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.
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.
The Burrell Collection
Need some inspiration? Visit one person’s collection of 9,000 pieces of art. The Burrell Collection is the life’s work of Sir William Burrell, donated to the City of Glasgow in 1944. The recently reopened 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!
Open 10-5 Mon-Thu and Sat, 11-5 Fri and Sun. Entry is free. The museum has a range of accessible features and services.
The Tenement House
Interested in social history? See how people lived in early 20th century Glasgow at the Tenement House, the preserved home of Miss Agnes Howard.
Open daily from 10-5. Adult tickets are £8.50, family tickets £14.50 (one adult) or £20.50 (two adults). Please check the accessibility guide for details.
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.
Fancy a Pint?
Ready for a pint? Why not visit a traditional Glasgow pub – or two! We recommend the first six on this list – or head out to the pubs listed that are in Finnieston for a taste of traditional music. Opening times and accessibility vary. No reservations needed.
Take a Walk!
Feeling worn out? Need some fresh air and to get away from the crowds? Go outside and take a 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.