Location: Glasgow
Top Things to do in Glasgow
The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Glasgow, Scotland
As Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow is famed for its culture, shopping and people. Spend your day exploring a wide range of fascinating free museums and galleries, enjoying the UK’s best shopping outside of London, and taking advantage of tips from friendly local people on the city’s hidden gems — then choose from 130+ weekly musical events for a special night out. Glasgow is also the perfect base for exploring more of Scotland, with great connections to the Highlands and the islands.
Restaurants in Glasgow
1. Kelvingrove Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,075 reviews
The River Kelvin runs through the West End's large and attractive park which hosts festivals and events throughout the year.
Reviewed By paullegate - St Ives, United Kingdom
Kelvingrove Park is a 85 acre park located in the West End of Glasgow and was created in 1852, it was originally known as the West End Park. The River Kelvin flows through the park before it joins the River Clyde. There are many attractions to be seen in the Park including The Stewart Memorial Fountain, the Lord Frederick Sleigh Roberts Monument as well as other statues, a bandstand, and bowling and croquet greens. I have been to Kelvingrove Park a number of times in the past. On my most recent visit I got the Subway train to Kelvinbridge station and walked from there into the park. It is a beautifully landscaped space and extremely well maintained and is somewhere that should be explored on a visit to Glasgow.
2. The Mackintosh House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,027 reviews
The beautiful home of Charles Mackintosh, the turn-of-the-century Scottish architect and artist who brought international fame to the city of Glasgow. The Mackintosh House remain closed for now. We will provide an update on our reopening plans as soon as possible.
Reviewed By MadalynH7 - Huddersfield, United Kingdom
Located within the Hunterian Art Gallery this is a wonderful reconstruction of the MacIntosh's terrace house, with much original furniture. Very attractive and very well done.
3. The Glasgow School of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,849 reviews
The Glasgow School of Art is currently closed to visitors following a fire on 15th June 2018, with all tours cancelled until further notice. This includes access to the visitor centre, GSA Shop and exhibitions in the Reid Building, Mackintosh at the GSA Tours and Mackintosh's Glasgow Walking Tours.
4. House for an Art Lover
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,211 reviews
Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1901 and built in the attractive setting of Bellahouston Park in the 1990s, House for an Art Lover allows the visitor an insight into Mackintosh's renowned talent not just as an architect, but as a an artist, designer and pioneer of the Modern Movement. The venue runs regular arts themed events and is home to the popular Art Lover's Cafe.
Reviewed By Tinkypaws - Glasgow, United Kingdom
My partner and I very much enjoyed our recent visit to the House for an Art Lover. We felt safe, the staff were excellent, the afternoon tea scrumptious and the music room beautiful. Thank you for providing such a lovely, peaceful atmosphere.
5. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15,301 reviews
Free Entry. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is Scotland's most visited free attraction. With 22 themed, state-of-the-art galleries displaying an astonishing 8000 objects, the collections are extensive, wide-ranging and internationally-significant.
Reviewed By mkoperabuff
Great museum fabulous art deco MacIntosh exhibits, natural history, social and Scottish history, furniture, decorations and marvelous paintings of Scottish, French, Dutch, English and other masterpieces, e.g. Rossetti, Turner, Monet, Cezanne. Beautiful high Victorian opulent building, organ concert, nice cafe and shops and free, please shop or leave a donation well worth it. Great for children too especially the natural history exhibits.
6. Pollok Country Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,019 reviews
Over 360 acres of green, this lovely park is best known for its well-kept scenic running and walking trails.
Reviewed By dennissU1613AA - Glasgow, United Kingdom
This is Glasgow's biggest park. It is still beautiful but is currently suffering from neglect.The stables area leading to the River Cart weir and mill is closed off by serious fencing. The area is in a bad state of decay and has been for some time This is disgraceful. Post covid, this will once again be visited by many people from overseas who through tourism, generate much needed money for our beleaguered city. Please get it sorted. There is so much to see. Sir John Stirling Maxwell's amazing mansion built 1752 The rustic bridge over the River Cart, the river weir, the extensive gardens and endless walking paths and the famous Highland cattle which were hiding( I hope) on this visit.. Unfortunately the house is closed for visits under current covid restrictions..
