Glasgow George Square
Sightseeing around George Square
Sightseeing Guide | George Square & Around | Merchant City | Trongate & East End | Cathedral Area | Buchanan Street to Charing Cross | West End | South Side Sightseeing
Several of the sights listed below may be closed for restoration work, and some of the churches are only open during services. For details of opening times, ask at the TIC in George Square.
The heart of modern Glasgow is George Square, which makes the obvious starting point for a tour of the city centre, as the Tourist Information Centre is located here, on the south side.
Amongst the many statues which adorn the square are those of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, Sir Robert Peel and James Watt.
The square is surrounded by fine Victorian buildings, most notable of which is the grandiose City Chambers, which fills the east side, a wonderful testament to the optimism and aspiration of Victorian Glasgow. It was designed in Italian Renaissance style by William Young and the interior is even more impressive than its façade.
The imposing arcaded marble entrance hall is decorated with elaborate mosaics and a marble staircase leads up to a great banqueting hall with a wonderful arched ceiling, leaded glass windows and paintings depicting scenes from the city's history.
One wall is covered by a series of murals by the Glasgow Boys art movement.
There are free guided tours of the City Chambers, Mon-Fri at 1030 and 1430. (Tel: 2872000).
On the northwest corner of George Square, opposite Queen Street station, is another fine building, the Merchants' House, now the home of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. (Free Entry by appointment only. Tel: 2218272).
The Gallery of Modern Art
Just to the south of George Square, facing the west end of Ingram Street, is Royal Exchange Square, which is almost completely filled by the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA).
The building dates from 1778, when it was built as the Cunninghame Mansion, home to one of Glasgow's wealthy Tobacco Lords. It passed to the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1817 and ten years later the magnificent portico was added to the front and the building then became the Royal Exchange, the city's main business centre.
It then housed a library, until its reopening in 1996 as one of the city's newest, and its most controversial, art venues, drawing the ire of many a critic for its unashamed eclecticism and populism.
The gallery features contemporary works from artists worldwide over four themed levels: the Earth Gallery on the ground floor; the Fire Gallery in the basement; the Water Gallery; and the Air Gallery.
It's a bold, innovative art space, making excellent use of the fabulous original interior. It includes interactive computers and art workshops. There's also a superb top-floor café, with great views across the city's rooftops.
Mon-Thu and Sat 1000-1700, Fri and Sun 1100-1700. Free. (Tel: 2291996), www.glasgow.gov.uk