Things to do in Scotland – ten free of charge historic attractions in Glasgow

Make the most of a trip to Glasgow with our guide to ten top attractions which will help you absorb the city’s intriguing history but won’t cost you a penny…

1 GEORGE SQUARE

Scotland’s main civic square was built during the Victorian era and is home to a number of statues of former citizens and those connected with the city including Dr Thomas Graham, Sir Walter Scott and field marshall Lord Clyde. The square is dominated by the grand City Chambers, opened in 1888. Mounted on the wall of the Chambers are ‘standard measurements’ which were used by merchants, shopkeepers and builders to ensure fair and public means of trading were used in the city.
George Square, Glasgow G2

2 GLASGOW CATHEDRAL
Glasgow’s cathedral (also known as St Mungo’s Cathedral) was consecrated in 1197 and has been a place of worship for over eight centuries. The cathedral has been rebuilt and extended several times during its history and today’s visitors can enjoy exploring the building’s past with highlights including a rare rood screen, the ‘Creation’ West Window by Francis Spear and the fourteenth-century timber roof in the nave.
Glasgow Cathedral, Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0QZ; tel: 0141 552 8198; website.

3 GLASGOW GREEN
Glasgow’s oldest park (pictured), located on the north banks of the River Clyde. The swampy land which originally comprised the park was granted to Glasgow by King James II and was originally used for fishing, laundry and grazing. The park’s heyday came during the nineteenth century when Nelson’s Monument was built in 1806, followed by the St Andrews Suspension Bridge (1855) and the Doulton Fountain (moved to the park in 1890) – all of which can still be seen today.
Glasgow Green, Greendykes Street, Saltmarket, Glasgow G1 5DB; tel: 0141 287 5064.

4 MERCHANT CITY
Explore Merchant City (pictured top) on foot and enjoy a trip into the city’s trading past, where monuments to the second city of Empire can be seen in the huge Victorian buildings constructed by shipping and tobacco magnates. Highlights include the world’s oldest surviving music hall – the Britannia Panopticon; the Old Fruit Market; the medieval Provand’s Lordship building; and the Barras Market.
Merchant City, Glasgow, G1; website.

5 RIVERSIDE TRANSPORT MUSEUM
Explore transport of yesteryear with historic bikes, trams, buses, cars and ships. Interactive displays chart the city’s transport heritage and Glasgow street scenes place the models in context.
100 Pointhouse Road, Glasgow G3 8RS; tel: 0141 287 27020; website.

6 SCOTLAND STREET SCHOOL MUSEUM
Built by Charles Rennie Mackintosh between 1903 and 1906, this distinctive red sandstone building was a school until 1979 and now acts as a museum which presents the history of education in Scotland. Visitors can explore the database of old school photos and explore Victorian, World War Two and 1960s reconstructed classrooms.
225 Scotland Street, Glasgow G5 8QB; tel: 0141 287 0500; website.

7 THE LIGHTHOUSE
The Lighthouse (pictured opposite) is Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture and was created by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The building was once the home of the Glasgow Herald newspaper and still boasts many period features including the distinctive lighthouse tower. The Lighthouse is also home to a Centre devoted to the life and work of Mackintosh.
The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow G1 3NU; tel: 0141 276 5360; website.

8 THE NECROPOLIS
A grand burial ground (pictured below) which is the final resting place of many notable Scots, many of whom are buried in distinctive stone memorials, including James Murdoch and Archibald McLellan. The cemetery is also the burial place of c50,000 ordinary Glaswegians from the Victorian era onwards. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis run walking tours throughout the year.
70 Cathedral Square, Glasgow G4 0UZ; tel: 0141 287 3961; website.

9 THE PEOPLE’S PALACE
A museum which tells the story of the people of Glasgow from 1750 through to the present day. The history of Glasgow’s citizens is presented through artefacts, paintings, photos and film.
The People’s Palace, Glasgow Green, Glasgow G40 1AT; tel: 0141 276 0788; website.

10 TRADES HALL
This Victorian conference and banqueting hall is home to a permanent exhibition on the history of Glasgow. The building was created between 1791 and 1794 by Robert Adam and is the ancestral home of the different Incorporated Trades which once controlled all trade in the city. Various carvings and stained glass windows around the building’s Grand Hall represent the city’s different trades including weaving, gardening and baking.
85 Glassford Street, Glasgow G1 1UH; tel: 0141 552 2418; website.