Glasgow West End Walking Tour (Self Guided), Glasgow

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 smaller neighborhoods, each with its own distinctive character.

Byres Road, the West End's main artery, has varied attractions centered around it: impressive Victorian architecture, quaint shops, bustling nightlife, public parks & gardens, and more. Complete with its upmarket residences, this district appeals to the young and mature professionals as well as Glasgow University students.

Situated behind the lively Byres Road is Ashton Lane, a cobbled backstreet with most of its premises occupied by various pubs and restaurants, plus a gallery of small specialist stores – popular with those coming to shop, dine and meet friends.

Other notable attractions within the West End include:

Kelvin Hall – one of the largest exhibition centers in Britain, opened in 1927; now a mixed-use arts and sports venue.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery – one of the most visited free-to-enter museums in the UK; among the exhibits is "Christ of Saint John of the Cross" by Salvador Dalí.

Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery – Scotland's oldest public museum, founded in 1807.

University of Glasgow – the 4th oldest university in the English-speaking world; established in 1451.

Riverside Transport Museum – zig-zagging, zinc-clad ultra-modern edifice housing impressive collections of motorcycles, cars, trains, ships, toys and other pieces of transport technology.

If you are intrigued by this highlight and feel the urge to experience first hand the flavors of Glaswegian West End, grab the opportunity and take this self-guided walk!