Glasgow Tours and Trails

Loch Lomond

Despite being less than an hour's train ride from the bustle and sprawl of Glasgow, the bonnie banks and bonnie braes of Loch Lomond comprise one of the most scenic parts of the country. At the heart of Scotland's first national park, the loch begins as a broad, island-peppered lake in the south, its shores clothed in bluebell woods, narrowing in the north to a fjord-like trench ringed by 900m-high mountains. Stroll on the loch shore at sunset. Hike up a Munro before sunrise. Camp out in a wild glen, or cycle over the Duke’s Pass. Spend an afternoon fishing, bouldering, or horse riding – whatever your style, you’ll find something brilliant to do here.

Falkirk

Falkirk is a town in Scotland's central belt, located around a 30-minute drive or 45 minutes on the train from Glasgow.

The Falkirk Wheel, the world's first and only rotating boat lift is an engineering masterpiece which transports boats 115 ft between the different levels of the Union, and Forth & Clyde canals. You can ride on the wheel and learn all about it at the visitor centre.

Whilst you are there, you could also visit The Kelpies, the two 30-metre-high horse head sculptures which are a true feat of engineering.

Looking for some inspiration? Why not check out this handy interactive map, packed full of ideas for day trips and longer stays in Falkirk and the surrounding area.

Forth and Clyde Canal

The Forth & Clyde Canal crosses central Scotland east to west and is linked to the Union Canal via the Falkirk Wheel. With the building work beginning in 1768, the Forth & Clyde Canal was the first canal to be built in Scotland and played a vital part in the Scottish Industrial Revolution by helping to transport materials. Today the Forth & Clyde Canal is the popular host of a variety of activities including boating, fishing, cycling, walking and wildlife spotting.

Edinburgh

Why not visit Scotland’s capital city, with an abundance of history, top quality attractions and beautiful architecture, Edinburgh is a city that you won't forget in a hurry. Explore the Medieval Old Town and the elegant Georgian New Town, which sit side by side, and visit unique attractions throughout the city on a holiday in Edinburgh. You’ll discover why Edinburgh is the second most visited city in the UK after London. Every year over two million tourists visit Scotland’s capital city!

Direct trains from Edinburgh run every 15 minutes on weekdays and take 45 minutes. You can reach Edinburgh by car from Glasgow in around an hour.

Stirling

Did you know that Stirling's top attractions have witnessed some of the most defining and dramatic moments in Scotland's history? Stirling is the ancient capital of Scotland, laying at the heart of the nation’s history and linked to two of its best-known heroes, William Wallace, and Robert the Bruce. Occupying a strategic position in the cultural heartland of Scotland, it is surrounded by glorious countryside and yet 45 minutes on the train from Glasgow.

City Centre Mural Trail

In Glasgow city centre, there are huge pieces of art adorning some of the city's buildings which form the City Centre Mural Trail. Discover where you can find these vibrant splashes of colour.

Follow the trail for free around the city.

Contemporary Art Walking Trail

Glasgow's contemporary art scene shows Glasgow at its edgy and energetic finest, with some of the city's best pieces of art found in the city's streets.

Check out this walkable trail of 14 public artworks, designed by Scottish and global artists.

Other Walking Tours

You are sure of a warm welcome with the friendly guides at Walking Tours in Glasgow. From street art to Mackintosh and the city centre to bespoke tours, they have many options to choose from on the Walking Tours in Glasgow website.

Enjoy exploring the city at your own pace with an audio walking tour by Walking Heads. Visit the Walking Heads website and choose from tour topics like music or architecture.

Bike Tours

If you’re short on time, a cycling tour around Glasgow is a great way to see lots of the city in a morning or afternoon. Visit the Glasgow Bike Tours website or Gallus Pedals website to see the range of tours they have on offer. Their routes are designed to take in good cycling surfaces and are suitable for a range of fitness levels.

