Attractions
Glasgow is a vibrant city with a fabulous nightlife and a fantastic choice of restaurants, pubs, wine bars, clubs and cafes, not to mention the particularly energetic arts scene.
Many of the city's numerous parks, gardens, museums and galleries offer free admission, making Glasgow a great destination for family days out. The city has an excellent transport network of trains, buses and the underground, so finding your way around couldn't be easier.
It would be impossible to compile a full list of what there is to see and do in Glasgow and some say it would take a life time to manage to do it all. Luckily, Glasgow Youth Hostel is within 20 minutes' walk of several of the main attractions.
Here are a few suggestions for what you can do while staying with us.
Architecture, Museums, Art Galleries & Attractions
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow - free entry
Open Mon-Thurs & Sat 10am to 5pm and Fri & Sun 11am to 5pm
Only a few minutes walk from Glasgow Youth Hostel you will find Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, one of the most-visited museums in the UK. Among well-loved exhibits on display are Rembrandt's Man in Armour; as well as masterpieces by Van Gogh, Monet, Whistler and Botticelli plus its unique arms and armour collection and Ancient Egyptian artefacts. Other galleries include Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style, Creatures of the Past, Environment Discovery Centre and Scotland's Wildlife.
Museum of Transport, 1 Bunhouse Road, Glasgow - free entry
Currently closed as it is moving location. Reopening Spring 2011.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, Glasgow - free entry
Daily 7am to dusk (Tel. 0141 334 2422)
Home to one of the largest glasshouses in the UK, the Botanic Gardens are a major tourist attraction as well as a centre of education, conservation and research. The main glasshouse range contains a collection of tropical plants including cacti, orchids, begonias, ferns and tropical fruit.
Glasgow Science Centre, Pacific Quay, Glasgow
Open (Apr-Oct, Mon-Sun 10am to 6pm) (Nov-March, Tues-Sun 10am to 6pm)
Entry (depending on attraction) Adult £6.95-£9.95 Concession/Child £4.95- £7.95 Groups 4+ 10% discount on admission
One of Scotland's must-see attractions, Glasgow Science Centre has over 300 interactive exhibits, the ScottishPower Planetarium, the 127m Glasgow Tower and Scotland's only IMAX cinema. Learn more about the world of science and technology in new, fun and exciting ways.
The Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
Open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am to 5pm. Free admission. www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh, architect, designer and artist is celebrated around the world as one of the most creative figures of the early 20th century. He was born one of eleven children in the Townhead area of Glasgow, close to Glasgow Cathedral and took his inspiration for his designs from Scottish traditions blended with Art Nouveau and the simplicity of Japanese forms. He has become one of the most celebrated architects of his generation.
Some of his work can be admired in the following places of interest throughout the city:
Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew Street, Glasgow
Entry £6.50 (£4.50 concession)
Tour Times (Apr-Sept, Mon-Sun) 10.30am, 11am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2pm and 2.30pm
(Oct-March, closed Sun) 11am and 2pm
The history of the Glasgow School of Art is inextricably linked to Charles Rennie Mackintosh. A graduate of the School, Mackintosh's 1896 design for a new School of Art building heralded the birth of a new style in 20th Century European architecture and remains at the centre of the campus.
Still a working art school, the guided tour takes you along the corridors of the school, through the gallery to the Mackintosh Room, and finishing in one of Mackintosh's most celebrated interiors, the Library. Along the way you will learn about Mackintosh's life and the history of The Glasgow School of Art. You will be able to admire Mackintosh's design and see his inspired transformation of everyday objects, such as chairs, tables and even doors into works of art.
The Willow Tearooms, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
In this unique tearoom, relax and enjoy a coffee, tea (29 loose leaf varieties!) or light meal whilst admiring the fine interiors which feature many of Mackintosh's original fittings, even down to the teaspoons!
