Local Tourism

Local Tourism

Are you to planning your trip and wondering what might lie outside the SEC walls? Glasgow is full of odd and interesting things to do! Here’s a few suggestions for what to do and what to see while you’re in town.

Table of Contents

Take a Walk!

Feeling worn out? Need some fresh air and to get away from the crowds? Go outside and take a short walk! Walk out the front door of the SEC or the Crowne Plaza and turn southeast, for a refreshing stroll along the River Clyde. Or, head north for a ramble through the green and classically Victorian Kelvingrove Park, which features accessible paths, a children’s play area, and an art museum in case of rain. Open at all times. Entry is free.

Museums, Exhibits and Sights to See in Glasgow 

Glasgow is awash in interesting things to see and do. Here’s a selection of our favourite museums, historic properties, walking routes, and whiskey spots – along with a few special places devoted to artist and author Alasdair Gray and Poor Things. 

Glasgow Museums

Probably the largest and certainly the most varied museum in Glasgow, the Kelvingrove includes 22 galleries on a wide range of subjects.  Highlights include displays on Charles Rennie Mackintosh, one of Alastair Gray’s largest paintings, Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross (just back from a trip to the Vatican), and a taxidermied Haggis. The pipe organ in the central atrium has free recitals daily.

The Kelvingrove is also the site of our special organ concert. Come and hear the music of Interstellar played on the Kelvingrove Organ, Wednesday 7 August, from 6 p.m., with a chance to see the galleries before the concert starts at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.

Costs: Free to enter (donations accepted).

Opening Times:

  • Monday-Thursday and Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00
  • Friday and Sunday 11:00 – 17:00

Organ recitals:

  • Monday – Saturday: 13:00-13:30
  • Sunday: 15:00-15:45

Food and drink: The Kelvingrove has both a coffee shop (in the atrium) and a more extensive restaurant (in the basement) – no reservations possible.

Location and how to get there: Located in the West End of Glasgow, near Kelvin Hall Subway.

Accessibility:  There is level access under the main entrance (on the side facing the park), then lifts between floors inside.

For More Information: See the Kelvingrove website.

Located in the city centre in the former Royal Exchange.  Hosts a number of galleries of art, as well as some displays on the history of the building.  See also the statue of the Duke of Wellington outside.

Costs: Free to enter (donations accepted).

Opening Times:

  • Monday-Thursday and Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00
  • Friday and Sunday 11:00 – 17:00

Location and how to get there: Located in the city centre, a couple of minutes walk from Glasgow Central and Queen Street stations.

Route and Accessibility: Lifts to all floors of the building.

For More Information: See the GOMA website.

St Mungo’s Museum of Religious Life and Art

Located to the north east of the city centre near Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis.  The only public museum in the world devoted solely to this subject.

Opening Times:

  • Monday-Thursday and Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00
  • Friday and Sunday 11:00 – 17:00

Costs: Free to enter (donations accepted).

Location and how to get there: A little way out of the city centre to the east, and uphill.  Located next door to Provand’s Lordship, St Mungo’s Cathedral and the Glasgow Necropolis.

Route and Accessibility: The building is accessible, but the location is up a significant hill from the city centre.

Note: The cafe and shop are currently closed.

For More Information: See the St Mungo Museum website

The Burrell Collection and Pollok Park

Located in Pollok Park to the south of Glasgow, the Burrell Collection displays the diverse art and antiquities collection of Sir William Burrell and his wife in a modern, recently renovated building designed for the purpose.  Winner of the UK’s Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2023. The collection was donated to the City of Glasgow in 1944. The museum features one of the UK’s most significant collections of Chinese art, works by leading French Impressionists, and medieval tapestries and arms and armour – among many other things!

The Collection is also hosting a temporary exhibition of the works of Degas this summer.

Pollok Park has various walking routes and Highland cows on display, although Pollok House is currently closed for renovation.  There is an extensive children’s play area near the museum.

