Glasgow walk – An exploration of the city

Glasgow walk – Photo supplied by Herbert Frank

Start/Finish	Category	Distance	Estimated Walking Time
Glasgow Central Station	History and Architecture, Tourism	4.8 km	1 hr 10 min*

Summary

The Glasgow walk explores all the city’s major historical landmarks, such as the Gallery of Modern Art and People’s Palace in Glasgow Green, before winding along the banks of the Clyde river and ending at Glasgow Central.

Public transport

Catch a train to Glasgow Central.

Directions

Starting Point – Glasgow Central

This walk starts in Gordon St outside the Glasgow Central train station entrance. Walk down Gordon St in an easterly direction. Turn left at Buchanan St, right at Royal Bank Pl and then continue around Royal Exchange Square in an easterly direction.  Walking up Royal Exchange square you will pass the Gallery of Modern Art, the main gallery of contemporary art in Glasgow.  While the Gallery opened in 1998, the building dates back to 1778.  At the Queen St end of the building is a statue of the Duke of Wellington sculpted in 1844. 

At the end of Royal Exchange Square turn left down Queen St and right down George Square, Glagow’s principal square in the centre of the city. Continue eastwards along George Square and then Cochrane St, before turning right onto Montrose St and then left down Ingram St. At the end of Ingram St turn right down High St heading southwards. At the end of High St turn left down Andrews St walking towards Andrews square. The square is named after St Andrews church, an 18th-century classical church completed in 1758.  

St Andrew’s in the Square

At the end of Andrews St turn right down Turnbull St and then left down Greendyke St heading in an easterly direction. Greendyke St runs parallel to Glasgow Green, a park established in the 15th century situated on the north bank of the River Clyde. Enter the park from Greendyke St and head  in a south easterly direction. This will take you to the People’s Palace, located next to Doulton Fountain. The People’s Palace and Winter Gardens conservatory adjoining it was designed as a cultural centre for the people of Glasgow. Since the 1940s, it has been a museum of social history and tells the story of Glasgow and its people from 1750 to present.

From the People’s Palace head back through the park in a westerly direction. This will take you past a number of monuments before reaching McLennans Arch, which will lead you out of the park. From here turn left down Saltmarket and then right down National Cycle Route 75 on Clyde St, which runs in a northwesterly direction along the bank of the Clyde river. 

Finish – Glasgow central

At Victoria Bridge head north up Stockwell St and then turn left up Argyle St. If you continue up Argyle St you will come to the southern entrance of Glasgow Central station where the walk ends.

Glasgow walk – GPX file

To access to the free GPX file for the Glasgow walk click on the download button below.  

Information on GPX files and how to import them into Google maps on your phone can be found here.

Map – Glasgow walk

Start – Glasgow Central Station (Gordon Street entrance)

1. Gallery of Modern Art
2. George Square
3. St Andrews
4. The Doulton Fountain
5. Peoples Palace
6. McLennan Arch
7. Victoria Bridge

End –  Glasgow Central Station (Argyle Street entrance under bridge)