Bus Tours

Step aboard the City Sightseeing Bus Tour to visit some of Glasgow's most popular attractions. The complete tour takes 90 minutes and you can hop on and off as often as you like at any of the stops on the route. Visit the City Sightseeing Glasgow website to book.

Red Bus Bistro’s vintage Routemaster bus tour offers something special. Enjoy dining onboard and indulge in afternoon tea, Italian antipasti, or pizza and Prosecco, as you tour around some of Glasgow’s top sights. Tours last approximately 90 minutes and can be booked on the Red Bus Bistro website.

Glasgow Central Station Tour

Glasgow Central Station, the busiest station in Scotland, was opened by the Caledonian Railway in 1879 on the north bank of the River Clyde. On the Glasgow Central Tour you will be given an exclusive, behind the scenes look at Glasgow Central Station. You will walk in subterranean passageways beneath Glasgow’s streets, visit railway vaults that drove Glasgow’s industrial expansion to become ‘The Second City of The British Empire’, hear tales of the famous and infamous who have travelled the tracks and stood on the platforms of Glasgow Central Station

Music Tours

If you're keen to find out exactly why Glasgow was named the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music in 2008, the team at Glasgow Music City Tours will give you the lowdown. Each walking tour lasts around two hours and in that time, you'll see some of the city's best venues, hear stories about key figures past and present and learn more about the many events, festivals and organisations that make Glasgow what it is year-round. You'll visit places like King Tut's, the Royal Concert Hall, the Barrowland Ballroom and much more.

Food Tours

For foodies, enjoy a tour with Eat Walk Glasgow or Glasgow Food and Drink Tours for tastings from some of the best restaurants, bars and shops whilst learning about the city’s architecture and history. Visit eatwalkglasgow.co.uk and glasgowfoodndrinktour.co.uk to discover more.

Brewery Tours

Learn all about Glasgow's brewing history with a guided tour. Start off at Tennent's Wellpark Brewery - home to one of Scotland's most loved brands - and enjoy a tour and tasting experience at the world-famous brewery. Check out the Tennent’s Tours website to book.

Right next door you'll find Drygate, the UK's first experiential brewery where you can see the brewers work their magic as you enjoy a pint. The informal tour will take you behind the scenes and includes a guided tasting of four of the brewery's fantastic beers. Visit drygate.com to find out more.

Complete your Glasgow brewery adventure with a tour of West Brewery. Their beer has ‘Glaswegian heart’ and a ‘German head’ with all beers brewed under the German Purity Law of 1516. Visit westbeer.com to book.

Distillery Tours

Whisky enthusiasts, as well as those new to the warming spirit, will find plenty to love at the Clydeside Distillery. Located right next to the River Clyde, visit theclydeside.com to check out the range of tours on offer.

Slightly further afield but within a reasonable distance of the city, the stunning Glengoyne and Auchentoshan distilleries offer a varied range of fantastic tours. Check out glengoyne.com and auchentoshan.com to find out more.

If rum is more your thing, then head to westerdistillery.com to book a tour of this independent micro-distillery in Glasgow’s west end.

Attraction Tours

Discover the beauty of Glasgow’s architecture:

University of Glasgow: the iconic grounds of the University of Glasgow campus in the west end are beautiful to explore. Visit the University of Glasgow website to take a self-guided tour and discover Glasgow’s very own Hogwarts!

House for an Art Lover: explore the beauty and architectural details of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed House for an Art Lover at your own pace with your very own audio headset guide. Find out more at houseforanartlover.co.uk.

Mackintosh at the Willow: taking place every day at 10am and 11am, enjoy a guided tour of the beautifully restored Mackintosh at the Willow tearooms – another Charles Rennie Mackintosh gem in the city. And why not stay for a tasty treat afterwards? Visit mackintoshatthewillow.com to book.

Other Attractions

To discover other wonders of Scotland click HERE

Glasgow Tours and Trails