Location: Glasgow
Top Things to do in Glasgow
Countries
Things to do in Glasgow, Scotland: The Best Literary, Art & Music Tours
As Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow is famed for its culture, shopping and people. Spend your day exploring a wide range of fascinating free museums and galleries, enjoying the UK’s best shopping outside of London, and taking advantage of tips from friendly local people on the city’s hidden gems — then choose from 130+ weekly musical events for a special night out. Glasgow is also the perfect base for exploring more of Scotland, with great connections to the Highlands and the islands.
Restaurants in Glasgow
1. A Silent Disco Adventure in Glasgow
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Join the Silent Adventures Team as we take you on a journey of song and dance through the famous streets of Glasgow. This musically instructed adventure aims to have your funky moves on display and your pop star voices serenading the people of the city! Hi-tech headsets will fill your body with beats, theme songs and your favourite hits across the decades. As your inhibitions evaporate and laughter takes over, you will be part of the best all dance, all singing walking tour in town! It's a Flash Mob, it's a Silent Disco, it’s a roaming, rhythmic riot through Glasgow!
Inclusions: Advanced radio headsets, Adventure Host
Exclusions: Please be aware that we have no place to store valuables
Reviewed By lologeorge69
A group of 5 friends were in town celebrating my 50th birthday. Our group was the 430 pm group and James was our leader. Admittedly, most of the 40 of us were women and most were pleasantly buzzed, but buzzed or not, this was the most fun activity I have been a part of in a very long time. It is a dance party through the royal.mile. Everyone is dancing and singing . Spectators were getting out their phones and taking pictures the whole time. We were encouraged by our fearless leader to interact with people we ran into during our tour. It was SO MUCH FUN. If silent adventures comes to your town, DO IT. You will not regret it. I would do this all over again. My husband and some friends chose not to go and they most definitely regret it. A total party. Thank you thank you thank you James.
2. Merchant City Music Walking Tour of Glasgow
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 39 reviews
Explore Glasgow's music scene with this two hour guided walking tour of iconic venues in the Merchant City and East End. Entertaining and informative, this tour has all the stories about the legendary performers who have stayed, played and made music in Glasgow. The city has an unrivalled reputation for producing brilliant bands, making memorable music and putting on unforgettable shows. This tour will show you how and why. Our guides are enthusiastic music fans and writers who are immersed in Glasgow’s cultural life. The tour finishes at the hip and happening Mono Café Bar where customers can enjoy a 20% discount on food. You don't need to be a music expert to enjoy the tour and even if you are, you may still learn new things. Jam-packed with anecdotes, the tour is designed to show a different side of Glasgow to both visitors and locals.
Inclusions: Includes voucher for 20% discount on food at Mono Cafe Bar.
Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified
Reviewed By pamela212021
Excellent tour with Fiona as our very informative, knowledgeable guide. We have already recommended to family and friends.
3. Glasgow's Music Mile Walking Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 27 reviews
Explore Glasgow's famous music scene with a two hour guided walk around the city's music mile. From the Royal Concert Hall to the famous King Tut’s, via Glasgow's Conservatoire, this is a whistle-stop guide around the city centre, an area teeming with music venues past and present. Glasgow has an unrivalled reputation for producing brilliant bands, making memorable music and putting on unforgettable shows. Walk with us and we will show you why. The guides are enthusiastic music fans, performers and writers who are immersed in Glasgow’s cultural life. A little over a mile in length, the Music Mile tour covers diverse genres and eras from dancehall and traditional jazz to punk, pop, and today's guitar heroes. It has plenty of detail for the dedicated music fans but, like all our tours, it is packed with great stories that will entertain the casual fan who wants a different way to see the city.
Inclusions: Tour Guide
Exclusions: Food and drinks
Reviewed By H2835IDangelab
I'm a Glaswegian and been listening to Scottish bands all my life and I still learned plenty on this excellent walking tour. Fiona is a fantastic host, able to answer questions knowledgeably and accept comments with good humour. The route is comprehensive but not too challenging so anyone with mobility issues could cope easily. Once covid restrictions lift finish the tour with a drink and maybe browse for music from the bands you've heard about in Monorail.
