Glasgow holidays

How to reach Glasgow

• Flight time: Flights to Glasgow from London typically take around 1 hour 15 minutes.

• Transfer time: From Glasgow International Airport, the Glasgow Airport Express bus #500 takes around 25 minutes to the city centre. The service runs frequently between 5 am and midnight. Alternatively, a taxi ride takes about 20 minutes, depending on traffic.

• Price: The bus fare is £10.50 for a single or £17 for an open return. Taxi fares average £22 for a trip to the city centre.

Best time to visit Glasgow

Timing your Glasgow holidays depends on what you're looking to experience. From bustling festivals to a quiet, scenic holiday, there's something for everyone throughout the year.

• April to June: Spring sees mild temperatures, ranging from 10°C to 17°C, making it a lovely time to explore the city’s parks and cultural attractions like the Kelvingrove Museum. Rainfall is moderate at 40–60mm, with up to 9 hours of sunshine daily.

• July to August: Longer days mean you can invariably fit more into your schedule, especially with such a packed festival calendar, the pick of which is the fantastic TRNSMT music festival. Temperatures hover at a comfortable 15°C to 20°C, while rainfall is lighter than at any other time of the year.

• September to November: Cooler but still pleasant weather, with temperatures ranging from 9°C to 16°C. There’s usually an increase in rainfall, but the autumnal hues in Glasgow Green and Pollok Park are spectacular.

• December to March: Winters in Glasgow are chilly but not severe, with temperatures ranging from 2°C to 7°C. Snow is not uncommon while rainfall averages 50–80mm. This period is perfect for taking in the museums before hunkering down in one of the city's many brilliant pubs.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: English. You’ll find that many local people have a distinctive Glaswegian accent but are friendly and willing to help if you’re struggling to understand.

• Local habits and customs: Glaswegians are famously warm and welcoming, with a strong sense of humour that might take a little getting used to. Be mindful that banter is often part of social interactions, but it’s never meant to offend.

• Currency: The local currency is the British Pound (GBP). Major credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are easy to find throughout the city.

• Getting around: The city boasts a reliable subway system, fondly called the "Clockwork Orange," offering single tickets for £1.80 or a day pass for £4.30. Buses cover areas beyond the subway's reach, with single fares costing £2. The Glasgow ZoneCard offers unlimited weekly travel for £32 across most transport options.

• Time zone: Glasgow operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and observes British Summer Time (BST) during daylight saving months.

Best things to do in Glasgow

Upbeat Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, is a cultured and dynamic place. Whether you’re drawn to its unique architecture, array of splendid museums or thriving arts scene, there’s no shortage of attractions to keep you entertained.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• The Necropolis: Elegantly crumbling graveyard on a prominent hill behind the ancient cathedral, with unbeatable citywide views.

• The Lighthouse: For the best free view of Glasgow, head to the viewing platform on the sixth floor, although the best city views are from the Water Tower.

The best districts

• West End: Known for its bohemian vibe, the West End is packed with vintage shops, indie cafés and pumping bars; its crowning jewel is Byres Road, the epicentre of the area’s energy.

• Clydeside: The river that made Glasgow: walk or cycle along it, take a boat on it, cross a bridge over it, or get a view of it from the superb Riverside Museum.

• Merchant City: Once a haunt of local traders, this area has been revitalised into a stylish district of classy shops and restaurants.

Museums

• Riverside Museum: Scotland's museum of transport and travel is housed in a striking building by Zaha Hadid and is perfect for history and design enthusiasts.

• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum: Splendid civic collection of art and artefacts in a Gothic red-sandstone palace in the city’s lively West End.

Parks and gardens

• Kelvingrove Park: A tranquil retreat in the heart of the city, this expansive green space is perfect for a picnic (weather permitting) after absorbing the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

• Glasgow Botanic Gardens: These lush gardens are home to the spectacular Kibble Palace, a Victorian glasshouse filled with exotic plants and a serene atmosphere.

• Glasgow Green: Reputedly Britain’s oldest public park, the Green has been common land since at least 1480. Glaswegians hold it very dear, and a Sunday afternoon stroll here remains an obligatory activity.

Historical monuments

• Glasgow Cathedral: This stunning medieval cathedral is steeped in history and is the only one on the Scottish mainland to have survived the Reformation intact.

• George Square: A showcase of Victorian architecture, this bustling square is crammed with stately buildings and iconic statues.

