Inter-noise 2022
Glasgow Sights and Attractions
Glasgow is famous for being one of the friendliest cities in the world. A cultural hub with a vibrant nightlife, Glasgow is home to a dynamic arts scene, 19th-century Victorian architecture, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Scotland’s most famous architect of all time. Glasgow has something for everyone and most of it is free!
Enjoy a walk around the city to appreciate the architecture (always look up!) or the street art. Explore art, history and nature in many of the free museums around the city. If you like music then you are in the UK’s first UNESCO City of music (named in 2008) with music events taking place every night. If food and drink is up your street then enjoy the many restaurants, bars, breweries, and distilleries – you will struggle to choose just one! You can get around walking, by bike, or by bus but you will never get bored! See some of our tips for Glasgow and Scotland below. Check out our guide to the different neighbourhoods in Glasgow.
Near SEC
West End
City Centre
South Side
Get to know Glasgow better Glasgow Walking app developed by Glasgow City Council https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glasgow-walking/id930428468
Learn more about Scotland’s noise here: https://noise.environment.gov.scot/noisemap/
No time for a day trip? These sights and attractions are within 5-10 minutes walk of the SEC:
Riverside Museum
1 mile from SEC
Free Entry
Monday-Thursday, Saturday: 10am-5pm
Friday and Sunday: 11am-5pm
This Zaha Hadid-designed waterside museum carries an extensive collection of vehicles including ambulances, buses, police cars, horse-drawn taxis and motor cars that look like they drove to Glasgow from the set of a 1930s action movie. Formerly housed in the old Museum of Transport at Kelvin Hall, they’ve been cherished by Glaswegians for generations.
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/riverside-museum
The Tall Ship
1 mile from SEC
Free Entry
Every day except Tuesday 10am-5pm
Tuesday: 11am-5pm
Right next to the Riverside museum lies the impressive late Victorian, three-masted Tall Ship that’s berthed outside the museum in the River Clyde – a stunning monument to Glasgow’s rich maritime heritage.
Glasgow Science Centre
0.3 miles from SEC
Wednesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm
Glasgow Science Centre is one of Scotland’s must-see visitor attractions situated on the banks of the Clyde. We present concepts of science and technology in unique and inspiring ways – interactive exhibits, planetarium, live science shows & Imax 3D cinema.
Glasgow Science Centre are offering a £2.00 discount for all Inter-noise delegates on the 22nd August – 10am – 5pm by showing your delegate badge.
Rotunda
0.5 miles from SEC
Just outside of the SEC spot the Glasgow Harbour Tunnel Rotundas – two red brick stone rotundas which flank the River Clyde. The North Rotunda is located on Tunnel Street in the Finnieston area of Glasgow with the South Rotunda at Plantation Place in Govan. Built between 1890 and 1896 by Glasgow Tunnel Company, the Rotunda covered 24-metre-deep (79 ft) shafts to tunnels which enabled vehicular and pedestrian access to the other side of the river. Pedestrians, horses, and carts – and later motor vehicles – would be hauled up by hydraulic lifts.
Finnieston Crane
0.2 miles from SEC
The Finnieston Crane or Stobcross Crane is a disused giant cantilever crane in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. It is no longer operational, but is retained as a symbol of the city’s engineering heritage. The crane was used for loading cargo, in particular steam locomotives, onto ships to be exported around the world. As many as 30,000 locomotives were hauled through the streets of Glasgow by Clydesdale horses, traction engines and diesel tractors, from the works at Springburn to the crane for export to the British Empire
Clydeside Distellery
0.5 miles from SEC
Book a tour at theclydeside.com and find out about the history of whisky, see craftsmen at work creating a new single malt and savour some samples – all with spectacular Clydeside views.
https://www.theclydeside.com
Finnieston
0.6 miles from SEC
Only five minutes’ walk from the SEC, explore Finnieston – a hip foodie hub of gourmet sandwich shops, artisanal coffee bars and trendy organic restaurants specializing in Scottish meat and seafood. Craft beers and gins are served up at stylish bars, while old-school pubs offer vast whisky selections and traditional folk music sessions.
