Welcome to the largest city in Scotland! This port city in the Western Lowlands of Scotland is famous for it’s Victorian architecture, renowned art collections, museums, culture, and some of the greatest shopping in the UK. Glasgow has a thriving music scene, food scene, and a vibrant night life. This exceptionally walkable area is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities, and it has many music venues. Glasgow is an extraordinarily friendly city with warm locals. Glaswegians are said to be happier, and to have an impressive work-life balance. Some notable people from Glasgow, Scotland include:
– Billy Connolly
– Lewis Capaldi
– John Barrowman
– Billy Boyd
– Peter Capaldi
– Robert Carlyle
– Robbie Coltrane
– Craig Ferguson
Glasgow is a splendid place to stay if you’re exploring Scotland for the first time. Let’s get into the itinerary, and learn about all of the wonderful things that Glasgow has to offer!
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Day 1
Start the day off right:
Head over to Willow Grove Coffee for an incredible breakfast, and to feel like a local. This independent coffee shop shows off Glasgow’s refreshingly slower pace, and modern Scottish cooking. Try any of their appetizing coffees or pastries. Sit down for their delicious Shakshuka, waffles, or fresh baked rolls with haggis. This is the perfect café to start your trip, and to fuel your first day of exploring all that Glasgow has to offer.
Visit an art museum:
Pay a visit to Clydeside Distillery, for a glimpse into Glasgow’s historic past of shipping docks and whisky. Book a whisky tasting tour with one of their expert and thorough guides. This distillery and museum offers group tours, a bottle shop, and café. From their website “Immerse yourself in our dockside story, brimming with fascinating tales about Glasgow’s history in the industrial heyday of the Queen’s Dock and the birth of the whisky industry.” This is a perfect first distillery to tour in Glasgow.
Dinner:
Bloc is a vibrant restaurant and popular music venue in Glasgow. They have some crave worthy loaded nachos, hotdogs, loaded fries, and wonderful cocktails. Check out their website to see who’s playing when you stop by. They have some amazing vegan and vegetarian options as well.
Day 2
Some sensational coffee shops in Glasgow:
Pollok Country Park is Glasgow’s largest park with gorgeous grounds, woodland walks, mazes, bridges, and gardens. Their Highland Cattle can always be seen in the fields within Pollock Avenue. The area was originally farms and woodlands, and is a lot smaller than it was. The Pollock Estate; a Georgian mansion, was home to the Maxwell Family who were proprietors and had owned land in the area since the 1200s, and for over 27 generations. This park is a terrific place to navigate by bike, with bikes available to rent at the entrance of the park. This green space is perfect for a peaceful country walk right in the heart of Glasgow.
Located in Pollok Country Park is The Burrell Collection, known as one of the most beautiful museums in Europe. This historic collection of art in it’s countryside setting opened in 1983. The opening marked the beginning of Glasgow’s cultural enlightenment following it’s post industrial decline. You can view 9,000 objects in the collection, including medieval stained glass and armor. There are over 200 tapestries, and paintings by Menet, Cezanne, and Degas.
Have a Scottish dinner:
Sloans, established in 1797, is Glasgow’s oldest bar and restaurant. Located in the Argyll arcade, Sloans has a Ballroom, impressive central staircase, and an outside courtyard. This is the spot for traditional Scottish food, and a Friday night Ceilidh!
ceilidh. / (ˈkeɪlɪ) / noun. (esp in Scotland and Ireland)an informal social gathering with folk music, singing, dancing, and storytelling.
Glasgow is a city full of modern cuisine. But, there’s a lot to be said about the traditional Neeps & Tatties, Haggis, and Cullen Skink dinner.
Here are some critically acclaimed restaurants serving excellent Scottish cuisine:
Go see the oldest pub in Glasgow:
Established in 1792, The Scotia Bar is Glasgow’s oldest pub. They have live bands several times a week. This historic pub has cozy corners and is an atmospheric blast from the past.
Day 3
Single-end Cafe and Bakehouse is a breakfast and brunch restaurant with traditional Scottish meals. You have to take advantage of this opportunity and try a traditional Scottish breakfast with haggis (or veggie haggis), black pudding, eggs, potato scone, roasted tomato, Lorne sausage, and baked beans. Delicious! They have an extremely friendly atmosphere and staff to help your day start off on the right foot.
The University of Glasgow’s campus feels like you’re arriving at Hogwarts. It feels absolutely magical with it’s gothic revival style architecture and spires. The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451, and is the second oldest in Scotland. The campus is open to the public and is home to The Hunterian; the oldest public museum in Scotland. The museum hosts the extensive anatomical teaching collection of William Hunter; a Scottish anatomist and physician who was a leading teacher of anatomy.
The Glasgow Botanical Gardens is an impressive collection of plants from around the world, with the purpose of conservation, research, and education. Located in the West End of Glasgow, the gardens are displayed in picturesque glasshouses. A charming place to spend time amongst the buzz of the city.
Stop by the medieval Glasgow Cathedral. It is the oldest building in Glasgow, and the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland. View it’s magnificent architecture before heading over to The Glasgow Necropolis. This 37 acre Victorian cemetery was established in 1831, and is estimated to have 50,000 individuals buried there. The cemetery sits on a hill overlooking the cathedral, and is home to elaborate tombs and hauntingly beautiful architecture.
Glasgow is a city for art lovers:
House for an Art Lover is a country house hosting an arts and cultural center, with a café. It is inspired by the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Around the house, can explore the grounds parks, mazes, glass planthouses, gardens, and cycling trails. The house was originally designed to be an elegant country retreat. According to their website: {In 1901 Mackintosh, Glasgow’s most famous architect, entered a competition to design a “Haus Eines Kunstfreundes” or “Art Lovers House” set by German design magazine “Zeitschrift Fur Innendekoration”. Unfortunately Mackintosh did not win but his project was praised for it’s uniqueness.} It wasn’t until 1989 that engineer Graham Roxburgh had the idea to finally build the House for an Art Lover. Mackintosh’s original drawings where not meant to design an actual house, which presented quiet a challenge for Roxburgh and his architects. The project was lead by the then Head of Architecture at Mackintosh’s Glasgow School of Art; Professor Andy MacMillan. Watch the video below to learn more.
Make your last dinner in Scotland a good one:
Here are more restaurant ideas for delicious Scottish cuisine:
- The National Piping Centre (Museum, hotel, and bagpipe educational center with a restaurant serving traditional Scottish meals)
- Mharsanta
- Rab Ha
I hope that you enjoy this dazzling city with it’s stunning architecture, food, history, and art. If you’re making the journey to Glasgow to get more in touch with your Scottish ancestry, The Mitchell Library is an excellent place to research your family history. Utilize their Registrars Genealogy Service and public records. Call ahead to make an appointment.
For an in-depth guide on vegan food in Glasgow read: 20 Of The Best Places To Eat Plant-Based In Glasgow, Scotland. For other ideas on places to see in Scotland read: 6 Day Itinerary in The Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh Travel Guide: 3 Days In Scotland’s Capital (coming this Thursday, April 18th.) Thank you for reading!
