Glasgow City Chambers, Glasgow
You will find the City Chambers on the eastern side of George Square, and while you might not be interested in the Glasgow City Council business, do go and visit the building, which you can do either on a self-guided tour or with a tour guide.
The Chambers, which have been the City Council headquarters since 1996, were built in 1889 by William Young. The City Council originally met in the Old Tolbooth but by the mid 19th century they were too small and the new building was commissioned.
Although it has been extended in 1923 and 1984, it has kept its Renaissance Classical and Italianate style with a lot of ornate exterior decorations. The sculpture work is by James Alexander Ewing, with a celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee on the central pediment.
The statues on the apex represent Honor and Riches, with Truth in the center. The statues on the tower represent the Four Seasons.
The entrance hall has a wonderful floor-mosaic of the Glasgow Coat of Arms and the ceiling is decorated in gold leaf with a stained-glass dome. Marble and alabaster pillars support the main marble stairway.
The ground floor loggia has a breath-taking mosaic ceiling and the Councilors’ Corridor is decorated in Italian faience.
The best room in the building is the Banqueting Hall with its magnificent arched ceiling and chandeliers. The murals were executed by the Glasgow School of Art and show the history and culture of the city, the granting of the Royal Charter and Scotland’s four principal rivers.
Tip:
There are free one-hour tours run on weekdays from the lobby. The tours take place at 10:30am and 2:30pm – show up at least 30 mins early. You can also walk around yourself, but you'll have significant restrictions.
The Chambers, which have been the City Council headquarters since 1996, were built in 1889 by William Young. The City Council originally met in the Old Tolbooth but by the mid 19th century they were too small and the new building was commissioned.
Although it has been extended in 1923 and 1984, it has kept its Renaissance Classical and Italianate style with a lot of ornate exterior decorations. The sculpture work is by James Alexander Ewing, with a celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee on the central pediment.
The statues on the apex represent Honor and Riches, with Truth in the center. The statues on the tower represent the Four Seasons.
The entrance hall has a wonderful floor-mosaic of the Glasgow Coat of Arms and the ceiling is decorated in gold leaf with a stained-glass dome. Marble and alabaster pillars support the main marble stairway.
The ground floor loggia has a breath-taking mosaic ceiling and the Councilors’ Corridor is decorated in Italian faience.
The best room in the building is the Banqueting Hall with its magnificent arched ceiling and chandeliers. The murals were executed by the Glasgow School of Art and show the history and culture of the city, the granting of the Royal Charter and Scotland’s four principal rivers.
Tip:
There are free one-hour tours run on weekdays from the lobby. The tours take place at 10:30am and 2:30pm – show up at least 30 mins early. You can also walk around yourself, but you'll have significant restrictions.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Glasgow. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Glasgow City Chambers on Map
Sight Name: Glasgow City Chambers
Sight Location: Glasgow, Scotland (See walking tours in Glasgow)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Glasgow, Scotland (See walking tours in Glasgow)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Glasgow, Scotland
Create Your Own Walk in Glasgow
Creating your own self-guided walk in Glasgow is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Glasgow West End Walking Tour
Glasgow is a home to a great number of historic, cultural and architectural landmarks, the lion's share of which are found in the West End. The adjectives applicable to this part of Glasgow speak volumes: cosmopolitan, multi-cultured, bohemian, intellectual, grand, leafy, confident, tolerant, and trendy. Indeed all of them are true, especially given that inside the area there are several... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Glasgow Music Spots Walking Tour
For decades, Glasgow has been renowned as a stomping ground for both young and seasoned music bands. The variety of spots – from snug, unpretentious cubbyholes catering for small intimate gigs to huge arenas hosting the biggest names in business – are as an integral part of Glasgow's evolutionizing music scene as its musicians. And while Glaswegian accents have dominated international... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Historical Churches
The feeling of serenity and being free from stress and worries is quite precious these days. And where better to find this than inside a church? Glasgow is home to a number of great churches that are notable for their architectural design, mostly in the Gothic style.
One of the city's most iconic ecclesiastical landmarks and a stunning example of Gothic architecture is Saint Mungo's... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
One of the city's most iconic ecclesiastical landmarks and a stunning example of Gothic architecture is Saint Mungo's... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Glasgow Introduction Walking Tour
The largest city and seaport in Scotland, Glasgow is also one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Famed for its 19th-century Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture, numerous musical events, football matches, traditional pubs, and food venues, this place is truly unique.
The area of Glasgow in Scotland's western Lowlands has been inhabited for millennia, with the River... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
The area of Glasgow in Scotland's western Lowlands has been inhabited for millennia, with the River... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles