Glasgow is a city of rich history, amazing architecture, great shopping, and unique food. It’s also a great city for first-time visitors because if you don’t know where to stay in Glasgow, you’ll find a number of options from chic holiday rentals to hotels with balconies. Get a deeper glimpse into Glasgow’s culture and the history of Scotland, and have an all-around good time, exploring these awesome things to do in Glasgow for free.
1. Visit the Glasgow Cathedral
The Glasgow Cathedral is also known as St. Mungo’s or St. Kentigern’s Cathedral and sometimes as the High Kirk of Glasgow. St. Mungo, also known as St. Kentigern, was a bishop in the 6th century and is attributed with being the founder of Glasgow. He is the patron saint of the city and the cathedral is built where St. Mungo is thought to have been buried and marks the place where Glasgow was born.
The cathedral itself was built during the 13th-15th centuries, replacing earlier wooden structures, consecrated in 1197. It has never been unroofed since that point and regular worship services are still carried out, inside. The cathedral survived the Protestant Reformation, in 1560, almost intact and thus remains one of the most complete medieval churches, on the Scottish mainland.
When you are here, visit the crypt of St. Mungo. The crypt was built in the mid-1200s, to house his tomb. At the east end of the crypt, there is an effigy of Bishop Wishart, a strong supporter of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, in the fight for Scottish independence. His body was entombed in 1316, though the tomb is unlabeled and has been damaged, likely during the Reformation. The pulpitum, which is a stone screen dividing the nave and the choir, was added to the cathedral, in the early 1400s. There is a small chapel that can be accessed from the cathedral’s nave. Look up at the ceiling to see brightly painted carved stone knobs (called bosses). Robert Blacader (or “Blackadder”), Archbishop of Glasgow in 1491, is responsible for the construction of this chapel, now known as Blackadder Aisle.
Glasgow Cathedral
Address: Castle St, Glasgow G4 0QZ, UK
Opening Hours: Differs from season to season, visit the website to find hours.
Contact: +44 141 552 8198
Website: Glasgow Cathedral
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Legend has it that the Glasgow Cathedral is where the city was founded. The Cathedral has some amazing stained glass works of which the Millennium Window by John Clark and the 1958 Creation Window by Francis Spear are well known. It will take you a 15-minute walk to get to the Cathedral from St. George's Square.
2. Check out Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of the most visited museums in the United Kingdom, outside of London. It houses one of Europe’s greatest art collections, with works from Rembrandt to Monet and Van Gogh. You can find works by the Old Masters, French Impressionists, Dutch Renaissance and Scottish Colorists. The most famous painting on display is Salvador Dali’s “Christ of St. John of the Cross”. The museum also houses one of the finest collections of arms and armor in the world, along with a vast natural history collection. Sir Roger, the Asian elephant is one of the most popular items within the museum. Sir Roger used to tour the country with a traveling menagerie before becoming part of the Glasgow zoo. After his death in 1900, he was given to the Kelvingrove museum, for display.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
Address: Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AG, UK
Opening Hours: 10am - 5pm (Monday - Thursday & Saturday), 11am - 5pm (Friday & Sunday)
Website: Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
3. Learn about transportation at Riverside Museum
Set on the banks of the Clyde River, Glasgow’s Riverside Museum focuses primarily on transportation. You will find everything here, from bicycles to trains and vintage cars. You’ll even see things like prams and skateboards! There is an old cobbled Glasgow street that you can walk down, displaying shops from the late 1800s to the late 1900s. Outside the museum, you are free to enter the UK’s only floating Clyde-built sailing ship. The museum houses over 3,000 objects on display and is fairly interactive. It’s a great experience!
Riverside Museum
Address: 100 Pointhouse Place, Glasgow, G3 8RS
Opening Hours: 10am - 5pm (Monday - Thursday & Saturday), 11am - 5pm (Friday & Sunday)
Contact: +44 141 287 2720
Website: Riverside Museum
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4. Ponder about religion at St. Mungo’s Museum of Religious Life and Art
St. Mungo’s Museum of Religious Life and Art is not about St. Mungo or only Scottish religious life, but it is a museum about religious life across the world and across time. Opened in 1993, this award-winning museum is one of the very few public museums of its kind. The main floor of the museum holds a gallery of religious art where you will see things like stained glass windows from Christian churches, Turkish prayer rugs, and statues of Hindu deities. The gallery of religious life explores various religious callings and duties. The museum presents similarities and differences of how different religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and more, approach common themes like birth, death, and marriage. The museum is set in a reconstruction of the bishop’s palace, which used to stand in the forecourt of the cathedral. There is a good view of the cathedral, from the third floor. The museum also has an excellent cafe, which leads out to the Zen garden.
