Exploring Glasgow Central

We spent Saturday and Sunday exploring the tourist spots in the central city. On Saturday we took the train and walked several kilometres around the city and on Sunday we drove to see two museums a little further out from the city centre. There are many magnificent buildings and monuments to be seen and it is testament to just how much wealth there was in this city during its heyday as an industrial city.

George Square. Robbie Burns dominates this square which also hosts the civic buildings.

The Glasgow Cathedral. Built in the 12th century this building dominates the sky line.

Necropolis. Glasgow's graveyard has to be seen to be believed. Hundreds and hundreds of huge monuments/graves celebrate Glaswegians of former times. The area is above and behind the cathedral and trying to get a photo doesn't do justice to the size of this site.

 

 

Glasgow Green. This area has been here beside the Clyde River for centuries and provided for the changing needs of the population from somewhere to do their washing, to grazing land, to recreational space. Nelson's monument standing 43m high can be seen here as well as The Peoples Palace and Doulton Fountain. The People's Palace has a museum highlighting Glasgow's history, particularly from a social perspective, a wintry garden and cafe. Outside the Doulton Fountain sets off the entrance to the People's Palace.

 

We had a quick look through some of the galleries in The Modern Art Gallery but would have to say we prefer the art work in the Kelvingrove Galleries.

Buchanan and Argyle Streets are two of the main shopping streets in Central Glasgow and we had a wander along them before going back to Queens Rail Station. Even though it was late on Saturday afternoon the place was full of people. Saturday was national busking day so there was a good selection of buskers performing

 

http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/kelvingrove/about/Pages/default.aspx

We spent part of Sunday looking at The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and we could have spent much longer. We particularly enjoyed the art galleries and the way the works are displayed. Each had a short explanation about how or what the artist was portraying or how it was achieved. For me it gave me a whole new perspective for looking at art. There was a whole gallery dedicated to the French painters including Picasso and Monet. There was a gallery about the Glasgow Boys, a Dutch gallery and one painting by Salvador Dali. There is also the museum galleries and with varied galleries such as natural history, Scottish History and archeolology, and arms and armour.

 

 

 

Our last attraction was The Riverside Transport Museum, built in 2011 on the banks of the Clyde. It is very much a modern museum, interactive and catering for all ages. Based around transport the galleries are based around each different type from bikes to motor bikes, to car and trucks, to trains and trams to shipping. Two streets have been set up to represent different Glasgow in different eras.

 

http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/riverside/pages/default.aspx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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