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Five hours in Glasgow before plane flight

at the end of our uk trip we will fly out of glasgow airport at 9.00pm . We will have dropped the hire car at the airport the evening before and would like to take the shuttle into Glasgow City for a wander. Any suggestions for the best way to get the feel of the city. We don't need to rush around but some ideas of lazy activities would be great .

Posted by
1692 posts

The main bus station is Buchanan Street which is just on the north side of the city centre, the train will take you into Glasgow Central which is on the south side. Site seeing wise the main square, George Square , is not far off Buchanan Street. Though to get from Buchanan Street bus station to Buchanan Street you need to go through or around the concert hall or the Buchanan Shopping Centre.

The main shopping streets are Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, with the first two easier from the bus, the latter two from the train. Buchanan Street links the others hence it is with both!

If you want to see a museum, probably Kelvingrove or the Hunterian are probably easiest to get to in the time being not that far from Kelvinhall and Hillhead Subway stations. Kelvingrove is probably the jewel in the crown of the City Council's museums, though I have an affection for Scotland Street School, (opposite Shields Road Subway).

The Glasgow Subway is also interesting in being the third in the world, after London and Budapest,.

Posted by
5678 posts

There is an easy bus into the city centre. I enjoyed seeing the cathedral. You can likely walk but there is also a bus. Did MC mention the Willow Tea Rooms? A lot of people like them. I also really enjoyed the Tenemant Museum. Fascinating. Very different approach from the similar one in NYC. Both are quite good.

Posted by
1692 posts

Pam, busted. Did not mention them. Problem with being a local, is not seeing your city the way a guest would. But yes the Willow Tea Rooms and the Tenement Flat. The latter is a Glasgow a lot of Glaswegians can still link to.

Another thing about Glasgow is if you are a fan of Doctor Who, we have about half of the remaining Police Boxes in the UK on Glaswegian streets. There is one near the Church of Scotland cathedral and St Mungo's Museum, and one on Buchanan Street itself.

Posted by
78 posts

Thank you MC and Pamela. All excellent suggestions. As a teacher the school museum could be very interesting and I have seen the tearooms on a travel show. It seems like Glasgow definitely deserves more time than one day but we will have to return another time. Still have To check if a HOHO bus connects any of your suggestions. Two more questions, Is there a favourite pub you could suggest and are taxis reasonably priced for visiting something a bit further from the centre.

Posted by
1008 posts

If you are near the Kelvingrove, you can go right there to the lawn bowling center and they give you free balls and will teach you how to play. We had a blast with our 10yo son and his friend - and the next day we sent my 12yo son and his soccer team there and they loved it too!

Not sure what time of the year you are going and if it's a year round thing. We did it in the semi-rain and it was still open!! (In August)

Kim

Posted by
78 posts

We are in Glasgow at the end of September. Kim, we do not have kids with us but bowling is a great idea for those amusing them. However your whisky pub suggestion is very tempting , and close to the bus station.