For visitors to Glasgow - The hop-on-hop-off tourist Bus

[Rob Lightbody]

Hi,

I just thought I'd share some local knowledge.

In Glasgow, we've focussed on the area around the Crowne Plaza for accommodation.  From this area, if you are able, you can walk along the riverside to the Riverside Transport Museum and Tall Ship which, if you've not been to it before, you can happily spend a few hours, not least at the QE2 model!

You can also walk from the Crowne Plaza, over the pedestrian railway bridge and to the West End of the city - parks, bars, restaurants and the university are all around.

Immediately adjacent to the Crowne Plaza are the Hydro (indoor arena), Clyde Auditorium, Exhibition Centre, Science Centre, IMAX Cinema and BBC Scotland (with ground floor café open to the public).

A hop-on-hop-off tourist bus operates regularly from outside the Hydro.  This will take you along to the Riverside Museum in 5 minutes, to Glasgow University in the heart of the West End in 15 minutes, Kelvingrove Museum in 20 minutes.  If you stay on it, of course, you'll see a large amount of what Glasgow has to offer, but it will take a fair bit of time.

The timetable will be similar to this (for conference time last year) - http://www.citysightseeingglasgow.co.uk/media/1083/27-may-24-sep-16.pdf

http://www.citysightseeingglasgow.co.uk/

[Lynda Bradford]

All aboard the Glasgow hop-on-hop-off bus for a tour of Glasgow. 

A good place to join the bus at Stop1 at George Square, but before boarding I would recommend that you take a  tour of Glasgow City Chambers. Tours take place at 10.30 am and 2.30 pm Monday to Friday. You can just walk in off the street and ask if there are places on the tour, but there could be restriction on what you can see as it is a working building. 
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=19136

Stop 2: on the tour is for Glasgow Cathedral, which is well worth getting off the bus for a visit. "The first stone built Glasgow Cathedral was dedicated in the presence of King David I in 1136. The present building was consecrated in 1197. Since that same period the Cathedral has never been unroofed and the worship of God has been carried out within its walls for more than 800 years."
http://www.glasgowcathedral.org/visiting/welcome-2/

The Provand's Lordship house the oldest house in Glasgow, built in 1471 is near to the Cathedral and worth a visit
http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/provands-lordship/Pages/default.aspx

Stop 3: High Street for Merchant City, which is where the tobacco lords had their warehouses in the 18th century.  Lots of shops and restaurants in this area.  The Merchant City is within easy walking distance from George Square, where the bus started the tour.  Gallery of modern art also in this area
https://peoplemakeglasgow.com/discover/districts/merchant-city

Stop 4:  The Glasgow Barras - not my favourite place, but then again I do not like markets
http://www.theglasgowbarras.com

Stop 5: People's Palace and Winter Gardens "Set in historic Glasgow Green, the oldest public space in Glasgow, the People’s Palace looks at the development of Glasgow and the story of its people, from the 1700s to the late 20th century. Covering everything from Tobacco Lords to Trade Unions, there are objects, images and personal stories revealing the history of this great city."   https://peoplemakeglasgow.com/things-to-do/museums-galleries/peoples-palace-winter-garden 
Note:  the above website has good links to other museums in Glasgow

Stop 6: St Enoch's Centre Shopping centre that was built on what was previously the St Enoch's station. 
Stop 7: St Vincent Place
Stop 8: Radison Hotel
Stop 9: Argyll Street Hotels
Stop 10: Hilton Garden Hotel


Stop 11: Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre SECC Also stop for Hydro,Crowne Plaza Hotel, Premier Inn Hotel, Pacific Quay, BBC,  Science Centre, Imax cinema.  Rob has also listed above.
 
Stop 12: Riverside Museum.  Well worth a visit
https://peoplemakeglasgow.com/things-to-do/museums-galleries/riverside-museum/riverside-museum-scotlands-museum-of-transport-and-travel

Stop 13: Kelvin Way
Stop 14: Glasgow University

Stop 15:  Bar Soba. I think this is a restaurant and bar, but have no knowledge of any significance other than a bus stop.  However, if you wanted to visit Botanical Gardens it is a short walk from here.  I have not visited for many years but friends from USA visited last year and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Botanic_Gardens
 
Stop 16: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which is one of my favourite museums.  A must see if Salvador Dali's painting of Christ of St John of the Cross.  It was a controversial purchase in 1952 but now it is one of the museums best loved paintings. 
http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/kelvingrove/about/Pages/default.aspx

If you can time your visit to be there for 1pm Monday to Saturday or 3pm on a Sunday you can enjoy the famous organ recital.
http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/kelvingrove/organ-recitals/Pages/default.aspx

There is also a nice cafe/restaurant in the basement area of the museum.

Stop 17: Kelvingrove Hotels
Stop 18: Charing Cross.  The Mitchell Library is near to this stop
http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries/the-mitchell-library/Pages/About-Mitchell-Library.aspx

Stop 19: Glasgow School of Art: Unfortunately as a result of a fire in the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Glasgow School of Art building, tours of this magnificent building are not available.  However you could stop off at the new visitors centre at the new School or Art or take one of their tours. 
http://www.gsa.ac.uk/visit-gsa/

Stop 20: Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama RSAMD.
Stop 21: Bus station
Stop 22:  George Square 

I hope you have enjoyed our little tour of Glasgow, where there is so much more to see and do that is not on this tour. 

We hope you have you booked your ticket for QE2 Story QE2 50 year conference on 22 September  when you can join us for a fantastic event to celebrate QE2's 50th anniversary.  On Saturday 23 September the QE2 Story is organising a return trip down the River Clyde to the site of the former John Brown's shipyard at Clydebank where you have the option to go up to the top of the Titan Crane.  https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,7579.msg84467.html#msg84467

[Roy Warrender]

Hi I did the HOHO Bus trip when I was last in Glasgow, Found it a very convenient way to find most of the interesting sites