Glasgow

This city has world-class museums, galleries and attractions and discover the hidden gems like the Britannia Panopticon.

A city of history, culture, industry and a fierce local footballing rivalry, Glasgow is a great place to visit. By some distance, it’s Scotland’s largest city, larger than the capital Edinburgh, and is home to one-third of Scotland’s entire population. The city grew massively during the Industrial Revolution, and effect of those times remain today. The impressive dockyards and shipbuilding facilities, all now converted to modern uses; the rows of Victorian houses; the dominating public buildings; and the devotion to arts and crafts personified by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who was born in the city.

Modern Glasgow thrives on its incredible people, who keep on creating, winning and working to keep the city at the forefront of Scottish culture. Comedians, football stars and bands just keep on pouring out of the city to influence the world and keep us entertained. Walk the streets and you can’t help but be engrossed by the collective story. You’ll have all your preconceptions of the city destroyed as soon as you meet the friendly people, admire the architecture and sample the food, the galleries and the nightlife.

The Best of Glasgow

Hop-On Hop-Off Glasgow (Red Tour) 1 Day

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Things To Do in Great Britain

Facts about Glasglow

There are trees in Glasgow older than the dinosaurs

Fossil Grove, in Glasgow’s Victoria Park, is home to eleven very special trees. These fossilised tree stumps date to the Carboniferous Period, making them 330 million years old, twice as old as the dinosaurs. The trees were discovered in 1887 during excavations to make a new park from an old quarry.

It is thought that they would have been Lepidodendron trees, that once grew in a swamp-like environment back when Scotland’s climate was hot and tropical – a far cry from the cold, drizzly weather it is known for today!

Glasgow’s City Chambers contain more marble than the Vatican

Glasgow’s City Chambers are housed in one of the most impressive buildings in the city, now the home of Glasgow City Council. Enter into this 19th-century monument and you’ll find yourself in a glittering world of opulence.

It is best known for its staggering marble staircase, which forms the centrepiece of the building and is the largest of its kind in Europe. The magnificent chambers look so much like the Vatican that they are often used as a location for films about the papacy! The dazzling Carrera stone was originally imported from Italy, and the chambers were designed by the architect William Young.

Glasgow is home to the world’s first ultrasound machine

Glasgow has historically been a centre for science, art and learning, and the fabulous museums across the city are littered with artistic, cultural and scientific treasures. Of these, one of the most famous is the world’s first ultrasound machine, which was developed and first used in Glasgow in the 1950s.

This remarkable invention has transformed women’s lives ever since, and can be seen today at the Hunterian Museum in the University of Glasgow. If you’re interested in finding about more facts about Scotland’s scientific history, head to the Glasgow Science Centre, where you’ll find some state-of-the-art interactive exhibits!

Chicken tikka masala was invented in Glasgow

Ah – chicken tikka masala! Britain’s favourite dish has long been a fixture on menus in Indian restaurants from London to Aberdeen. However, did you know that this supposedly Indian dish may have actually been invented in Glasgow?

Glasgow is the cultural capital of Scotland

Although Edinburgh is famous for its many festivals, including the annual Fringe Festival in August, Glasgow is the undisputed capital of Scottish culture. There are more than 20 museums and art galleries in Glasgow, featuring works by some of the world’s most famous artists.