111 Places in Glasgow That You Shouldn't Miss

Tom Shields was born in Glasgow and has never left, apart from frequent sojourns to Barcelona. He studied at Strathclyde University on and off (more off than on) and after 32 years finally graduated with a hybrid BA degree in engineering, mathematics, Spanish, Latin American studies, Catalan, and wine-tasting. He received an honorary doctorate from Strathclyde, officially for services to Glasgow humour but more likely for his efforts to keep the university's bars and restaurants busy. He fell into journalism at an early age and spent more than 40 years at the Glasgow Herald and Sunday Herald, much of the time writing Diary columns. His five Diary collection books are still popular, mainly in charity shops.

1 La Belle Place
Architecture for architecture’s sake | 10
7 Arches
Windows into Gorbals history | 12
The 90 Bus
A safari, not just a journey | 14
The Arboretum
Tree-spotting in the Botanics | 16
The Arlington Baths
A place of health and beauty | 18
Auchentoshan Distillery
The spirit of Glasgow | 20
The Barras
Where BAaD is good | 22
Barrowland Ballroom
Ziggy’s pocketful of stardust | 24
The Battle of Langside
Where Queen Mary started to lose the head | 26
The Battlefield Rest
Love on the tram | 28
Bearsden Bathhouse
When the Romans ruled in Scotland | 30
The Berkeley Suite
From two-step to dubstep | 32
The BFI Mediatheque
Keeping people in the picture | 34
Bike for Good
Cycling and recycling | 36
The Bon Accord
Nip in for a dram | 38
Britannia Panopticon
Memories of music-hall mayhem | 40
Bud Neill Memorial
The world’s only two-legged equestrian statue | 42
Buffalo Bill Statue
The sad story of Kicking Bear | 44
The Byres Road Lanes
A warren of alternative trading places | 46
Caledonia Road Church
Gem that got lost in traffic | 48
The Carbeth Huts
Social housing in the forest | 50
Cartha Rugby Club
A game, a pie and a pint | 52
The Cathedral Lamp Posts
The bird, the bell, the fish and the tree | 54
Central Gurdwara
Meet the lions and princesses | 56
Central Station
Locomotives and lost platforms | 58
The Climbing Centre
Heavenly pursuits | 60
The Clydeport Building
When Glasgow ruled the waves | 62
Cottonrake Bakery
Join the patisserie revolution | 64
Crookston Castle
Ruined by a cannon called Meg | 66
Cuningar Loop
How grunge turned into green | 68
The Cup Tea Lounge
A wally good experience | 70
David Livingstone Birthplace Museum
From mill boy to missionary and adventurer | 72
Donald Dewar Statue
The man who changed the course of Scottish politics | 74
The Doulton Fountain
A quick spin around the British Empire | 76
Drygate
Crafty, curious and creative | 78
The EVIIIR Postboxes
The king lives on | 80
Fairfield Heritage
From farmyard to world’s biggest shipyard | 82
Fossil Grove
Wondrous wee petrified forest | 84
Gardner Street
Hillwalking without leaving the city | 86
Garnethill Synagogue
Kosher tartan and Jewish bagpipers | 88
Garthamlock Water Tower
Mind-blowing circle in the sky | 90
George Square
The madness of the statues | 92
The Glad Café
Go south for world music | 94
Glasgow Cross
Unicorns, executions and dancing girls | 96
Glasgow Museums Resource Centre
In search of hidden treasures | 98
Glasgow Tower
Like a candle in the wind | 100
Glasgow’s Dalí
Buying art at a Scottish price | 102
Glickman’s
Where sweet dreams come true | 104
The Govan Stones
Relics of a lost kingdom | 106
The Grand Ole Opry
Singers and gunslingers | 108
Hamilton Curling
Have a go at the roaring game | 110
Helensburgh Heritage Centre
The John Logie Baird story | 112
The Hill House
Mackintosh in a steel raincoat | 114
Holmwood
What the nuns hid under the wallpaper | 116
Homeless Jesus
At the heart of the city | 118
The Horse Shoe Bar
Bring on the pies | 120
House for an Art Lover
Toshie is alive and well | 122
Hutcheson’s Hall
A rich man’s poorhouse | 124
Kelvin Hall
A scent of history | 126
Kelvingrove Bandstand
Tom Jones on stage? It’s not unusual | 128
Kelvingrove Lawn Bowling
Fun with odd-shaped balls | 130
King Billy Statue
Glasgow’s favourite Orangeman | 132
The Knitted Bench
Memories stitched together | 134
La Pasionaria Memorial
The fight against fascism | 136
The Lighthouse
Mackintosh and the wings of a dove | 138
The Lismore
Gaels blown by the gales of history | 140
Lord Kelvin Statue
Putting the heat into the Industrial Revolution | 142
The Mitchell Library
Be seduced by Rabbie Burns | 144
Mosesfield House
Where cars became a religion | 146
Mr Ben Retro Clothing
Dedicated followers of fashion | 148
The Mural Trail
From blight to beauty | 150
The Necropolis
John Knox keeps a beady eye on the city | 152
The Old Savings Bank
Art and history set in stone | 154
The Òran Mór Ceiling
Many shades of Gray | 156
Pinkston Watersports
Surf in the city | 158
The Piping Centre
Wrestle with the bagpipes | 160
The Police Museum
All about the polis | 162
The Pollok Park Highland Cows
Country estate in the city | 164
PS Waverley
A cruise like no other | 166
Rottenrow Gardens
From here to maternity | 168
Rouken Glen
Go with the flow | 170
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
Medicine through the ages | 172
Safe Hands Barbers
Cutting edge humour | 174
The Saracen Head
A taste of the Gallowgate | 176
Scottish Football Museum
Home of the beautiful game | 178
The Single End
Must-see at the People’s Palace | 180
The Sixty Steps
Upwardly mobile in the West End | 182
The Snuff Mill Bridge
Place with a nose for history | 184
Springburn Park
Decline and fall of a proud community | 186
Square Sausage
Scottish soul food | 188
The Squinty Bridge
A nickname too far | 190
St Andrew’s in the Square
No smoke with this religious fire | 192
St Charles’ Oratory
Terracotta Jesus | 194
St Luke’s
Saved by rock ’n’ roll | 196
St Nicholas Garden
Serenity with a hint of scariness | 198
St Peter’s Church
Father Daniel and the holy brolly | 200
The Subway
Going round and round | 202
Summerlee
Where old tramcars still trundle | 204
The Tall Ship
When Glenlee met Mary Doll | 206
Tam Shepherd’s Trick Shop
It’s pure magic | 208
The Tardis Tour
Intergalactic Glasgow experience | 210
The Templeton Building
A beer with a view | 212
The Tenement House
Come into the parlour | 214
Timorous Beasties
Of mice and interior design | 216
The Titan Crane
The Eiffel Tower of Clydebank | 218
The University Café
Ice cream and hot peas | 220
The University Cloisters
Get down to the undercroft | 222
The Vintage Vehicle Trust
Retirement home for beloved buses | 224
Wallace’s Well
A taste of freedom | 226
The Whangie
A walk in royal footsteps | 228
The Women’s Library
Feminism, facts and fun | 230