Museum Opening Times:

  • Monday-Thursday and Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00
  • Friday and Sunday 11:00 – 17:00

Costs: The main museum is free to enter, but the Degas exhibition is ticketed, advance booking required.

Location and how to get there: South of the city in Pollok Park.  Plenty of paid car parking available outside the museum and various public transport to the edge of the park, then around half a mile walk to the museum.

Accessibility: The museum building is very recently constructed and meets all accessibility needs.

For More Information: See the Burrell Collection website

Riverside Museum

Located where the Kelvin flows into the Clyde, in a modern, Dame Zaha Hadid-designed building, the Riverside is the city’s museum of transport.  Collections include a wide range of cars, bikes, trains, boats, and other vehicles, as well as some recreations of streets and stations from different eras.  Moored outside is the tall ship SV Glenlee, which may be open for visiting.

On Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th of August, a team of Ghostbusters and their Ectomobile are expected at the museum.

Opening Times:

  • Monday-Thursday and Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00
  • Friday and Sunday 11:00 – 17:00

Costs: The main museum is free to enter, but (if open and not hosting a private event) the SV Glenlee has a small admission charge.

Food and drink: There’s a café in the building with a small selection of sandwiches, snacks and drinks.

Location and how to get there. Half a mile walk along the Clyde walkway from the SEC.  Plenty of parking outside.  Nearest subway and station is Partick, 0.6 miles away.  Also 100 bus service from George Square.

Accessibility: The Riverside Museum is fully wheelchair accessible and has lifts between all floors. 

For more information: See the Riverside Museum website.

Glasgow Museums Resource Centre

This is the main depot where Glasgow Life (who run a lot of the city’s museums) store their archives, and where weekly tours take place, as well as periodic more specialist tours. If you visit, expect to see anything from a Namibian meteorite to Egyptian carvings, old milk floats to tribal spears to a room with racks of old masters ready to display. Visits are by tour only. 

Costs and booking tours: Tours are free (donations welcome), but need to be booked in advance.  These tours take place weekly on Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. Further tours around the convention include a hands-on history session for young people on Tuesday 6th August. 

Location and how to get there: The resource centre is located on the southern edge of Glasgow, about 0.3 mile walk from Nitshill station in an industrial estate. Regular trains to Nitshill from the city centre.

Accessibility: The building is wheelchair accessible and has hearing loops. 

For more information: See the Museums Resource Centre website.

Kelvin Hall Open Collections 

The Kelvin Hall is a building which has had various uses in the past, including hosting the circus and as a transport museum.  It currently serves as archives and storage for a number of different organisations, and has sports facilities and a café. Free to visit at any time is a long corridor with various permanent displays, and views into some of the storage spaces.  At the far end of the corridor is a branch of the National Library of Scotland with morer displays, which currently includes a display on Alastair Gray’s Poor Things.

Weekly bookable tours of the building are run by Glasgow Life which include the above, as well as a tour of some of their archives within the building.

Note also some of the Scheduled Tours the convention is running to visit specific items from the Hunterian Archives here.

Opening Times:

  • Monday-Friday: 6:00 – 22:00
  • Saturday: 8:00 – 18:00
  • Sunday: 8:00 – 20:00

Cafe:

  • Monday-Friday: 8:00 – 17:00
  • Saturday & Sunday: 8:30 – 17:00

Tours and booking: Weekly tours of the building (Saturday mornings) can be booked here.

Location and how to get there: Half a mile walk along Argyll St from the SEC.  Car parking on Bunhouse Road.  Nearest Subway is Kelvinhall, 0.2 miles away.  Just across the road from Kelvingrove Museum and park.

Accessibility: Kelvin Hall is wheelchair accessible and has wheelchairs to hire at reception. It also has other accessibility features including a quiet room, hearing loop, and sensory bags with ear defenders. 

For more information: See the Kelvin Hall website.