• Rennie Mackintosh architecture: The visionary architect left an extraordinary legacy, manifest in masterpieces such as the Glasgow School of Art and Scotland Street School.

Day trips in the area

• New Lanark: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a fascinating 18th-century planned mill village set amidst a dramatic gorge.

• Stirling Castle: Impregnable, impressive and resonant with history. If you see only one castle in Scotland, make it this one.

• Alloway: The village where poet Robert Burns was born, and the best of many Burns pilgrimage spots in the region.

Activities for families in Glasgow

Glasgow is packed with family-friendly attractions that will delight visitors of all ages. From interactive museums to outdoor adventures, there’s something to entertain every member of the family.

• Interactive museums: Glasgow has several child-oriented museums–including the Science Museum, The Riverside (Transport) Museum and Kelvingrove Art Gallery–all providing hours of fun, making them perfect for curious young minds.

• Loch cruises: Head to Loch Lomond just a few miles north for a cruise across or around Scotland’s largest body of water.

• Parks and gardens: Glasgow Green and Kelvingrove Park have wide-open spaces for kids to run around, while the Botanic Gardens’ glasshouses will fascinate little explorers.

Free things to do in Glasgow

Glasgow offers plenty of budget-friendly activities, so you can enjoy the city without spending a fortune.

• Festivals: Glasgow offers a terrific year-round roster of festivals. Pick of the free ones is the Glasgow International Festival, which brings together local and international artists in dozens of city-wide spaces, from shop fronts to market stands.

• Markets: Well worth a browse is the famous Barras market in the East End, selling household goods, bric-a-brac, second-hand clothes, records and much more, with stalls spilling out into the surrounding streets.

• Museums: Many of Glasgow’s world-class museums, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the Riverside Museum–not to mention the city’s numerous art galleries–are free to enter, offering hours of entertainment for all tastes.

Nature and outdoor activities

With the city being close to both water (coast and lochs) and mountains, it’s little surprise that there are so many fantastic opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.

• Parks and gardens: Glasgow has numerous large parks, including Kelvingrove Park, but the best and largest is Pollok Park south of the river which also contains cycle paths and woodland trails.

• Hiking and walking: For those keen on stretching their legs, the Kelvin Walkway is a scenic route along the River Kelvin, ideal for a shorter outing, but for a proper hike make for the popular West Highland Way which begins on the city’s doorstep.

• Adventure activities: Thrill-seekers can enjoy activities like ziplining and treetop adventures at Go Ape Aberfoyle, just an hour from Glasgow.

• Wildlife experiences: The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Falls of Clyde Reserve offers guided walks and the chance to spot otters, badgers and peregrine falcons in their natural habitat.

Local dishes in Glasgow

One of the highlights of holidays to Glasgow is exploring the city’s vibrant and ever-evolving food scene. With a blend of traditional Scottish fare and modern culinary influences, you’re guaranteed to eat and drink well during your stay.

Some typical dishes

• Scotch broth: A traditional soup packed with barley, vegetables and meat, typically lamb or beef.

• Haggis: Flavoursome sausage meat (spiced liver, offal, oatmeal and onion) cooked inside a bag made from a sheep’s stomach. Its traditional accompaniments are ‘bashed neeps’ (mashed turnips) and ‘chappit tatties’ (mashed potatoes).

Meat dishes

• Scottish beef: Scottish-reared beef is often delicious, especially the Aberdeen Angus breed, though Highland cattle are also rated for their depth of flavour.

• Lorne sausage: A square-shaped sausage often served in a morning roll with brown sauce, making it a tasty, if calorific, breakfast staple.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Fish supper: You can’t go wrong with a classic fish supper: crispy battered haddock or cod, served with chunky chips–what could possibly be better?

• Cullen skink: A creamy, comforting soup made with smoked haddock, potatoes and onions.

Street food

• Macaroni pie: A uniquely Scottish pastry filled with cheesy macaroni, found in bakeries and cafés across the city.

Sweets and desserts

Scottish desserts are as hearty and comforting as the savoury fare. Try cranachan, a blend of whipped cream, whisky, honey, raspberries and oats, or tablet, a crumbly, sugary confection that’s perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth.

Local drinks

• Whisky: No trip to Glasgow is complete without sampling a dram of single malt, and the city’s bars offer a great introduction to this national treasure.

• Craft beer: Glasgow’s craft brewing scene is thriving; best of the local brewers are Drygate and WEST, both of whom offer a fine range of ales and lagers.