4. Glasgow Street Art Walking Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 23 reviews
Discover a different side to Glasgow on this street art and modern culture tour. On this 1.5 hour walk there’s no cathedrals, grand buildings or monuments, this is the real Glasgow. You’ll meander down alleys and under bridges to uncover some of the city’s most beautiful pieces of art that are taking over the walls by storm. From world-renowned heroes to local artists you’ll hear the stories and inspiration behind each piece whilst learning about how the art scene in Glasgow has developed dramatically over the last decade and beyond. Not only that, you will also hear about modern life in the city today, it’s nightlife, creative industries and much more. The vibrancy of Glasgow is just waiting to be explored and is something you shouldn’t miss out on during your trip to this cultural powerhouse. This tour is available every day at 2pm. Advance booking is essential. Private tours are available on request.
Inclusions: Guide
Exclusions:
Reviewed By 389natb
Great way to spend a chilly evening. Christie, was our guide and she was fantastic. Great wee chanter. Tour was definitely worth the cold toes. I'm Glasgow born and raised and it's incredible how much I never knew about the history of the city, particularly the horrible side to it. Definitely something I'll be recommending to friends and family and I can't wait to show my young nieces around the city and tell them everything I've learned.
5. Glasgow City Centre Walking Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 191 reviews
Get your bearings and discover Glasgow through a local ‘weegies’ eyes. A must do on any visit to Glasgow. On our most popular tour, you will witness and learn about our rich, turbulent history and how it has shaped Glasgow into the vibrant city it is today. The tour lasts around 1.5-2 hours and will incorporate a small break. Throughout the tour you will take a look at some of the famous and lesser known figures to Glasgow, such as our patron saint St Mungo, and even Dr Who! Hear their stories as we travel through the centuries and explore what Glasgow has to offer. This tour runs everyday at 10:30am, leaving from Glasgow City Chambers by George Square. (and 2pm during summer)
Inclusions: 1.5 hour walking tour, Historical and cultural insight to Glasgow, Professional guide, Local drink tasting
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By Exploration728923
Realy enjoyed my tour , even though it was a damp dreich summers day in Glasgow , Our tour guide karen , brightened up our day with her knowledge ,and her bubbly personality , The 2 hrs flew in , and I can’t praise the experience enough . The wall art we saw was amazing
6. Discover Glasgow. Full day private tour in Mercedes Benz people carrier.
The Discover Glasgow full day tour allows you to discover the city at your own speed. You will discover the city an air conditioned executive Mercedes Benz. The tour combines all of Glasgow's most famous attractions along with some hidden gems. You will be accompanied by a knowledgeable local driver/ guide who will be able to give background information to the attractions and answer any of your questions. The tour is very informal and laid back if you want to stay longer at an attraction or go somewhere not listed no problem it's your day and we can make the tour to suit you. Chilled water, soft drinks and tasty treats will be available throughout the tour free of charge.
Inclusions: Free chilled bottled water will be available throughout the tour., Free chilled soft drinks will be available throughout the tour., There will be free snacks available of crisps and chocolate., Phone chargers will be provided., Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, Parking Fees, Entry to all museums are free. Travellers can leave a voluntary donation.
Exclusions: Tennents brewery tour., Clydeside distillery tour., Gratuities
Reviewed By RMSScotland
John was punctual, friendly and professional. An excellent service and great value. He was flexible and accommodating due to flight delay on our return journey. Would highly recommended and will use again in future.
7. The Ayrshire Coast,Culzean Castle and Robert Burns (1 to 8 people available)
Come with us and enjoy this unique encounter with Scotland’s favourite son, Robert Burns. Experience the famous sites in Alloway where Burns lived and was inspired to write his most famous work. We will also discover the beauty of the Ayrshire coast and the stunning Culzean castle and its pleasure gardens.
