4 hours free

Sir William Burrell’s treasure trove of more than 9,000 works of art is housed in a stunning museum in Pollok Park in the south side of the city. As well as works by Degas and Cezanne, an important collection of Islamic art and modern sculptures including pieces by Epstein and Rodin, there is medieval art, tapestries, alabasters, stained glass and English oak furniture. Pollok House, a beautiful 18^th century mansion, has works by El Greco, Goya and William Blake. Don’t miss the hairy Highland cattle wandering the estate.

They are a 10 minute walk from Pollokshaws West railway station.  FirstBus services 45,47,48,57 run from the city centre to the main entrance of Pollokshaws Park

 

For a glimpse of Glasgow’s past, visit the Museum of Transport at the Kelvin Hall, which has a superb collection of items, including cars, motorbikes, old trams and fire engines. The Museum also has recreated an old Glasgow street from the pre-war years complete with a cinema showing vintage footage of the trams. The Clyde room has models of 250 ships, recalling Glasgow’s heyday as a shipbuilding powerhouse. To reach the Museum and nearby Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, take the underground to Kelvinhall.

 

 

 

Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed House for and Art Lover in 1901 for an international competition held by a German magazine, but his stunning plans remained on the drawing boards until 1989 when Glasgow City Council provided the cash to bring it to reality. It was not completed until 1996. Much of the interiors were designed by Mackintosh’s wife, Margaret Macdonald, and today it is a popular tourist attraction and great place to have lunch followed by a stroll in Bellahouston Park. Mackintosh did not complete a detailed blueprint for House for an Art Lover, and visitors can compare his designs with the finished building.

The nearest train station is Dumbreck, which can be reached from Glasgow Central.

 

The east end of Glasgow is the heart of the old medieval city. Glasgow Cathedral, whose origins date back to 590AD, is one of the few medieval churches in Scotland to survive unscathed the vandalism unleashed by Protestant Reformation of 1560. The St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, is built on the site of the Bishops’ medieval castle and features exhibitions on all the world’s great faiths. Across the road is Glasgow’s oldest house, Provand’s Lordship. Built in 1471, it is the only house from the medieval city to survive and is open to the public. Walk down the High Street to Glasgow Green for the People’s Palace, which has a treasure trove of Glasgow’s social history.

 

 

 

Combine lunch at a top restaurant with a visit to a city centre gallery. Situated in a stunning neo-classical building, the Gallery of Modern Art on Queen Street features local and international artists. After visiting the People’s Palace at Glasgow Green, why not enjoy lunch in the splendid glasshouse of the Winter Palace? Both are a short walk from the fashionable Merchant City, which was home to the tobacco lords and traders who made Glasgow the second city of the British Empire. Today it is packed with funky shops and restaurants, including Café Gandolfi, which features Tim Stead’s dramatic wooden furniture. Merchant Square is a great place to dine with a host of bistros and bar/restaurants looking onto a central courtyard.

 

The West End is home to the University of Glasgow, fine Victorian architecture and bohemian bars, restaurants and antique shops. The main shopping street is Byres Road, while the cobbled streets of Ashton Lane are an Aladdin’s Cave of pubs, diners and a cinema. As well as the award-winning Ubiquitous Chip serving the finest Scottish ingredients with a modern twist, you can choose from Indian, French and Belgian food. The nearby Botanical Gardens are a great place to unwind after shopping or for a stroll after lunch. Take either the bus from the city centre or underground to Hillhead station.