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Where to go in Glasgow

Being heavily involved with the Glasgow tourist board, I have decided to post some of their promotional material on this site.  This is a selection of places throughout the city.  Hope it’s useful to all you tourists.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Glasgow’s biggest and most well know gallery and museum is probably most famous for the speculation that it was build back to front.  The main reasons for this assumption seem to hinged around the entrances at either end.  Indeed the entrance which we would acknowledge as the back certainly seems to be grander and the cat flap being at the front is a bit of a give away.

Simon Hook wrote: “Housing some of the most famous paintings in the world, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum must be one of the best Galleries on the planet.  I had a wonderful afternoon there, marred only by the fact that all of the brilliant art they claim to have seemed to be 'Out on loan' or 'a bit dusty and away for a clean'.    Plenty of unknown home grown artists to fill up all the empty space.  Just as well.”

The Glasgow Science Centre

In a fitting tribute to all of the world famous inventers that have come out of Scotland over the last few decades, the Glasgow Science Centre is 3 floors of amazement and wonder.  You won't find any laser guided missiles or state of the art cybernetics here, no way.  Instead what you will find is invention after invention from people who clearly loved to knock out some old tat from bit and bobs they found lying about.  You will marvel at the wonky mirrors, you will gasp at the ping pong balls being blown out of a tube using air, and you will be dumbstruck by the plastic skeleton on a bike (he even peddles - how do they do that?).  A day out that the whole family can enjoy - assuming your family doesn't get out much.

The Burrell Collection

With the largest collection of Burrells anywhere in the world, this is a must see.  Johnny Johnston from Houston, Texas best summed it up when he wrote recently to say "The place is great.  It's got thousands and thousands of Burrells.  Every room you go into you're like 'look, there's another Burrell'.  Room after room of the stuff.  Brilliant."

The River Clyde

Known to the locals as the Big Broonie, the river was built in 1873 using slave labour brought in from The Philippians.  They say that it was once possible to walk from one side to the other.  No one’s really sure how this could have been done but speculation and ignorant rumour seem to suggest big inflatable shoes or something.  The river is 25 miles long and at its widest point is quite wide. 

Orange walks

The highlight of the Glasgow calendar.  A display to match Mardi Gras or the Coatbridge gay pride carnival.  Each year tries to outdo the year before with more elaborate costumes and dancing.  A must see for those who like a right good time with a petty, pious, religious flavour.

The Willow Tearoom

This place was designed by Charles Rennie MacKintosh, the man who invented the Macintosh.  Tea was good but the chairs where really uncomfortable.  Macintosh was also responsible for some of Glasgow's most iconic buildings such as the Mitchell library, the Glasgow Art Gallery and Glasgow's oldest house, build 150 years before his birth.  He is also responsible for designing The River Clyde, Ben Lomand and the Taj Mahal, as well as being the inventor of the personal computer.