West End
Only 15 minutes from the venue, the leafy west end of Glasgow is known for its top attractions, quirky lanes, amazing food scene and relaxed vibe. Kelvingrove Park is another brilliant spot surrounded by things to do.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
0.9 miles from SEC
Free Entry
Monday – Thursday and Saturday: 10am-5pm
Friday and Sunday: 11am-5pm
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has 22 themed, state-of-the-art galleries displaying an astonishing 8000 objects. The collections are extensive, wide-ranging and internationally-significant including natural history exhibits, arms and armour, art works from many art movements and periods of history. Make sure your visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum coincides with the organ recitals which are daily at 1pm (3pm on Sundays).
1.1 miles from SEC
At 560 years old, the University of Glasgow is a must visit spot in Glasgow’s west end. A stunning piece of gothic architecture you can explore the quadrangles and cloisters. The 4th oldest university in the English-speaking world boasts four museums: The Hunterian Museum; the Hunterian Art Gallery, The Mackintosh House and the Zoology Museum.
Visit the University of Glasgow’s website for details on taking a self-guided tour of the stunning Cloisters and for more on each of its attractions.
Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, free entry, Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm
Mackintosh House, £8, Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm
Hunterian Zoology Museum, free entry, Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm
Ashton lane
1.5 miles from SEC
Located in Glasgow’s West End, Ashton Lane borders the University of Glasgow and is renowned for its bars, restaurants and cinema. Its cobblestones and fairy lights give it a unique charm, particularly after dark, and the lane is always awash with locals and visitors enjoying its vibe.
Walk down one of the city’s longest roads, Great Western Road, and stumble across vintage shops, old-fashioned street lamps, churches transformed into arts spaces and Glaswegian businesses with international reach, such as Timorous Beasties and Paulin watches. Visit independent shops in Glasgow.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens and Kibble Palace
1.9 miles from SEC
Free Entry
Grounds 7am – dusk (all year)
Kibble Palace 12pm – 4pm
Founded in 1817, Glasgow Botanic Gardens is located in the heart of the city’s West End by the River Kelvin and contains a variety of plant collections, woodland copses and riverside walks as well as the famous Kibble Palace.
Kibble Palace is a magnificent glasshouse designed by John Kibble and houses the national collection of tree ferns. Plants from tropical rainforests grow in the palm house.
730 Great Western Rd, Glasgow G12 0UE, UK
Hidden Gems
- The Hidden Lane is a not-so-secret community of artists, designers, musicians and more, where you can pick up unique Glasgow-made products. Visit the Hidden Lane website for the full list of creators and traders.
- The sweeping stone staircase in Kelvinbridge, the Sixty Steps, is Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s only public structure and is an architectural quirk.
- A statue of Charles Rennie Mackintosh sitting proudly on the Argyle Chair in Anderston was designed by Glaswegian sculptor, Andy Scott, creator of the famous Scottish Kelpies.
- Top tip – make sure your visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum coincides with the organ recitals which are daily at 1pm (3pm on Sundays).
- Take in the atmosphere of Scotstoun Stadium by attending one of the Glasgow Warriors rugby union matches. Find out when their home fixtures are at glasgowwarriors.org.
- Glasgow’s most ancient visitor attraction, Fossil Grove is in Victoria Park. The fossilised tree stumps are the remnants of an ancient forest formed some 325 million years ago!
City Centre
Only a few minutes by train or a 20 minute walk you can join the hustle and bustle of Glasgow city centre renowned for high street brands and designer stores in Princes Square, St Enoch Centre and Buchanan Galleries. The city’s wealthy past has left a legacy of some of the finest Victorian architecture like the iconic City Chambers which sits majestically overlooking George Square.
Duke of Wellington
1.5 miles from SEC
One of Glasgow’s most iconic landmarks is an equestrian statue with a traffic cone on the rider’s head – Despite the best efforts of the local council, the statue of the Duke of Wellington in Royal Exchange Square is rarely to be found without (at least one) traffic cone on his head. It was listed in a 2011 Lonely Planet Guide as “one of the top 10 most bizarre monuments on earth”.
1.5 miles from SEC
Free entry
Monday-Thursday, Saturday: 10am-5pm
Friday and Sunday: 11am-5pm
Found in the heart of Glasgow in Royal Exchange Square, GoMA is FREE to enter. Scotland’s most popular contemporary art gallery features modern works from international artists, housed in a graceful neoclassical building. The original interior is used to make a daring, inventive art display.
1.7 miles from SEC
Wednesday – Sunday 1-3pm
£8
This extraordinary mechanical theatre is located at the Trongate 103 arts centre and showcases, through a 30-60 minute shows, a series of large, wondrous mechanical figures sculpted from bits of scrap and elaborate carvings. Set to haunting music, the performances explore humorous and tragic stories of the human spirit.
0.9 miles from SEC
Free entry
The Mitchell Library is one of Europe’s largest public libraries with over one million items of stock and, with its distinctive green dome, is one of Glasgow’s iconic landmarks.
The building opened in 1911 and is also home to the Mitchell Theatre, an exhibition hall and the Herald Cafe Bar. The Mitchell is a true hub of information and the library also includes the rare and specials collection, family history resources and local history resources.
Hidden Gems
- Spot art all around on the City Centre Contemporary Art Trail, a walkable route of 14 outdoor artworks.
- Step back in time and discover tenement life as it was in the early 20th century at the lovingly-preserved Tenement House.
- A lesser-known Mackintosh designed building is the Daily Record building on Renfield Lane which is home to music and vegan venue, Stereo Cafe Bar.
- For a uniquely Scottish experience head to The National Piping Centre and try out the bagpipes as part of your visit.
- The US-style grid system has long proven a draw for Hollywood filmmakers looking to mirror US cities on screen – check out our top film and TV locations page for more on this. While the cobbled lanes provide a spot for the city’s flair for design to come to life in murals, markets and more.
Glasgow East
The oldest part of the city is concentrated around Glasgow Cathedral, to the east of the modern centre. It’s a 15-minute walk from George Square.
Glasgow Cathedral
Free entry
Mon to Sat, 10am to 5pm
Sun, 1pm to 5pm
Glasgow Cathedral a shining example of Gothic architecture, and, unlike nearly all of Scotland’s cathedrals, survived the turmoil of the Reformation mobs almost intact. Most of the current building dates from the 15th century.
The Necropolis is a Victorian garden cemetery full of wonderful architecture, sculpture and fascinating stories. Adjacent to Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis was modeled on Père-Lachaise in Paris. It is estimated that something in the order of 50,000 burials have taken place here, with around 3,500 tombs.
Built in the Classical Revival architectural fashion, the Necropolis was established by the Merchants’ House of Glasgow in 1831. A monument to John Knox, which was erected in 1825, dominates the hill.
Take a walk around the 37-acre cemetery and you may be lucky enough to spot the resident wild deer.
St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
Free entry
Faith is the story of Glasgow in many ways – Protestant or Catholic, Muslim or Hindu, it’s intertwined with everything from education to work to sport. How appropriate, then, than the city should be home to one of the only public museums in the world devoted to the subject of religion. Opened in 1993 and named after Glasgow’s patron saint, it’s housed in a building designed in the Scottish baronial style by architect Ian Begg in 1989. Go for a cross-faith experience, building bridges of understanding and respect between different faith groups, or people with no faith at all. It houses some beautiful religious art and artefacts from all over the world.
Free entry
Monday-Thursday and Saturday: 10am-5pm
Friday and Sunday: 11am-5pm
The People’s Palace is set in historic Glasgow Green and tells the story of Glasgow and its people from 1750 to the present day.
The city’s social history can be explored through a wealth of historic artifacts, paintings, prints and photographs, film and interactive computer displays. The exhibits give a wonderful insight into how Glaswegians lived, worked and played in years gone by.
Doulton Fountain
Outside the Winter Gardens, the restored Doulton Fountain stands pride of place on Glasgow Green, the oldest public space in Glasgow. This highly decorative five-tier fountain in French Renaissance style was designed to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 1887, and became Doulton’s main display piece for the 1888 International Exhibition in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow
Glasgow Green
Established in the 15th century, Glasgow Green is the oldest park in the city. 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.
Hidden Gems
- Sample the Scottish sweeties that have lasted generations at the oldest sweet shop in Glasgow, Glickman’s Confectionary.
- Find the Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed Celtic Cross in Glasgow Necropolis – believed to be the first recorded piece of work by the city’s most famous architect and designer.
