Since I was based in Edinburgh for the week and planned for a couple day trips, Glasgow was one of the day trips I planned. It’s a short train ride away and it’s a vibrant city with a very industrial feel that offered enough activities to make the most of my day in Glasgow.
Traveling to Glasgow
I started my day by catching the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street, arriving in Glasgow around 10:15 am. The journey took about 50 minutes, and trains run frequently, so there’s flexibility in how early you prefer to start your day trip. Since the train speeds through the Scottish countryside, I got a glimpse of the scenic beauty that surrounds both cities.
Explore Glasgow’s Rich History
I arrived in the city as it was starting to come alive with people. I arrived in time to join a 10:30 am walking tour that began in George Square. It was a 2-hour walking tour of which I stayed with the group for half of the time. I picked up lots of interesting history about Glasgow being part of the slave and tobacco industries.
George Square is a vibrant hub surrounded by stunning architecture and statues, including the impressive City Chambers. When I arrived, people were starting to set up protests. It was busier later in the day as I was leaving and the square was packed with people.
When I left the walking tour, we stopped in front of the Gallery of Modern Art. I roamed around the small art gallery looking. It didn’t take long to walk through the couple floors of the building before moving onto the next thing on my list.
From the art gallery, I walked to the clock tower and chose a café to have lunch nearby. It was also close to a small outdoor shopping area that I browsed through, and people watched as well. Through my walk around Glasgow, there was plenty of street art to admire as well.
The sun was shining, and it made for a pleasant walk to Glasgow Cathedral. It is a stunning medieval structure with a cemetery on the hill behind it.
From the cathedral, I made my way to Buchanan Street. A shopping street will be many people and buskers. It was lovely to explore the shops and cafes that lined the streets and everyone (locals and tourists) was out enjoying themselves. I noticed there was plenty of bachelorette parties enjoying an outing in Glasgow.
Conclusion
The day trip to Glasgow was a fantastic way to experience the city that also has a rich history. It seemed to have a little bit of everything that can easily be tailored to the tourist. Glasgow has something for everyone.
