The best things to do in Glasgow in 2025

What is it? One of the UK’s most visited museums, Kelvingrove’s vast collection of items is free to see and covers everything from natural history to civic art.

Why go? Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which opened in 1901 and is Glasgow’s most popular tourist attraction, is a striking piece of architecture in the Spanish baroque style, fashioned out of red sandstone. There is some truly wonderful art here, with galleries given over to Scottish colourists and French impressionism, for example. Look up as you enter and you’ll see Sophie Cave’s spooky floating heads, all sporting eerie human expressions. In the adjacent museum you’ll find a Spitfire fighter jet suspended from the ceiling, above stuffed animals including old favourite Sir Roger the elephant.

What is it? Glasgow’s big gothic attractions, with signature spires in tow. 

Why go? Glasgow Cathedral was consecrated in 1197 and remains a sturdy and impressive example of Scottish gothic architecture both inside and out. The other big attraction nearby is the Necropolis, Glasgow’s gloriously atmospheric cemetery inspired by Père Lachaise in Paris and dating back to 1833. Amble among the monuments, look out over the city and wonder just how green and bucolic the view was more than two centuries ago. Ankle-length black leather coat and Demonia boots optional. If you’ve seen the latest Batman movie you might recognise the bridge you’ll need to cross to walk from the cathedral to the necropolis. The cathedral has one of the most impressive post-war collections of stained glass windows in Britain, including John K Clark’s Millennium Window.

💡 Editor’s tip: Special occasion? Celentano’s, one of the city’s best restaurants, is just round the corner. It’s my go-to recommendation for a semi-fancy evening dinner. Olivia Simpson

What is it? Glasgow’s very first dedicated Single Malt Whisky distillery in more than 100 years.

Why go? Hidden inside the old Pumphouse building that once controlled entry to the famous Queen’s Dock – and thus Scotland’s whisky exports to the world – Clydeside became one of the first new distilleries in generations to operate in Glasgow when it started running its huge copper stills in 2017. Take a tour of their pristine and impressive facilities to see the operation in action. 

Don’t miss: A chocolate and whisky tour allows visitors to savour five carefully selected single malt whiskies, each expertly paired with freshly made artisan chocolate handcrafted by Sugarsnap Chocolate. 

What is it? A lush green space with the grand old Pollok House at the centre of the grounds. 

Why go? This slice of gorgeous countryside is just a rather scenic ten minutes away from Glasgow Central on the train. Once there, get the blood pumping with a stroll through serene surroundings, followed by some cooing over the Highland cows and Clydesdale horses.

Don’t miss: Stop inside Pollok House to see its collections of antique furniture, silverware, ceramics and fine art. Its collection of Spanish paintings is one of the finest in Britain. 

🤫 Insider tip: If you’re not too tired, walk 20 minutes to Shawlands for coffee or dinner. You can catch plenty of buses and trains back to the city centre. Olivia Simpson

What is it? One of the most iconic and cherished music venues in the world, and for an enduringly good reason.

Why go? You’ve never really experienced live music in Scotland until you’ve stumbled into the famous Barrowland Ballroom – a dusty, old, family-owned Glasgow institution that’s been embraced by several generations of live music fans alike for more than four decades. All while retaining independence, integrity and a gloriously retro feel like few other spaces of its size. Barely altered in architecture, décor or spirit since it opened, the Barrowland’s shows today include new and veteran acts alike – every major promoter in Scotland books here. The mere view of the venue’s massive garish flashing coloured neon sign hovering into view down the Gallowgate on a show night is sufficient to give gig-goers a buzz of anticipation.

What is it? A vast assortment of around 9,000 objects gifted to Glasgow in 1944 by Sir William Burrell (1861-1958). The Burrell Collection reopened in 2022 following a £68.25m redevelopment, and it’s been all the better for it ever since, making the museum’s building greener and more accessible. Today, there are 225 displays across 24 galleries, which take you on a tour of 6,000 years of history.

Why go? The Collection includes treasures which feature people and places from around the world. Among the highlights are one of the most significant collections of Chinese art in the UK, Roman sculpture and Egyptian pottery more than 2,000 years old and paintings by renowned 19th century French artists like Manet, Cézanne and Degas.

What is it? A new wave of queer nightlife, shops and community groups in the city 

Why go? Google will tell you that the Merchant City, just east of the city centre, is Glasgow’s LGBTQIA+ district, but locals are more likely to say it’s the Southside, particularly the neighbouring areas of Govanhill and Strathbungo. Here, you’ll find the wonderful independent bookshop Category Is Books, which specialises in LGBTQIA+ titles, regular queer comedy and club nights at the Rum Shack, and even Scotland’s first trans and non-binary football club, Gender Goals, which trains in local facilities. Should you feel the need to leave the Southside (honestly, in my two years living in the area, I rarely did) check out Stereo, the Berkeley Suite and the Poetry Club at SWG3, which all regularly programme queer performers.  

Don’t miss: Check out the Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF). This year’s programme includes the first-ever Scottish screening of the 1974 Japanese road trip film Bye Bye Love, a selection of Scottish shorts, a craft fair and more. 

🤫 Insider tip: Some of the city’s best queer nights are Ponyboy parties, where the lineups prioritise the trans community, and a welfare team and clear safer space policy protects community wellbeing. Olivia Simpson

What is it? A unique, quirky and historic market full of treasures in the East End of the city.

Why go? Open every Saturday and Sunday from 10-4, the Barras market is made up of indoor and outdoor markets where you can find everything from antiques and records to kitchenware and furniture. Established in 1921 by Maggie McIver and her husband, this weird and wonderful market has a rich history, and whether you're a local or a tourist, it's a genuinely great spot for a weekend outing.

Don't miss: Its ever-growing array of street food stalls, where you'll find the long-standing classics and the newest TikTok hypes. 

What is it? One of the prettiest green spaces you'll spy in Glasgow, filled to the brim with history, botany and fine architecture.

Why go? Originally laid out in 1841 as part of the University of Glasgow, the Botanic Gardens were acquired by the city and made public in 1891. In 1873 the most distinctive building – the eccentric domed glasshouse Kibble Palace – was erected, followed a few years later by the Main Range teak glasshouse. Both have been beautifully preserved and brim with exotic plant life, from arid lands to tropical rainforests.

Don’t miss: The long east-west facing green in front of the glasshouses teems with life on warm days, be it families, groups of students or yoga classes. 

What is it? This award-winning structure houses the contents of the former Museum of Transport, including trams, prams and rockets.

Why go? This Zaha Hadid-designed waterside museum carries an extensive collection of vehicles including ambulances, buses, police cars, horse-drawn taxis and motor cars that look like they drove to Glasgow from the set of a 1930s action movie. Formerly housed in the old Museum of Transport at Kelvin Hall, they’ve been cherished by Glaswegians for generations.

Don’t miss: The impressive late Victorian, three-masted Tall Ship that’s berthed outside the museum in the River Clyde – a stunning monument to Glasgow’s rich maritime heritage.