Glasgow Tour Day 2
Glasgow Route: Stop 1
Welcome to the John Gray Online Tour: Glasgow Tour Day 2.
Welcome back to our tour of Glasgow! I hope you had a pleasant evening and a good rest followed by a good Scottish breakfast. Today we will see more of Glasgow and I will show you more amazing sights to see while you are here.
Tour information:
This second day of the tour we will start at <location> <description> .
Day 2 Location 1
This is where your journey starts at the train station in Glasgow.
Give this a wee visit, whether you arrive by train or just walk into it. Built around 1879 at a cost of 2 million pounds, which was no mean feat, as the big problem was how to get across the River Clyde, as at this time, there were no bridges for trains yet.
The first train bridge that was built was the Gordon Street Bridge, built in 1879 by Sir William Arrol, who was also later responsible for building the Forth Road Bridge.
These bridges made it possible for trains to cross the Clyde and for the station to be built.
Look around in the Station at the amazing build and when finished, head out via Gordon Street and go down the street towards the Gallery Of Modern Art.
Directions
As you leave the station onto Gordon Street, turn right and walk along Gordon street. You will pass Union Street, Mitchell Street and Buchanan Street and then arrive at the Gallery of Modern Art. (Remember, keep looking up and around you as the buildings are magnificent.)
At the front of the Gallery Of Modern Art you'll find the Statue Of the Duke of Wellington.
Day 2 Location 2
History of the Duke of Wellington Statue
Erected in 1844 at the centre of Royal Exchange Square, the bronze sculpture features the celebrated military strategist and former Prime Minister who helped to defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Sir Arthur sits proudly on his horse Copenhagen in the structure, which was sculpted by Italian artist Carlo Marochetti.
It was created in honour of the ending of the Napoleonic wars in what was considered to be the second city of the British Empire at the height of its powers.
In 2013, Glasgow City Council considered to raise the height of the statue's plinth to curb the "cone-ing", but they were forced to withdraw them after widespread public opposition.
The ninth and current Duke of Wellington, who recently wrote a book about his ancestor, finds the cone to be an amusing tribute, speaking about the statue in 2019, he said: "I was suprised. It has become, I realise, an iconic image of Glasgow. I think it's amusing in a way and bizarre in another way."
Directions
After your visit to the Duke, turn left up Queen Street towards George Square.
Day 2 Location 3
1 of 6 Squares, in Glasgow, named after King George 3rd, surrounded by some of Glasgow’s finest architecture, one building in particular being The City Chambers (AKA Palatial Municipal Chambers) who’s foundation stone was set around 1883.
There are many important statues in the Square itself, Robert Burns, James Watt, Robert Peel and the centre piece, that of Sir Walter Scott. We also have the Glasgow Cenotaph, built to remember the fallen Glasgow Soldiers of the first world war. Conceived in 1921 and unveiled by Field Marshall Earl Haig in 1924.
Directions
From George Square you follow George Street towards the Glasgow City Chambers, keeping that on your right, you will find John Street.
Day 2 Location 4
Behind the City Chambers is John Street, known by the many who watch Outlander as the registry office where Frank and Claire get married, (though it is actually where the local fines are paid for and processed by the city council).
Directions
Leave John Street and return right onto George Street and walk along until you come to High Street. Turn left here and up the hill to see a plethora of old Glasgow buildings and places. Glasgow Cathedral, St Mungo’s Church, the oldest house in Glasgow and Necropolis
Day 2 Location 5
Glasgow Cathedral has to be seen in person to behold its magnificence. At its heart is the tomb of St Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow, and to whom the Cathedral is dedicated to.
The Cathedral has gone through many transformations in its life from the 5th Century as a timber and wattle to the stone cathedral we see today.
In the TV show, Outlander it was used as the L’hopital des Agnes, where Claire volunteered as a nurse.
You may visit the Cathedral during various opening times. There are masses held at times and you can book a tour if you wish to learn more about this magnificent Cathedral. More info on the website of Glasgow Cathedral .
Day 2 location 6
Situated behind the Cathedral is the Glasgow Necropolis, this is a Victorian cemetery that was established in 1832.
It has become famous for many reasons. The main bridge crossing to the necropolis is called “The Bridge of Sighs”, as it took the dead from the living to their final resting place.
Many of the most famous statues/sculptures were designed by artists like Charles Rennie Mackintosh, William Mossman and Alexander Thomson.
There are around 50,000 internments and many of the graves are unmarked.
The newest memorials are to still-born babies, the Korean War and Glaswegian recipients of the Victoria Cross.
Directions
Now we head back down High Street, all the way down to Glasgow cross where we have the old TollBooth, (a Mercat cross if you will) keep going down through Saltmarket until you reach the High Court of justiciary and on the left you will find the famous Glasgow Green…Step into the green, through the McLennan Arch, past Nelsons monument and look left to the Peoples Palace of Glasgow. It may be open but it is under refurbishment as I write this.
Day 2 location 7
The Peoples Palace (and Winter Gardens) were opened in Glasgow on 22nd January 1898 by the 5th Earl of Roseberry.
The museum on the ground floor tells the story of Glasgow from 1750 right through to modern times and shows how Glasgow became what we see today.
At the rear of the building there is a large conservatory that houses many exotic plants from around the world.
At the time of creating this tour, it may not be possible to gain entry to the building due to extensive renovations going on, however, it is still worthy of a visit to see the building and how its construction sits in the area.
Directions
Retrace your steps back up to Saltmarket, stay on the right footpath and you will see St Andrews Street, turn left and marvel at the splendor of the former St Andrews Parish church.
Day 2 location 8
The first Presbyterian Church built after the reformation in Glasgow, between 1739 and 1756, was built by master Mason Mungo Naismith, with the square surrounding it, built by the Tobacco Lords of Glasgow (a demonstration of their power and wealth) around 1786.
Before the completion of the Church, Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite Army camped in its surrounding walls in 1745 on their return from England.
On 23rd November 1785, crowds gathered to watch Vincenzo Lunardi take off in a hot air balloon, which eventually landed in Hawick.
This was also the setting for Boston in the show Outlander.
Directions
Leaving the Square, turn right up to London Road, then left, past Glasgow Cross and down Trongate and Argyle street all the way back to Central Station. If you want to go shopping, you'll pass the St. Enoch Centre with many shops and food options. The bridge you are looking at is called the highland mans umbrella or the heelin’ mans umbrella….
This concludes our 2 day tour of Glasgow. I hope you have enjoyed this tour we made especially for you.
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Thank you and hope to see you around Scotland for more nice and simple tours you can do by yourself.
John Walker Gray