St. Mungo’s Museum of Religious Life and Art
Address: 2 Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0RH
Opening Hours: 10am - 5pm (Tuesday - Thursday & Saturday), 11am - 5pm (Friday & Sunday). Closed on Mondays.
Contact: +44 141 276 1625
5. Walk around the campus of Glasgow University
Glasgow University was founded in 1451, making it the second oldest university, in Scotland. The University grounds are beautiful and the architecture is impressive. Simply walking and exploring is a great free activity in Glasgow, especially on a day when the weather is nice. Specifically worth a look are the cloisters, which connect the East and West quadrangles, leading inside the University’s main building, the Gilbert Scott Building. They are quite impressive and have been seen in many TV shows and films. The University flagpole is a great spot to get some terrific views of the city. From there you can see Kelvingrove Park and the Kelvingrove Art Galley and Museum. There are even benches for you to relax and admire the view. To get to the flagpole, head to the cloisters, then to where the main tower is located. The Gilbert Scott Building is named after Sir George Gilbert Scott, who designed this building and many others in the late 1900s. You will see a plaque with the University’s motto (Via, Veritas, Vita) above the central doorway. The Memorial Chapel is another highlight of the campus. It was built as a memorial to the university members who died in the two world wars, completed in 1929.
The Memorial Chapel
Address: Main Building Gilmorehill Campus, University of Glasgow, Chapel Corridor (South), West Quadrangle, Glasgow G12 8QQ
Opening Hours: every weekday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Contact: +44 (0) 141 330 1888
Website: The Memorial Chapel
The following content is contributed by Trip101 writer, Celeste
6. Tour Hunterian Art Gallery
Hunterian Art Gallery is located within the University of Glasgow. If you’re making a trip to the campus, be sure to check out the gallery along Hillhead Street. Founded in the year 1807, this is Scotland’s oldest museum containing many valuable resources. You will find some of these collections in the gallery - scientific instruments, Roman artifacts, ethnographic objects, and the works of James McNeill Whistler, an American artist who was based mainly in the United Kingdom and known for his paintings. If you’re interested in his work, look out for his work named ‘Battersea Reach from Lindsey Houses’, which is a good reflection of his interest in the Far East.
Hunterian Art Gallery
Address: University of, 82 Hillhead St, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
Website: Hunterian Art Gallery
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 11am - 4pm (closed on Mon)
7. Explore exhibitions at The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse located along 11 Mitchell Lane and is situated at the heart of Glasgow. You will find this landmark as an anchor for the creative industries in Scotland. Its exhibitions and events are created around the theme of appreciating design and architecture as part of our daily lives. Apart from the gallery and exhibition spaces, The Lighthouse also has spaces that can be rented for events, receptions, and even as a wedding venue. There is also an on-site cafe named Doocot Cafe and Bar, which serves wholesome food choices. To get a stunning view of the city, you can head to the top of the building to access the viewing platform.
The Lighthouse
Address: 11 Mitchell Ln, Glasgow G1 3NU, United Kingdom
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10:30am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm
8. Learn the history of Glaswegians at People's Palace
One of the best free museums in Glasgow, here’s the place to go to if you want to trace the history of Glasgow’s people from 1750. You will be able to catch a glimpse of history over the years via the artifacts, paintings, photographs, films, and interactive displays. People’s Palace is situated in Glasgow Green, a public park open for 24 hours that is situated in front of Doulton Fountain. The Single End is a fascinating exhibition you must not miss as you will be able to experience for yourself the living conditions of a 1930s working-class family. In case you’re wondering, this museum is also guide dog and wheelchair-friendly.
