One day · Glasgow

One day in Glasgow: From modern art to the riverside

Spend your day in Glasgow moving steadily west, leaving the grid of the city centre behind for the open green spaces of the West End. This route is designed for a gig night, keeping you on foot but never rushing. You will start with contemporary art and early architecture, cut through the trees of Kelvingrove Park, and finish right on the River Clyde, next to the OVO Hydro when the arena doors open.

• 6 stops
• Whole route in Google Maps ↗

1. morning

   Gallery of Modern Art

   Gallery · ≈ 60 min

   Begin your morning at the city's main space for contemporary art. Look through the current exhibitions, which give a sharp introduction to modern cultural output before you head further west.

   Free entry · Hours: Mo-Th,Sa 10:00-17:00; Fr,Su 11:00-17:00 (check before you go) · Map ↗ · Website ↗

2. late morning

   Duke of Wellington

   Historic site · ≈ 15 min · about 1 min walk from the previous stop

   Just outside the gallery stands an 1844 equestrian monument to the Duke of Wellington, sculpted by Carlo Marochetti to mark the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Look up at the rider's head. Since the 1980s, the public has consistently crowned him with a traffic cone, undercutting the serious bronze.

   Map ↗

3. late morning

   The Lighthouse

   Sight · ≈ 60 min · about 4 min walk from the previous stop

   Walk over to this 1895 building, originally designed by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh as the offices for the Glasgow Herald newspaper. Now an A-listed architecture and design centre, the converted structure shows off his early style. Look closely at the exterior details before continuing your walk.

   Hours: Mo-Sa 10:30-17:00; Su 12:00-17:00 (check before you go) · Map ↗ · Website ↗

4. afternoon

   Kelvingrove Park

   Park · ≈ 60 min · about 2.2 km from the previous stop: public transport or a taxi

   Move away from the streets into this large public park laid out along the River Kelvin in the West End. Walk the paths to stretch your legs. The green space breaks up the concrete of the city centre and gives you some open air before an evening standing at the gig.

   Map ↗

5. late afternoon

   Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

   Museum · ≈ 90 min · about 4 min walk from the previous stop

   Located within the park, this major civic building holds a massive collection managed by Glasgow Museums. Step inside to examine the varied galleries branching off the main corridors. It is an easy place to spend a late afternoon wandering at your own pace without wearing yourself out.

   Free entry · Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-17:00; Fr 11:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 11:00-17:00 (check before you go) · Map ↗ · Website ↗

6. early evening

   Finnieston Crane

   Historic site · ≈ 30 min · about 20 min walk from the previous stop

   Finish your afternoon by the river beneath this giant 1932 cantilever crane. It no longer loads steam locomotives onto export ships, standing instead as a symbol of the city's engineering heritage. Look up at the heavy metal structure; from here, you are already right next to the OVO Hydro.

   Map ↗