Hunterian Museum

The Hunterian (part of Glasgow University) is the oldest public museum in Scotland, with a range of collections spread over a number of sites.   The main museum has displays on the Roman Antonine Wall, as well as various famous university academics including Lord Kelvin and Joseph Lister.  Also visible are university artefacts including a chair which may have inspired the sorting hat in Harry Potter. 

Opening Times:

Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 – 17:00

Costs: The Hunterian is free to enter (donations welcome)

Location and how to get there: The museum is in the main Gilbert Scott building (the one with the spire on top of the hill) on Glasgow University Campus. While there are some signs, it can be difficult to find – you are looking for a stairwell accessed from the north-west corner of the eastern courtyard of the building, then the museum is at the top of the building.

Accessibility: There is a lift to the museum which is best accessed from the University Avenue entrance to the building near the University gift shop.

For more information: See the Hunterian Museum Website

The Hunterian Art Gallery has works by Whistler and Mackintosh, Rembrandt and Rubens, the Glasgow Boys and Scottish Colourists, as well as leading contemporary artists. Accessed from within the art gallery is the Mackintosh House, which is a recreation and re-assembly of the main rooms from the home of artists and designers Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh.

Also look out for a small outdoor sculpture garden.

Opening Times:

Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 – 17:00

Costs: The art gallery is free (donations welcome), but there is a charge (£10) to see the Mackintosh house.

Location and how to get there: Located on Glasgow University Campus.

Accessibility: The art gallery is wheelchair accessible, but the Mackintosh house is spread over four levels with 62 steps and can only be accessed up these stairs.

For more information: See the websites for the Art Gallery and Mackintosh House.

Glasgow Botanic Gardens

The city’s Botanic Gardens have a long history, and have been on the present site since 1842.  Attractions include the Kibble Palace (a Victorian glasshouse filled with tree ferns), as well as an extensive further range of glasshouses containing many different habitats.  Outside you can see the remains of a former railway line and station which passed under here, as well as one of one of the Glasgow Tardises built into the boundary wall. 

Monthly book fairs are held here, including one on Sunday 11th and Monday 12th August.  (Look for the signs – they are in a building tucked away behind the glasshouses, accessed near the tearoom).

A route leaves from the back of the gardens descending to the river Kelvin, and the Kelvin Walkway which connects back to Kelvingrove park and museum. 

There are free guided tours of the gardens daily. 

Opening Times:

  • Gardens daily: 7:00 – dusk
  • Glasshouses daily: 10:00 – 18:00

Cost: The Botanic Gardens and glasshouses are free to enter. 

Food and drink: There are tea rooms on site. The “Butter Box” has recently opened in the Tardis outside, and sells picnic food and butter Thursday-Sunday.

Location and how to get there: Located in the West End of the city.  Nearest subway is Hillhead, or take the Kelvin Walkway up from Kelvingrove park or Kelvin Bridge subway.

Accessibility: Main gardens are all paved paths and reasonably flat, but some steep sections and steps on the route down to the river Kelvin.  Kibble Palace glasshouse is accessible, but the other glasshouses have tight walkways and internal doors – probably manageable for a wheelchair with assistance but too tight for a mobi.

For more information: See the Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens website.

Govan Old Church and Govan Stones

Historic church and burial ground, one of the earliest sites of Christian worship in Scotland. The church is the site of an internationally significant collection of early mediaeval stone carvings, including Viking ‘hogback’ monument stones and other carvings associated with the 9th century Kingdom of Strathclyde. 

The site is still being explored archaeologically, with a carved stone found in last summer’s dig believed to pre-date everything else found on the site.  (Look for it in a red tray by the bookshop inside).

An earlier exploration of the site can be seen in a Time Team dig done here a number of years ago and available online.

Opening Times:

Daily: 13:00-16:00

Cost: The church is free to enter (donations welcome). 

Location and how to get there. The site is located in Govan on the south bank of the Clyde, near Govan Subway and transit station.  The location is about a mile’s walk from the SEC campus.

Accessibility: The church has five steps to access, with a ramp available on request.  Once inside it is all level and step free.