People's Palace
Address: Glasgow Green, Templeton Street, Glasgow, G40 1AT
9. Take a walk around Kelvingrove Park
Done visiting Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum? You’re right at Kelvingrove Park! Why not take a walk and enjoy some of your vacation time at one of Glasgow’s oldest public parks? Open for 24 hours, you will be sharing the space alongside other runners and cyclists. The little ones can have some free time in the play areas in the eastern and western sides of the park. Cross Prince of Wales Bridge and you can get to Kelvingrove Bandstand, which opened in the park in 1924. You will find yourself treading the grounds of the only original bandstand left in Glasgow!
Kelvingrove Park
Address: 6 Professors’ Square, Glasgow G3 6BY, United Kingdom
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
10. Stroll around Pollok Country Park
Need another reason to visit a park in Glasgow? We’ve got you! Pollok Country Park is the place to go to if you want to witness for yourself why it was named Britain’s Best Park in 2007 and Best Park in Europe in 2008. Travelers who’ve gone before you have raved about the gardens around Pollok House and spotted highland cows during their visits. Pollok House is a museum located within the country park that holds collections of Spanish art pieces and period furniture. Pollok Country Park is slightly far off from central Glasgow, but we think it’s worth every minute of your traveling time to get there.
Pollok Country Park
Address: 2060 Pollokshaws Rd, Bellahouston, Glasgow G43 1AT, United Kingdom
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
11. Admire the glasshouses at Glasgow Botanic Gardens
As if you can’t get enough of greenery, here’s another garden in Glasgow, Scotland. Glasgow Botanic Gardens is well-known for its beautiful glasshouses. The nearest subway stop is Hillhead, a five-minute walk to the gardens. Partick or Hyndland railway station is the closest to the grounds, about 20 minutes on foot. We recommend getting there early to beat the crowd and enjoy a peaceful walk along the self-led trails. Glasgow Botanic Gardens is open from 7 am till dusk, and the glasshouses from 10 am to 6 pm. Need a little pick-me-up? Visit the tearoom near Kibble Palace for some refreshments!
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Address: 730 Great Western Rd, Glasgow G12 0UE, United Kingdom
Website: Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Opening hours: 7am - dusk (daily)
12. Take the road less traveled at Glasgow Necropolis
Looking for interesting free activities in Glasgow? Consider dropping by Glasgow Necropolis after visiting Glasgow Cathedral. The Victorian cemetery is a three-minute walk from the cathedral, so it makes sense to have one more destination ticked off your bucket list. Situated on a low hill, you will see for yourself the graves of about 50,000 individuals at Glasgow Necropolis. However, don’t be alarmed, because not all monuments are named and some graves have missing stones. Keen to hear more about the history of these graves? You can book a walking tour in which all proceeds go towards its restoration work.
Glasgow Necropolis
Address: Castle St, Glasgow G4 0UZ, United Kingdom
Website: Glasgow Necropolis
Opening hours: 7am - 4:30pm (daily)
13. Appreciate temporary art at Gallery of Modern Art
Gallery of Modern Art is the go-to Glasgow attraction for all things contemporary art in the city. You will have the chance to catch temporary exhibitions and attend workshops at this gallery along Queen Street. Tap on the range of free activities offered by the gallery. They include weekend guided tours, Saturday Art Club for children aged 3 to 12 years old, and a space filled with community projects known as COMMONSpace. There are five exhibition areas in Gallery of Modern Art, so make sure you check out all five to see the existing displays during your visit.
Gallery of Modern Art
Address: 111 Queen St, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow G1 3AH, United Kingdom
14. Connect with the plants at Kibble Palace
Kibble Palace is situated right in Glasgow Botanic Gardens and is one of the main glasshouses that travelers visit at these grounds. This glasshouse was originally known as the Kibble Crystal Art Palace by its architects, John Boucher and James Cousland. Kibble Palace once closed in 2003 but thankfully reopened again in 2006 after undergoing a restoration process. For those looking for free stuff to do in Glasgow, this is where you can enjoy the wide display of tropical plants, ferns, and flowers from all around the world. Previous visitors have noted that it can get quite hot during the day, so do consider the time and season you’re visiting.
Kibble Palace
Address: Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Botanic Gardens, Glasgow G12 0UE, United Kingdom
Website: Kibble Palace
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)
The best things in life come free
Glasgow has so much to offer each and every visitor. These things to do in Glasgow for free highlight some great places to start getting your feet wet or to take a break to save some money. Either way, you’re sure to love the city and all it has to offer!
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