| Glasgow Town Guide |
Glasgow Harbour
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| George Square is considered by many to be Glasgow's City Centre, and for tourists it is a good place to start seeing the sights. George Square was laid out in the late 19th century, as a showpiece of Glasgow's prosperity and industry. The grand Victorian buildings give an idea of the wealth of the period, and the civic pride of the city. In the centre of the square is a green, and dotted around are statues of famous Scots such as Robert Burns and James Watt. And at its heart is a 80 foot column topped with a memorial to Sir Walter Scott. The most famous attraction in George Square is the splendid City Chambers building on the east side of the square. |
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| Glasgow Cathedral is located in the heart of the city, about a mile to the east of George Square. The history of the site dates back many hundreds of years to the 5th century when the holy man St Mungo founded a monastery here. A religious community quickly grew up around the monastery and the first church was soon built on the site. The first stone church was built here in the early 12th century, but it burnt down within a few decades and had to be re-built. Work began on the present Cathedral in the early 13th century, much of it built in the Gothic style. It is significant in that this is the only pre-Reformation Cathedral in the whole of Scotland to remain intact - the others were all destroyed in the 16th century. Inside the Cathedral contains a 15th century choir screen, a superb wooden roof and some excellent stained glass windows. And of course there is the tomb of St Mungo himself, located in the lower church and a focus of pilgrimage for many centuries. The Cathedral is open to the public, but opening hours depend on the day and the time of year so check in advance. Admission is free. |
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| Glasgow Green is a stretch of parkland in Glasgow's East End, situated between London Road and the River Clyde. The first mention of this park was in 1178 - which makes it the oldest public park in the whole of Europe. In the past it has been the venue for political activity, with several demonstrations being held here over the years. And for many years this was where Glasgow's public executions took place. But most importantly this is traditionally where the city workers escaped for an afternoon stroll at the weekend - and today you will still see people visiting the park each Sunday, a tradition that Glaswegians hold very dear. Glasgow Green is also the venue for the city's annual Guy Fawkes' Night celebrations, often accompanied by a fair or a rock concert. Right in the heart of Glasgow Green is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions - the People's Palace. |
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| The Glasgow School of Art is located on Renfrew Street in the Merchant City area of the city. The school's most famous past student is the architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose influence can be seen all over the city. Appropriately enough the school is now housed in a building that Mackintosh designed, and it is considered by many to be one of the best examples of his work in Glasgow. The interior of the school can be viewed by guided tours every day except Sundays, at a cost of around £3.50 for adults. Check in advance for the times of available tours. |
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