For more information: See the Govan Stones website.

Fairfield Heritage

Community museum detailing Govan’s role in Glasgow’s shipbuilding industry, in the former headquarters of Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd. This would be an ideal location to visit along with the nearby Govan Old. 

Opening Times:

Daily: 13:00-16:00

Costs: Entry is free (donations welcome). 

Location and how to get there: The site is located in Govan on the south bank of the Clyde, about half a mile west along Govan Road from the Govan Subway and transit station (and Govan Old).  

Accessibility: There are three steps at the main entrance, but level access can be gained via a lift at the Reception to the rear. The heritage rooms are all on one level.

For more information: See the Fairfield Heritage website.

Glasgow Historic Properties

While not strictly museums, Glasgow’s historic properties provide a glimpse into the architecture and domestic life of the city’s past. These are a small selection of our favourites. 

Tenement House (National Trust Scotland)

Time-capsule flat capturing life in early 20th Century Glasgow, with both the rooms and all their original contents. The Tenement House was formerly the home of Miss Agnes Toward, a shorthand typist (1911 to 1965) and tells the story of her life alongside the story of the city. 

Opening Times:

Daily: 10:00-17:00

Costs: Admission £8:50, free for National Trust Scotland and National Trust members. 

Location and how to get there: Located around a mile walk from the city centre.  Nearest subway Cowcaddens, or Charing Cross station (both then 0.25 mile walk).  Surroundings quite hilly.

Accessibility: Staircases both to access the building and inside. 

For more information: see the Tenement House website.

Provand’s Lordship

The oldest house in Glasgow, dating from 1471, and one of only four surviving mediaeval buildings in the city.  Small garden outside.

Opening Times:

  • Monday-Thursday and Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00
  • Friday and Sunday 11:00 – 17:00

Cost: Free Admission (donations welcome)

Accessibility: Cathedral Precinct is on top of a hill.  Inside the house has tight doorways and spiral staircases, uneven floors and low ceilings as would be expected for a building of this age.  Even the ground floor has different levels and steps between rooms.

Location and how to get there: Located about 1.2 miles from the city centre, in the cathedral precinct.  Some bus services do cover this area.

For more information: see the Provand’s Lordship website.

Roman Bath House and Antonine Wall

On the northern edge of the city a few remnants of the Antonine Wall and associated buildings can be seen, including the best preserved Roman Bath House in Scotland.

The best of these is the Bath house, on Roman Road in Bearsden.  Nearby you can see an exposed cross-section of the foundations of the Antonine Wall (in New Kilpatrick Cemetery), and some places where small sections of the wall have been excavated.

These sites are where you can see some traces of the wall and buildings in-situ.  For artefacts found here and elsewhere on the Antonine Wall you should visit the Hunterian museum, or the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, and if you are travelling further, the quantity and scale of sites along Hadrian’s Wall is much better preserved and more extensive than those from the Antonine Wall.

If you are exploring more of Scotland, note there are more remains from the Antonine wall by the Falkirk Wheel.

Opening Times: Always open.

Costs: Free. 

Location and how to get there. Bearsden is on the outskirts of Glasgow, and is accessible by train.  The sites are quite scattered, with the Roman Bath house remains being around half a mile from Bearsden station, but the exposed section of the wall within the cemetery and other locations a lot further away.  All these sites can be easily accessed with a car.

Accessibility: Accessibility of Antonine Wall sites varies quite a bit. Please see AccessAble for information on the Bearsden bath house accessibility.

For more information: see the websites of the Antonine Wall and Bearsden Bath House.

House for an Art Lover

Set within the grounds of Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park and inspired by the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh (although not built until much more recently), House for an Art Lover combines art gallery and exhibition space, events venue, café, and artists studios into one venue. Group tours can be booked. 

Opening Times:

Open 7 days. Café and shop are open from 10AM, with afternoon tea from noon. Exhibition hours are variable. Please check the website.