- Take in heritage walks, events and archives celebrating the lives and forgotten histories of women at the award-winning Glasgow Women’s Library. Find out more at womenslibrary.org.uk.
- For a truly unique Glasgow experience, visit the 100-year-old Barras Market and chat with the fast-talking and witty traders.
- Enjoy inclusive cycling for new learners and vulnerable users from Free Wheel North at Glasgow Green with their range of adapted bikes, trikes and more. Visit their website for details.
South Side
Leafy, creative and community-led, Glasgow’s southside is the perfect place for a leisurely afternoon. With beautiful traditional tenements, the city’s largest parks and trendy little cafes, head south for a great day out!
The Burrell Collection
Free entry
Monday-Thursday and Saturday: 10am-5pm
Friday and Sunday: 11am-5pm
Sir William Burrell and his wife Lady Constance gifted their collection of 9,000 objects to the city of Glasgow in 1944. Situated in Glasgow’s largest park and only country park in Glasgow This remarkable collection will take you on a tour of 6,000 years of history, featuring people and places around the world. Recently re-opened after a 4 year refurbishment, the A-listed home of The Burrell Collection in Pollok Country Park is modern, greener museum that will showcase treasures from all over the world. Highlights include one of the most significant collections of Chinese art in the UK and objects from ancient civilisations, including Roman sculpture and Egyptian pottery more than 2,000 years old. There are medieval treasures including stained glass, arms and armour and over 200 tapestries which rank amongst the finest tapestries anywhere in the world, as well as paintings by renowned 19th century French artists like Manet, Cézanne and Degas. The Collection is home to the Wagner garden carpet which is one of the earliest surviving Persian garden carpets in the world, and has rarely been on public display.
Pollok Country Park
Visit Pollok Country Park (open daily, free entry) while there which boasts extensive woodlands and gardens provide a quiet sanctuary for both visitors and wildlife. Also nestled in Pollok Country Park is Pollok House (open 10:00 – 16:30, £8.50 National Trust Scotland) an Edwardian gem built in the mid 1700s, housing an impressive collection of Spanish Art.
Direct services from Glasgow city centre to:
- Pollokshaws Road: routes 57/57A, there is a bus stop directly opposite the park entrance
- Shawbridge Street: route 3, alight at Shawholm Crescent
- Dumbreck Road: routes 34/34A, alight opposite Haggswood Avenue
Journey times are approximately 20 minutes.
For up to the minute travel information please visit the First Bus Journey Planner.
By train
Direct services from Glasgow Central Station to:
- Pollokshaws West:Located on Pollokshaws Road, the nearest entrance to Pollok Country Park is at 2060 Pollokshaws Road, less than a 5 minute walk. Exit station, turning left onto Pollokshaws Road and you will see the park entrance shortly after on your left.
• Shawlands: Located on Pollokshaws Road, 10 minute walk to the Pollokshaws Road entrance of Pollok Country Park. Exit station, turning right and follow Pollokshaws Road to park entrance on your right.
Journey times are approximately 10 minutes.
For more detailed information on how to plan your full journey visit the ScotRail Journey Planner.
£7 entry
Set within the magnificent grounds of Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park and inspired by the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, House for an Art Lover combines art gallery and exhibition space, events venue, café, multipurpose artists studios and magnificent visitor attraction into one unique and inspiring venue.
Other Hidden Gems
- Explore the Hidden Gardens at Tramway, an award-winning green space with its very own programme of community-led events.
- Constructed in 1858, Holmwood House in Cathcart is Alexander Greek Thomson’s finest residential villa and the only one in the area with public access. Visit nts.org.uk for opening times.
- Grab a coffee from one of the many nearby cafes and head to the flagpole at Queen’s Park for one of the city’s most stunning views.
- Some of Glasgow’s most illustrious addresses are in the city’s southside. Blairhall Avenue, Millbrae Crescent, Queen’s Drive and Moray Place are all worth a saunter along.
- A set of 31 carved stones dating from the 9th-11th centuries, the Govan Stones and Govan Sarcophagus are of great archaeology significance (visit their website for seasonal opening times).
- The twice-monthly Park Lane Market (visit their Facebook page for market dates) and the monthly Cooperage (visit their Facebook page for market dates) are both fantastic for picking up Glasgow goods from local creators.
