Country Park, the ruins of an anti-aircraft WWII battery crumble here. The anti-aircraft gunsite was built following the Clydebank Blitz. Now, the ruins are covered in grass with the defenses embedded in the low earthworks below.
The Loup of Fintry
The Loup of Fintry is an extremely beautiful and photogenic waterfall toppling over many green tiers in a white torrent. From the parking area, it’s only a five minute walk up to the base of the waterfall. The waterfall is best viewed after a few days of rain, at which point the torrent churns, falls and sprays powerfully.
Clydeway Expressway Mural Wall
While there are many murals throuhgout Glasgow, the Clydeway Expressway Mural Wall is a popular and well-known mural attraction. The Expressway was painted by 27 artists from around the world. It is built along a derelict railway with an address at 100 Eastvale Pl Glasgow, Scotland, G3 8QG United Kingdom.
Sighthill Stone Circle
The Sighthill Stone Circle is a very strange, modern creation regarding the famed ancient Stone Circles of the isles. Despite being a relatively modern creations, Sighthill has become a pagan and tourist pilgrimage site since being built in 1979.
Hillhead Bookclub
This bookclub and literary hangout area serves as a retro-recreation center in the center of Glasgow. It has books, old newspapers, ping-pong tournaments, retro video games and some general-drinking counters.
The Saracen Head
The Saracen Head is one of the most lore-infused pubs in all of Glasgow. The old and twisted pub allegedly hosts the skull of Maggie Wall, the last witch of Scotland burned at the stake. The pub’s décor and ambiance is purposefully morbid, with excellent spoken-storytellers visiting on weekends.
Pollok Country Park
Pollok County Park is a 146-hectare country park located slightly to the South of central Glasgow. The massive estate-turned-park holds extensive woodlands, large stately buildings, quiet gardens, low hedge mazes and unique walking trails. The park was named Britain’s Best Park in 2007 and the Best Park in Europe in 2008. Another excellent feature of the park is the large herd of Scottish Highland Cattle which call the park home. A hardy breed, Highland Cattle are a national symbol for Scotland, beloved for their funny “hair styles” and impressive horns.
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