Costs: Adult tickets are £9. 

Food and drink: There is a café on site, which does a highly recommended afternoon tea. 

Location:  In Bellahouston Park, about a mile walk from either Ibrox subway or Dumbreck station. 

Accessibility: All entrances to the house have ramped access and there is a lift to allow access to the other levels of the building. All paths around the house are tarmac which are flat and accessible.

For more information: see the House for an Art Lover website.

Glasgow Sights

Take a walk around Glasgow and get a sense of the city – at turns historic and modern, grand and absurd. Here’s some of our top sights to see. 

Statue of the Duke of Wellington

This statue has become an icon of the city of Glasgow, with plenty of souvenirs available showing it with its distinctive, unofficial headgear. 

Location:  Located outside GOMA on Queen St. opposite Ingram St., in the city centre.

Glasgow Tardises

As we know, the Tardis from Doctor Who was originally able to change its looks, but its camouflage circuits were broken, fixing its appearance into that of a Sixties police box.  A number of these police boxes have been preserved in Glasgow, often re-purposed for various other uses.  Most of these are around the city centre, with one in the West End outside the Botanic Gardens. 

Locations

  • Great Western Road / Byres Road (by Botanic Gardens)
  • Sauchiehall Street / Cambridge Street (unconfirmed)
  • Buchanan Street / Royal Bank Place
  • Wilson Street / Glassford Street
  • London Road / Barrowland Park
  • Castle Street / Cathedral Square

Glasgow Necropolis

Come and visit Glasgow’s Victorian Necropolis, which was used as an interdenominational burial ground from 1832.  The Necropolis is a varied collection of 3500 monuments, sprawling over a hilltop next to Glasgow Cathedral.  Accessed across the Bridge of Sighs, the Necropolis contains the graves of a wide range of famous Glaswegians, as well as the fictional Bella Baxter from Poor Things.  Good views back to the city centre from the highest point.

Opening Times:

Daily: 7:00 – 16:00

Location & how to get there: Located about 1.2 miles from the city centre, in the cathedral precinct.  Some bus services do cover this area.

Accessibility: Cathedral Precinct is on top of a hill, with the Necropolis covering the very summit.  Mostly gravel and tarmac paths, but steep and hilly, and with staircases and steps on some routes.

For More Information: See the Necropolis website.

Beyond Van Gogh

Situated in the SEC (in a different hall to Worldcon), this immersive experience shows more than 300 of the painter’s works as well as a special soundtrack to tell the story of this artist.

Timed tickets need pre-booking in advance.

The Waverley

The last ocean-going paddle steamer, which spends the winters moored in the city, and the summers on various day trips around the UK.  In July and August it is doing a selection of day trips, a lot of which start or end in Glasgow, from its mooring opposite the SEC on the Clyde.

Tickets may be available for some of these trips around the convention, or look out for her leaving early in the morning or arriving back in the evening during Worldcon.

Timetables

If you want to see her she should be in Glasgow from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th August, leaving around 9:30 a.m. each morning, and arriving back in the evening at various times (6 p.m. on the 9th, later other days).

Celtic Park Stadium Tour

Available daily, but pre-booking required.

Location:  Near Dalmarnock Station. 

Glasgow Science Centre and IMAX cinema

Located across the river from the SEC, this is a large hands-on science centre, as well as the world’s tallest rotating building  and Scotland’s largest cinema screen.  The IMAX theatre is used for science centre programming during the day, but shows a wider range of films in the evenings.  During the convention there are showings of Deadpool & Wolverine, Galaxy Quest, Wall-E and Close Encounters of the Third Kind scheduled.

There are some hands-on activities outside the centre that can be accessed without entering, as well as some man-made wetlands around the buildings.

Glasgow City Chambers

Interested in how Glasgow works, or Victorian architecture? Take a tour of the seat of Glasgow’s city government. Glasgow City Chambers, built in 1888, was designed by Scottish architect William Young in the Beaux Arts style. The grandiose Category A-listed building reflects the city’s power and prestige during the period.