Inclusions: Snacks, Bottled water, Alcoholic Beverages, Guided tour of the Burns Cottage by an 18th century themed guide., Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation
Exclusions: Entrance fees to visitor attractions., Lunch
Reviewed By terryw717
We had a holiday booked with another tour company that was to take us to the Isle of Skye from Glasgow. Through research we wanted to to see a bit more of Scotland whist we were there after that tour finished (we are from down south) and more than just Skye. We found Alba Experiences through Trip Adviser and were impressed with the previous reviews and also the tour and it’s description. This was “The Braveheart Experience - Private 1 day tour (1 to 8 People) Sunday 13th September 2020” Then with just two weeks to our original tour, the other company cancelled the holiday leaving us with just that one day tour with Alba Experiences. We had already our own flights booked plus the hotels for before and after it. As we were so impressed with Alba Experiences and how they communicated with us, we asked about them combining two tours that would have been for the same dates as the original and giving us one day for free time before the Braveheart Tour. This was the “Discover Inveraray And The Scottish Countryside” a tour from Glasgow to Oban and then the “Experience the Isle of Skye” a four day tour of Skye. Very bespoke for our needs. Luck was on our side and a bespoke tour was booked. Alba Experiences also recommended Hotels that we should book and additionally that if we wanted to eat out at night that we should also book them in advance as they were known to be booking fast. This proved invaluable. Day one (7th Sept) of the tour we met James McInlay, our tour guide and driver, and were so impressed with the cleanliness of his tour bus and the fact that he was ready well before our set meeting time, in fact every day James would be waiting for us with the tour bus clean again for the next days adventures. The following might sound like a list, but we packed so much in and I’m not sure if I am limited with this review. It was not a list, but a perfect guided tour of the areas we went to with history lessons and areas pointed out that we would surely missed if trying to do this ourselves. James delivered through professionalism and passion for his country and its history and beauty something more than we could have ever imagined. Our disappointment with the original tour by the other company being cancelled soon faded away and proved to be our win. Back to day one, we traveled from Bishopton towards Oban, taking in the beautiful town of Luss and it’s Parish Church where the only outdoor Viking Hogback stone is, Inveraray Castle and Jail, an area of ancient (4500 years old) rock art, the Nether Largie Standing Stones from 3200 years ago and the Kilmartin Grave Slabs. All this in one day. Day two (8th Sept) started with a visit to McCraigs Tower, then on to Castle Stalker, Glenfinan Monument and Viaduct (Harry Potter recent fame), Eilean Castle and Carbost Bridge. Day three (9th Sep) we went to the Kilted Rock, the area known as the Quiraing (possibly my favourite), Flora MacDonalds grave, Fairy Pools at Glen Brittle and back to our Hotel in Portree. Day four (10th Sept), Neist Point, Dunvegan Castle (you simply must go there), Fairy Pools (take hiking boots as it can sometimes get a bit wet but worth it). Day five (11th Sept), Carbost Bridge again with even better views, Urquart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, Invermoriston Bridge, Fort Augustus, Three Sisters Mountain range and back to Bishopton for the end of our bespoke tour. We were to have a Seaplane adventure the next day with another company, alas the weather had other ideas and it got understandably cancelled. Then on the 13th Sept we started the original tour we booked with Alba Experineces, to visit the National Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle, ending with a stop at the Bannockburn Visitor Centre on the site of the decisive Bannockburn Battle. Alas, the visitor centre was closed and James had already made alternative arrangements and we visited Doune Castle (Monty Python fame), Rob Roy’s grave and the Falls of Falloch. These were so impressive from the rains over the previous days. James quickly got to know our likes and made slight adaptations to the tour, we were able to linger longer where we wanted, he found our passion for local food and took us to wonderful eateries. With out any doubt, we will return to see more, for there is more, and there is only one company that we would choose, Alba Experiences. I can not rate them high enough. I am limited to just 10 pictures, through James’s guidance with his professional photography skills I took many.
TAGS
