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Thinking of visiting Glasgow, Scotland for a day and not sure how to plan your time and what to see? Our writer Christine, a UK resident, recently spent some time in the city with her family. In this article, she shares her favorite places to see and top tips for things to do in Glasgow in a day. Find it!
Travel Tips Glasgow
Glasgow is a bustling, vibrant city in Scotland, Great Britain. Modern shopping shops are interspersed with historic Glaswegian architecture and there are tons of attractions and activities for the whole family to enjoy! Its people are friendly and rightly proud of their home, often more than willing to stop for a while and discuss its history.
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This guide aims to show you how to make the most of a day in this fascinating city, one of the most beautiful cities in the UK. There is so much to explore that it is difficult to see everything on offer if you only have one day in Glasgow.
In this article, we’ve listed the top attractions in Glasgow that we really think you shouldn’t miss on your first visit. Additionally, we’ve included a few other options to consider, depending on your interests.
Below you can also find practical tips for your visit, a map and a suggested one-day itinerary for Glasgow. We also have some suggestions for those of you who have a bit more time – 1.5-2 days in Glasgow. Find it!
TIP: If you only have one day in Glasgow, we recommend taking a bus to get around. For more information, check out the Getting Around in Glasgow section below. Another good option for those looking to see as much of Glasgow’s best in one day is this highly rated walking tour that covers all the must-do’s in the city centre.
Things To Do In Glasgow For One Perfect Day
Good to know: there are many museums worth visiting in Glasgow. At first glance it may seem too much for a short city trip. However, museums are very diverse and totally different from each other. It was the most museums we’ve ever visited in one trip, but they gave us a real feel for Glasgow. It’s been one of the trips we’ve talked about the most since.
Therefore, even if you only have one day in Glasgow, try to visit at least one or two of the museums featured in this article.
George Square is considered the heart of Glasgow. It is a great place to feel the bustling atmosphere of the city. This is also where you can board the sightseeing bus.
Take a moment to admire the beautiful architecture of the buildings surrounding the square and look out for the statue of Robert Burns, the poet who wrote Auld Lang Syne.
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TIP: Before you start sightseeing or hopping on the bus, why not pop into the nearby Cafe Wonder for breakfast? Open Monday to Friday from 7.30am, this travel themed cafe serves a hearty Scottish breakfast and has an excellent selection of teas and coffees.
The bus initially heads to the east end of the city and the first stop is the magnificent cathedral, the oldest building in Glasgow.
Consecrated in 1197, it was declared the equivalent of Rome as a place of pilgrimage by Pope Nicholas V. The cathedral was the point around which the city of Glasgow was originally built.
It’s free to enter – although donations are welcome – and there are tours. With only limited time, I would recommend going at your own pace. Important features – such as the crypt of St Mungo (Glasgow’s patron saint) – are clearly marked. The stained glass windows are stunning, especially the Millennium window, which you will find in the north wall of the nave.
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The cathedral still has its original roof timbers, covered in copper with a mature green patina that is now a hallmark of the building.
Glasgow Cathedral is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm and is still a place of active Christian worship.
Even if you’ve never wanted to explore a cemetery before, I recommend visiting the Glasgow Necropolis, which is right next to the cathedral.
This Victorian garden cemetery has 3,500 monuments and overlooks the entire city, giving you an outstanding view. It is also a great place from which to photograph the cathedral.
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Throughout the city, you’ll find striking murals, from St Mungo (the patron saint) to Billy Connolly, one of Scotland’s best-loved comedians.
These works of art were commissioned to beautify the streets of the city, and new ones are constantly being added.
Before your visit, check out the City Central Mural Trail website, where you can learn more about each mural and print a map to help you spot them as you travel. Or check out this amazing street art tour that’s a great way to not only see some of the best murals, but also to get off the beaten path and learn more about the city.
After visiting the cathedral and necropolis, get back on the tour bus to head to your next destination – the Scotland Street Museum (see below). On the way, you will come to the Gallery of Modern Art in Royal Exchange Square. It’s easy to spot because outside is the famous statue of the Duke of Wellington, who has a traffic cone on his head from the 1980s!
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Many people mistakenly believe that the statue of the Duke is an art installation and is associated with the Gallery. In fact, the statue is in no way connected to the gallery. The cone was originally placed there by mischievous students. He was immediately removed by the police. However, the disciples returned at night to replace him and a protracted battle ensued!
In the end, it was decided that the cone should stay in place – a win for the students who created what is now an iconic landmark! Sometimes, too, the Duke’s horse has a traffic cone on its head.
The gallery itself was originally the 18th century mansion of William Cunningham, a tobacco magnate. With its stained glass windows and Corinthian columns, the building is quite beautiful.
If you only have a day to explore, I wouldn’t recommend visiting the Gallery. Instead, just look at it from the outside. And – if you’re already feeling hungry – head to the nearby Willow Tea Rooms for lunch.
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Right next to the Gallery of Modern Art, you’ll find the Willow Tea Rooms – a great place to enjoy afternoon tea in Glasgow.
Inspired by the tea rooms of the early 1900s, the interior features high-backed chairs and leaded glass windows. The upstairs Chinese rooms give you a great view of one of Glasgow’s busiest streets! A children’s menu is also available.
After lunch, visit at least one of Glasgow’s best museums. Depending on how much time you have and your interests, we suggest you choose one or two from the following list: School Museum of Scotland, Riverside Museum and Tall Ship at Riverside or Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.
The Glasgow Science Center is also a great museum, but it takes so much time that we don’t think it’s worth it if you only have a day in the city. It contains so many interactive exhibits (over 300) that it is impossible to appreciate it all in just a few hours, and justify the price of the tickets.
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See below for more information and choose the museum that interests you the most. If you start your day early and plan well, you can easily visit two smaller museums in one day. I’ll leave this up to you.
A little off the beaten track, the Scotland Street School Museum may have been the highlight of our visit to Glasgow, especially for my children.
The museum is housed in an old school designed by Scottish architect and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh. It was first opened in 1906 to educate the children of shipbuilding and engineering families from the Southside of Glasgow. It has since been transformed into a fascinating museum which tells the story of education in Scotland over the last 100 years.
As you enter a series of classrooms reconstructed to represent different historical eras, you get a sense of what life was like for students under the reign of Queen Victoria, during the Second World War and in the 50s and 60s.
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Children are encouraged to dress up in school uniforms from the era and there are even traditional toys to play with outside. The cooking hall is particularly beautiful, as is the exterior of the building itself.
Practical information: If you decide to visit, you’ll need to get off the bus at the Radisson Hotel and walk a few minutes to the subway for the short underground journey to the museum. The museum is free to enter – although donations are welcome – and is open every day except Mondays. More information