Guided tours twice a day (10:30 and 2:30, weekdays only). Tours are free but limited in space and cannot be pre-booked. Tickets are released 30 minutes prior to start. Access guide is available.

Glasgow University

Feeling scholarly? Get a glimpse of one of the UK’s oldest universities. The quadrangle of Glasgow University, founded in 1451, features a range of architectural styles. Take a good look at the dramatic Gothic Revival buildings of the West Quadrangle and the Cloisters under Bute Hall, which you might recognise!

Open daily. Self-guided tour across paved paths.

Alasdair Gray In and Around Glasgow

One of Glasgow’s most distinctive personalities, the late Alasdair Gray combined many roles including artist, muralist and author of the fantastic.  Notable literature includes the novels Lanark and Poor Things, which was recently turned into a film which is one of this year’s Hugo Finalists (although with all the Glaswegian references found in the novel removed).

Alasdair Gray Archives

Most significant of all these sights is the Alasdair Gray Archives, operated by a charity formed after his death, and holding most of his possessions, laid out to recreate his working space and library.

The archive is only available for pre-booked visits, but these are highly recommended if you get the opportunity.  Tours in August only occur after Worldcon has finished, but a few fans may still be in the area. (16th, 23rd, and 31st August), advanced booking required.

The Poor Things walking trail covers the real locations from the novel, including where Bella Baxter was drowned, her residence, the church where she got married and finally the family mausoleum.  The locations cover sights in both the city centre, and the West End, and the route is split into three sections (which would take most of a day to cover in its entirety).  A few of the locations on this route will be covered in the walking tours elsewhere in the program.

There is currently a small display about Poor Things, including pages from an alternative script written by Gray himself, inside the National Library at Kelvin Hall, taken from his extensive archives in the main National Library in Edinburgh.  

Alasdair Gray Artwork across the city

Charles Rennie Mackintosh In and Around Glasgow

Glasgow-born early 20th century architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh is one of the most recognisable artists of the Modern (British Art Nouveau) style. His work can be seen in many places in and around Glasgow, including: 

  • The Hill House, Helensburgh
  • Mackintosh house in Hunterian Art Gallery
  • Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style gallery at Kelvingrove Museum
  • Willow Tea Rooms, city centre
  • House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston park
  • Glasgow School of Art  (currently a building site, not much to see)
  • Scotland Street School Museum (currently a building site, not much to see)
  • Queen’s Cross Church (Note: very restricted opening times).

Glasgow Walking Trails and Routes

These are trails and routes partly or completely around the city.  See links and references for more complete details.

Poor Things trail

This walking route (in three sections) covers locations in the life of Bella Baxter from the book (not film) Poor Things by Alasdair Gray.  

Mural trail

Glasgow city centre is home to a number of large murals on various buildings.  This website provides a map of some of them, along with a suggested walking route.  Note that some are on buildings undergoing redevelopment, so details may be out of date.

Whithorn Way

A new long-distance walking route based on a 1600 year old pilgrimage from Glasgow to Whithorn in the Scottish Borders.  The first section goes from Glasgow Cathedral out to Paisley.

Clyde Walkway

A long-distance trail from Glasgow to New Lanark.  The Glasgow section starts at the Riverside Museum (where the Kelvin enters the Clyde, and connects to the Kelvin Walkway), and generally follows the north bank of the Clyde through the city (including from outside the SEC back to the city centre).  Within the city there are some sections of path on the south bank of the Clyde, but they are not continuous unlike this route on the north bank.

Kelvin Walkway

A route following the banks of the Kelvin river from its mouth into the Clyde by the Riverside Museum upstream as far as Milngavie (providing a link to the West Highland Way).  Of particular note is a section linking the Botanic Gardens down to Kelvingrove park and Museum, which is a peaceful green valley away from the bustling city surrounding it.