The Mackintosh House, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
Open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm. Admission cost is £3/£2(concession). Free on Wednesday afternoons after 2pm. www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk
Activities & Entertainment
Glasgow Youth Hostel is within 10 min walk of the party bit of Sauchiehall Street. This stretch of of one of the longest streets in Glasgow is packed with clubs, pubs, restaurants and take-aways.
The Youth Hostel is also within 15 mins walk from Byres Road in the West End and most importantly from the famous Ashton Lane. This attractive small cobbled street contains pubs like the Ubiquitous Chip, Brel, the Loft and Vodka Wodka among others. It also boasts the Grosvenor Cinema which was recently refurbished and shows a selection of the latest releases as well as classic films.
The Stand Comedy Club, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow
Open 7 nights a week, all year long. www.thestand.co.uk
Jongleurs, UGC Development Buildings, Renfrew Street, Glasgow
Open Thurs, Fri & Sat
Comedy club with food served till 8.30pm on show nights and licensed till 3am.
City Sightseeing Glasgow Ltd, 153 Queen Street, Glasgow
Tickets Adult £9 Student/Snr Citizen £7 Child £3 Under 5's free Family (2+ up to four children) £20
City Sightseeing Glasgow Tour is the best way to see the city! Starting at George Square hop on an open top bus for a full guided tour around all the main sights of Glasgow. Tour lasts over 1 hour but you can use this frequent service for the rest of the day, getting on and off to visit places of interest. Buy a day ticket, travel the next day free. Save £1 each ticket by booking online.
Shopping
Glasgow is the second largest shopping centre in the UK so Glasgow is the place to be for shopaholics!
The main shopping area can be found along Sauchiehall Street where you will find The Buchanan Galleries. The stylish Princes Square can be found in the popular Buchanan Street which equally has lots of shopping facilities such as Borders Books, Starbucks, Zavvi, to name but a few! In the contemporary Merchant City area of the city you will find the stunning Italian Centre and various other designer boutiques. Braehead Shopping Centre with over 100 shops and its own ice-skating arena is only 5 miles from Glasgow's city centre.
Buchanan Galleries, 220 Buchanan Street, Glasgow
Located in the centre of Glasgow this is the first stop for serious shopping! Buchanan Galleries has over 80 of the best high street shops.
Princes Square, 48 Buchanan Street, Glasgow
Set within a magnificent listed building, Glasgow's Princes Square is full of designer boutiques, bars and restaurants.
The Italian Centre, 7 John Street, Glasgow
Set within the Merchant City area of the city, The Italian Centre offers luxury stores with designer clothing, trendy bars cafes and restaurants. (about 30 min from the hostel on foot)
Braehead Shopping Centre, Kings Inch Road, Glasgow
5 miles from the city centre you can find this huge shopping complex which has over 100 shops and its very own arena. Accessible by bus or by car in about 15/20 min.
Cinemas, Theatres, Concert Venues and Nightclubs
Glasgow is full of venues hosting live music, rock concerts, films, plays, clubbing etc. To check out your scene buy The List a fortnightly events guide available from newsagents and bookshops, pick up a copy of the Gig Guide available free in most pubs and venues or www.gigguide.co.uk or visit the venues website (see below). Here are a few of Glasgow's finest situated walking distance of our hostel:
Cineworld, 7 Renfrew Street, Glasgow
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
The Pavillion Theatre, 121 Renfield Street, Glasgow
Kings Tut's Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street, Glasgow
SECC, Finnieston Street, Glasgow
ABC Glasgow, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, Glasgow
Kings Theatre, 297 Bath Street, Glasgow
Architecture, Museums, Art Galleries & Attractions
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
- Museum of Transport
- Glasgow Botanic Gardens
- Glasgow Science Centre
- The Hunterian Museum
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Activities & Entertainment
Shopping
Cinemas, Theatres, Concert Venues & Nightclubs
- Cineworld
- Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
- The Pavillion Theatre
- Kings Tut's Wah Wah Hut
- SECC
- ABC Glasgow
- Theatre Royal
- Kings Theatre
