Things to do in Glasgow

The history of Glasgow Cathedral is tied to that of the city itself. Supposedly built on the site where St Mungo founded the city of Glasgow, the cathedral was constructed in the late 1200s, just prior to the Scottish Reformation period. It remains an active site of Christian worship today and is one of the city's most popular tourist destinations.

For those who love history and nature, there's no better combination than the People's Palace and Winter Gardens. A combination of museum and greenhouse, the site serves as a repository of the city's social history from 1755 to the present. There's no better way to immerse yourself in Glasgow's more modern history than by visiting this attraction.

Constructed in the 1800s, the Glasgow City Chambers still operate as the seat of local government to this day. A historically sacred site, the City Chambers mark the moment Glasgow recognised its destiny as a global city. Tours are run daily and give an insight into the construction and artistry involved in the building and its goings on.

Housed within a former Neoclassical townhouse from 1776, the Gallery of Modern Art Glasgow (GoMA) is home to many hundreds of modern artworks by local artists. GoMA is also notable for its statue of the Duke of Wellington, which typically has a traffic cone perched at a jaunty angle on its head. Nobody knows who puts them there, and the cones are frequently removed, but it's a cheeky reminder that Glaswegians have little patience for authority figures.

One of the finest art and design schools anywhere in the world, the Glasgow School of Art was designed by noted local artist and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The building, which opened in 1897 and remains in operation today, is widely regarded as Mackintosh's masterpiece. Tours and exhibitions run regularly.

Located on Argyle Street, adjacent to Kelvingrove Park, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery has an astounding 22 galleries with different themes, boasting 8,000 pieces. This state-of-the-art gallery is one of the most popular in the entire United Kingdom, so turning up early or going later in the afternoon is a good idea if you're keen to avoid the crowds.

Found in the East End, the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art is an entire building dedicated to not only Scotland's primary religions, but also the history of all of the world's most significant structures of belief. It has hundreds of different pieces and offers a lovely, introspective way to spend time in the city's east.