Parkrun – Victoria Park

There are a number of Parkruns in the city of Glasgow, taking place every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m.  We think the most convenient one to the convention is in Victoria Park, which is about a mile walk from the closest station at Hyndland, a couple of stops down the line from Exhibition Centre station for the SEC. Specific location is the main park gates to the north of the park: Victoria Park Drive, North Glasgow, G14 9NW.

If you have a car, the running route in Pollock Park is likely to be better as it is a single lap of a longer course, unlike the other Glasgow ones.

Note that while the run is free and does not require individual booking or registration, you do need to have registered with Parkrun, and have a copy of your barcode available to participate.

Walking Glasgow

While Kevin is running a number of his tours for convention members only during Worldcon, outside the convention, he has a regular program of these and other tours.  Advance booking required through his website or find him on Facebook.

https://www.walkingglasgow.com.

Whisky Locations

There are three distilleries in or near to Glasgow, with the closest about 500m away from the SEC across the car-park.

Clydeside Distillery

Adjoining the SEC site.  Range of tours offered daily, but pre-booking strongly advised.  Also has a shop and a restaurant that serves soup and sandwiches as well as tasting flights of whisky, both available without booking. See their Website for details.

Auchtenoshan Distillery

Found on the western edges of the city, near the Erskine bridge.  About 15 minutes drive, or  bus from the city centre.  Tours available but must be booked in advance. See their website.

Glengoyne Distillery

Found north of Glasgow in the foothills of the Trossachs.  About 40 minutes drive or bus from the city centre.  Tours available but must be booked in advance.

Buying Whisky

While whisky can be found in any supermarket, for more unusual bottles try any of the distilleries themselves if you visit.  (Clydeside as above stocks a few different other distilleries as well as different versions of their own product). Alternatively, The Whisky Shop has  a branch in Glasgow city centre.

Whiskey Pubs

The Pot Still can be found in the city centre.

The Bon Accord is located near Charing Cross station, about half-way between the SEC and the city centre. 

Further Afield

If you have time to get out of Glasgow before or after the convention, there are many things to see and do. Here’s our top picks. 

Kilmartin Glen & Museum

The Kilmartin Glen in Knapdale (on the west coast about two hours drive from Glasgow) has one of the densest clusters of prehistoric monuments in the UK.  The recently redeveloped museum holds artefacts from these, as well as running weekly walks (on Wednesday afternoons, booking required) to visit the sites.  Note that all the prehistoric sites are available to visit on your own, although the guided walk is highly recommended to provide context.

If you are in the area do take time to explore – nearby there are a number of nature reserves, including the area where wild beavers were first reintroduced to Scotland twenty years ago, as well as spectacular coastline, ruined castles and more.

Paisley Abbey Alien

One of the gargoyles on Paisley Abbey is in the form of an H. R. Giger Alien, dating from renovations in 1991.  Paisley is 10 minutes by train from Glasgow Central station, and the abbey is about 5 minutes walk from there.  The alien is on the south side of the roof, visible from the west of the abbey.  Take binoculars to get a good view.

If you are in Paisley, Abbey Books, around half a mile away, is selling some of the collection of late author Christopher Priest, including a number of signed volumes.

Scotty’s Birthplace – Linlithgow

Montgomery Scott, Chief Engineer of the U.S.S. Enterprise is due to be born in Linlithgow in AD 2222.  A plaque commemorating this can be seen in the town museum.  Check opening days/hours before visiting.  Linlithgow is between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and some of the trains connecting the two stop there.

Alien Worlds at the Wardlaw Museum, St. Andrews

A temporary exhibition at the Wardlaw Museum (the University Museum), until the end of the year.  St Andrews is a couple of hours drive from Glasgow, on the east coast in Fife.

New Lanark

This preserved 18th century mill-village is a World Heritage site.  The location appears close to how it did early in the 19th century.  Also on the site is the Falls of Clyde nature reserve.  The site is around an hour’s drive south of Glasgow.  Visits by public transport are possible using a limited bus service (not Sundays), or trains to Lanark around a mile away.