7. The Tenement House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 697 reviews
** Currently closed due to Covid 19 crisis ** The Tenement House is a National Trust for Scotland property in Glasgow's City Centre. With 1892 original features it provides a rare glimpse into life in Glasgow in the early 20th century. The house, lived in by Miss Agnes Toward for over half a century is a unique opportunity to experience collections in their unchanged environment. See what it meant to be an 'independent woman' in the first half of the 20th century; experience how ordinary folk lived, and appreciate how many of the household amenities we now take for granted were considered luxuries less than a century ago. Authentic gas lighting has been installed to recreate the atmosphere of the house, which didn't have electric lighting until 1960. An exhibition on the ground floor makes the most of Miss Toward's extensive personal archive, providing a valuable time capsule for visitors today. Toilet facilities and a gift shop are available on the exhibition floor.
Reviewed By Medievalhistorylover
Looked after by the NTS, the House gives an insight into tenement dwellings in the early 1900's. Photos (without flash) can be taken; the guides are very friendly and knowledgeable. If walking to the property, the easiest (and quickest) route is from Sauchiehall Street and following the brown tourist attraction signs.
8. City Chambers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 983 reviews
Inaugurated by Queen Victoria in 1888, Glasgow City Chambers dominates George Square and is currently home to Glasgow City Council. The grand marble staircase and banqueting hall are among the building's many highlights. Free guided tours are conducted at 10:30am and 2:30pm on weekdays except public holidays and special events.
Reviewed By cindyb1973
Although we did not get to actually tour this building, we were able to walk around the lobby/reception area, Absolutely gorgeous place, gorgeous marble and stairways, I believe guided tours are also available, we were just there after hours but there was a staff person at the reception desk and he was very helpful. And the United States Statue of Liberty stands on top of this building!!! Across the street from this building is George Square that boasts several statues and memorial sites, easy walk around and informative as well.
9. Glasgow Green
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 471 reviews
One of the oldest and most historic parks in Scotland stretches from the Saltmarket at the High Court across to the Calton and Bridgeton districts, and was used mainly for sheep and cattle grazing until the nineteenth century.
Reviewed By johnhouston2 - Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Not only is Glasgow Green the oldest public park in Glasgow – it is the oldest in Britain. In 1450 James II gave the land at Glasgow Green to the Bishop of Glasgow for public grazing. Eventually it became a public space protected by the city fathers, and over many centuries it provided a welcome escape from the crowded tenements of the old town. The park has been used as a washing, bleaching and drying area by local people, as a rallying point for Jacobite troops in 1745, a site of public executions until 1865, and for political rallies and public festivals. The current layout of Glasgow Green dates back between 1816 and 1826 when major landscape works were completed reinforcing the Green’s status as Glasgow’s people’s park. This splendid 55 hectares/136 acres green space truly deserves to be called the lungs of the city and is situated within walking distance of the city centre, just to the east of the Saltmarket. My visit today was the first in many years and brought back lovely childhood memories from the 1950s when I was brought to the Green by my Grannie and Aunties when I stayed with them across the river in Oatlands during my school holidays. As a much older visitor, I thoroughly enjoyed our stroll and admired the splendid architecture of the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens, the stunning Doulton Fountain and the views of the nearby Templeton Carpet Factory (see separate reviews re these places). We also went down to the riverside where we stood on a lovely footbridge and watched rowers from the local rowing clubs glide smoothly underneath. The Clyde here is rather lovely and the variety of birdlife we saw is testament to the work that must have been done over the years to clean the river up.
10. Glengoyne Distillery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,562 reviews
Often described as "Scotland's Most Beautiful Distillery", Glengoyne is open 7 days for a range of unique whisky tasting experiences. Just a short drive from Glasgow, Stirling and Loch Lomond, this traditional, hard working distillery has been flourishing since 1833. Glengoyne's range of in-depth distillery experiences includes the legendary Malt Master session where guests create their very own individual whisky to take home.
Reviewed By BillPNo1 - Friendswood, United States
Midday on our first day of walking The West Highland Way, we came upon the Glengoyne Distillery and felt obliged to stop and take the "Best Whisky Tour in Scotland". Having not taken any other Whisky Tours in Scotland, I can't verify the superlative claim but I was very well plaeased with trhe tour and the included tasting. Not usually a Scotch drinker (my tastes usually prefer Bourbon) I was pleasantly surprised to see how well I enjoyed the very good taste of the Glengoyne Single Malt Whisky! I tasted the 12 year old Glengoyne, on the "Glengoyne Tour"but in retrospect, I wish that I had taken the "Wee Tasting Tour" which also included a tasting of the 18 year-old Glengoyne Old Highland Single Malt Whisky. The tour of the distillery was very informative and I learned a lot about the process and procedures. I would like to take the tour again if the opportunity presents.
