Glasgow City Private Day Tour

Hotel Pick Up
Your own personal guide will pick you up right outside your hotel, usually arriving 15 minutes before your tour begins, ensuring a warm and seamless start to your experience.

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Glasgow Cathedral
One of the most impressive sights in Glasgow, the Cathedral is simply awe-inspiring. Sitting on the original site where St. Mungo built his first church in 614 A.D., it’s safe to say there’s an extremely ancient history in this city. In fact, many people believe Edinburgh is an older city, but St. Margaret’s Cathedral in Edinburgh is actually younger than the Glasgow Cathedral you see today, which was built in the 12th Century.

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High Street
On your tour, you’ll also get to experience what’s left of Medieval Glasgow. As you head along High Street, one of Glasgow’s oldest streets, you can marvel at the ancient buildings – and perhaps catch sight of the famous Tollbooth Steeple where the city’s witches, thieves and murders were hanged.

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George Square
Right at the heart of Glasgow, George Square is somewhere you absolutely have to see. Throughout the square, you’ll find many statues of famous Scottish politicians, literalists, military personnel and royalty. Perhaps the most notable part of George Square is the Glasgow City Chambers. On a weekday, you are allowed to go inside and marvel at the 3-storey marble staircase – which we believe rivals The Vatican’s two-storey staircase! The architecture around the square is actually very similar to New York and other major cities in the USA, and that’s why it’s been used by major Hollywood films such as Fast & Furious, World War Z & Indiana Jones - to name but a few!

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Finnieston Crane
As you travel out of the city centre, you’ll spot the Finnieston Crane dramatically silhouetted against the River Clyde. It’s an icon for the Scottish shipbuilding industry – although it was never used to build ships. It was actually used for lifting extremely large items onto ships – like locomotives and steam trains. Around the Finnieston area, you’ll get to witness ‘Modern Glasgow’ with the SECC and The Hydro, a central place for music and arts.

Lunch
Your guide will help you find a convenient location for lunch, catering for dietary requirements.

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Kelvingrove Art Gallery
Built in 1901, Kelvingrove Art Gallery is not only a sensational building architecturally, but also with its wealth of information and history. Here you can learn all about the fascinating history of Glasgow, from its creation, to its Merchant history, the Industrial Revolution and the rise of communism known as ‘Red Clyde’. There’s also the famous ‘floating heads’, a real-live spitfire, an Egyptian exhibit, and an extensive art gallery – and even a live organ recital if you catch it at the right time.

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West End
Being driven through the West End is a great way to see all the sights. It’s an affluent area with many stunning buildings and plenty of stories to tell. Your guide will point them out as you go, such as the ancient, gothic-style University of Glasgow which was founded in 1451. The University is actually the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world!

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People’s Palace and Doulton Fountain
Get your picture taken by the Doulton Fountain with the beautiful backdrop of the People’s Palace or Glasgow Green Park. This Victorian structure was the largest Terracotta fountain ever constructed in the world at the time, and on top, you’ll see a statue of Queen Victoria proudly looking over Glasgow Green. Please note: The People’s Palace is currently closed for an exciting refurbishment project. It is due to reopen in 2027. Therefore it will not be possible to visit the inside of the venue.

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Merchant City
The Merchant City is one of Glasgow’s oldest quarters and is filled with stunning architecture. Every street is named after a famous merchant who built their wealth trading in the Indies in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Today, it’s an area bursting with eateries and shops, so it’s an excellent place to walk around and explore.

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Drop Off
Sit back and relax as your personal guide drops you back at your hotel, ensuring a comfortable and hassle-free end to your journey.