The Hill House, Helensburgh

The Hill House is the only private house designed and furnished by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and considered one of his masterpieces.  Nowadays it is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, and due to some issues with the experimental concrete render used in its construction, has been enclosed in a giant chain-mail box to allow the structure to slowly dry out.  This was designed for visitor access, with walkways allowing you to get unique views of the property including looking down on the roofs from above.

The property is on top of the hill, half a mile walk from Helensburgh Upper station (or just over a mile from Helensburgh Lower).

Scottish Highlands

The Scottish highlands start just north of Glasgow and are world-famous for their spectacular scenery, although this is spread over a large area.  While a visit would benefit from more time spent there, a few options do exist to see something on a quick day trip.  

One recommendation here would be to take the West Highland Line north from Glasgow Queen St. station.  The route heads north, passing Loch Lomond, forking in Crianlarich then continuing on to Oban (the western fork, with connections to the islands) and Fort William.  The Fort William route continues on to Mallaig, crossing the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, as seen in Harry Potter.  The most spectacular scenery is probably the remote stretch over Rannoch moor (including Corrour Station, the highest in the UK, as seen in Trainspotting), but everything north of Helensburgh is worth considering.  

When planning, check your return options, as there are only a few trains each day on the route, and note that the current, temporary timetable is due to change on the 2nd August.  Pre-booked tickets will include a reserved seat on the train if it is busy.

Another option might be to get the train to Balloch, on the south shore of Loch Lomond.  While this is not quite in the highlands, the views from here, especially if you can get out onto the Loch are good, and include the southernmost Munro, Ben Lomond.  A number of sightseeing boat trips operate from Balloch.

Rail tickets from Scotrail.

Outlander Locations

The series Outlander appears to have used locations around most of Scotland.  A few are in Glasgow and fairly easily accessible (and already referred to in this guide).  Of the many locations outside Glasgow, two key sites are the Royal Burgh and Palace of Culross, and the town of Falkland, both located in Fife to the east of the country.  There are a few tour companies running Outlander tours from Glasgow. 

Visit Scotland provide a downloadable guide (PDF format) with many of the locations, although it may not be current to the most recent series.

The Scottish Crannog Centre (Aberfeldy)

A crannog is a pile-built loch dwelling, characteristic of the Iron Age in Scotland.  While the Scottish Crannog Centre, located on Loch Tay, has not yet opened its first reconstructed crannog (the original was destroyed by a fire in 2021), the museum and Iron Age village (complete with Iron Age activities!) is well worth a visit. About two hours by car from Glasgow. 

Edinburgh Highlights

August is festival season in Edinburgh, with both the International and Fringe festivals taking place, as well as the Military Tattoo.  If you do visit the city, expect it to be very busy. Visit the linked websites via ticket information.

National Museum of Scotland

Large, diverse museum.  Highlights of the National Museum include Dolly the Sheep, some of the Lewis Chessmen (the rest are in the British Museum in London), the view from the roof terrace, and the Millennium clock tower, designed by the same sculptor as Glasgow’s Sharmanka. As well as the free entry main museum, it is currently hosting “Game On”, an interactive (and playable) exhibition of the history and culture of video games, for which advance, timed tickets must be booked.

National Galleries

For traditional art, you want to visit the main National Galleries of Scotland, located near Edinburgh Waverley station on Princes Street.  Probably the most famous Scottish painting, the “Monarch of the Glen” can be found here.

For more modern art, there are two galleries and two sculpture parks located across the road from each other around a mile from the city centre on the Water of Leith.

Modern Two on this site is currently hosting a temporary exhibition on “Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970–1990”, for which pre-booked tickets are recommended.

Scottish Parliament

Free guided tours of this building, showing both the workings of the Parliament and the modern architecture (which makes much more sense from the inside than the outside) are available, although not on every date.  Allow plenty of time to pass security checks before your tour starts.