Glasgow is a beautiful historic city, with plenty of stunning sites to see and photograph. Bigger, less ‘touristy’ and perhaps lacking some of that obvious picturesque charm that Edinburgh seems to have in abundance, a trip to Glasgow whilst visiting Scotland is a must! You may need to look a little harder to find Glasgow’s most Instagrammable places, but that’s what makes it all the more worthwhile.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Located between Glasgow city centre and the West End, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a quality art gallery in a beautiful red sandstone building. Packed with everything and anything, from famous historic artwork to modern art installations. The floating heads installation in the main foyer is one of the most popular Insta-shots.
University of Glasgow Cloisters
Harry Potter fans are in for a treat with the stunning Hogwart’s-esque collection of buildings at the University of Glasgow. The Cloisters provide endless photo opportunities with their unique fluted columns and transverse ribbed vaults. They have also been used as a backdrop for many films and TV shows, including Outlander.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Glasgow Botanic Gardens is a public park located in the West End of the city. The perfect spot to laze around in the gardens or enjoy a picnic in the summer! Visit the Kibble Palace whilst you are there and enjoy the tropical glasshouse and its lush surroundings – a photographer’s dream!
Ashton Lane
Located in Glasgow’s West End, Ashton Lane is a pretty, cobbled lane lined with bars and restaurants. Popular with tourists and locals alike, the lane is beautiful to visit in winter when all lit up or go during the summer when the beer gardens are full to the brim.
River Clyde Landmarks
A historically important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire, Glasgow was built around the River Clyde. Take a stroll along the river and see a mixture of old and modern architecture. Get snap happy as you come across some of Glasgow’s most iconic bridges and buildings, such as the Titan Crane, Glasgow Science Centre, the SSE Hydro and the Clyde Auditorium.
Riverside Museum
An architectural wonder, this awe-inspiring building will have you snapping away before you’ve even set foot inside! Containing Glasgow’s transport museum, you will find over 3,000 objects on display from Glasgow’s rich past, from vintage cars and prams to powerful locomotives.
The Lighthouse
A city centre Glasgow icon that takes its name from its unique design, courtesy of Charles Rennie Macintosh. Home to Scotland’s centre for design and architecture, climb to the top for some of the best views of the city. You’ll also find many Insta-worthy shots inside the lighthouse itself.
Glasgow Cathedral
The Glasgow Cathedral is an impressive display of Scottish gothic architecture and features beautifully complex stained-glass windows. The oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland and the oldest building in Glasgow, it is the only one to survive the Reformation of 1560 intact.
Glasgow Necropolis
Located just behind the beautiful Glasgow Cathedral, is the Glasgow Necropolis. A graveyard might not be the most obvious place to visit in a city, but it’s amazing sculptures and views of the whole city draws people from afar. Watch out though, it’s rumoured to be haunted!
Duke of Wellington Statue
Located in Royal Exchange Square, the Duke of Wellington statue was first topped with his orange traffic cone in the 1980s. Initially police would remove it, but it was replaced every time they did. The cone is now just part of the scenery and he has become a staple in the scenery of Glasgow.