When Ben and I were in Scotland, we decided to take a quick day trip from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Whenever we travel, we try to hit as many places as we can. We’d both rather explore a few different spots then get comfortable in one, so we planned this day trip to mix things up a bit!
I know a lot of people typically look to do some type of day trip when they’re in Edinburgh, so I just wanted to share our Glasgow experience in case the city was at the top of your list!
HOW WE GOT THERE
We took the train from Edinburgh Waverley Station to Glasgow Central and it was about an hour long ride and tickets were $15 each way. There are about 175 trains per day day that go between the two cities, so you can just check the times online at ScotRail.com and grab your tickets when you get to the station!
WHAT TO DO:
So day trips can be a little tricky because you have a limited amount of time to see a lot of really cool things. We made a list on the train of our top picks using the Google Trips app and then knocked them off one by one.
I will say that we had some rough weather when we got to Glasgow; it was the only day of our trip where it rained non-stop. Needless to say we were pretty soggy by the end of the day, but we still saw a lot of what the city had to offer! Below were some of our favorite stops:
Glasgow Cathedral: The oldest Cathedral on mainland Scotland and the oldest building in Glasgow. The interior is gorgeous and definitely worth a visit. It’s also home to some scenes from the show Outlander š
Glasgow Green // People’s Palace: The Glasgow Green is the cities oldest park and it’s so dang pretty! It sits on 136 acres and is walking distance from the city center. If you’re visiting on a cold or rainy day, the People’s Palace is a great stop as well. It’s a museum and glasshouse in the park that covers the city’s social history.
The Lighthouse: The Lighthouse was once the office building of the Glasgow Herald newspaper, but was transformed into a 7-story architecture & design center. Admission is free and you can spend some time checking out the different exhibits or taking in the view of the city from the top!
Buchanan Street: This is one of the main shopping areas in Glasgow and home to a ton of high class shops and architectural gems.
George Square: This is one of six squares in the city center, but it’s the main spot for tourists and a popular event venue. It was named after King George III and it’s surrounded by important buildings such as the Municipal Chambers {home to Glasgow’s City Council} and a ton of statues and monuments.
Pollok Country Park: Named Britain’s Best Park in 2006 and Europe’s Best Park in 2008. If that isn’t reason enough to check it out, then go and let the beautiful landscaping speak for itself! This would be such a great spot to picnic in the summer time!
Gallery of Modern Art: Another great spot to check out if it’s raining out or if you just love yourself some art! This the main gallery of contemporary art in Glasgow and it has a ton of exhibits!
West End: A really cool area located near the University of Glasgow. If you’re looking for a fun bar, delicious dinner or some funky shops, this is your spot. Stroll down Hidden Lane to check out a secret community of artists and designers, grab a drink at Ćran MĆ³r located in the old Kelvinside Parish Church and make a reservation for dinner at one of Glasgow’s finest restaurants the Ubiquitous Chip.
Robert Graham: Just a little PSA for any ci-gar lovers out there that might be reading this blog! Ben did a bunch of research before we left on where to buy cigars in Scotland and found Robert Graham in Glasgow. My cigar knowledge is limited, but they had a lot of them—they looked good, v brown—he purchased some—they lived in my jacket the rest of the day because, rain.
WHERE TO EAT:
Since we just did a day trip, we only really ate at three spots, but I’m going to share those below and then just list a few other restaurants that were recommended to us.
Picnic: We were a few days into our trip by the time we hit Glasgow, so we were basically just giant walking balls of fried haggis. We were on the hunt to find something green for lunch and stumbled upon Picnic. Cue the choir. It was a casual eatery in the center of the city that served healthy, whole, plant based food. If you go, grab a smoothie and the brown rice bowl!
Hanoi Bike Shop: Our favorite meal of the entire trip. This restaurant is off the beaten path and is located down an alley in Glasgow’s West End. It’s quirky and lively and serves up some delicious Vietnamese street food. If you go, order the Feed Me special off the menu. For $30 you’ll get to try 10 or so different dishes that the chef prepares specially for you!
Loop Ice Cream: Not going to lie, this place had the same color pallet and awning as Whataburger, sooo we had to go in. We were stuffed from our dinner at Hanoi Bike Shop, but decided to grab a little something sweet to finish the night off. Note: Nothing here is little. Their signature dish was a huge bowl of ice cream with a churro wrapped around it. It was delicious, but Ben almost died. Evidence below.
Recommended To Us:
Brel: Located in the West End, this spot sports cool decor, a sprawling menu and has one of the only beer gardens in the city.
Ox and Finch: If you’re looking for small plates, this place is for you. The food has a Mediterranean-via-Scotland feel and is said to be delicious!
Number 16: An intimate spot that features an affordable Euro-bistro menu. While you might be shoulder to shoulder with the table next to you, the food is known to be worth it!
Cottiers: Cottiers is situated on the first floor of a former church on Hyndland Street in the West End of Glasgow. The space hosts a bar, theater and signature restaurant called Leiper’s Attic!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Glasgow is the perfect day trip from Edinburgh and a great spot if you’re looking to see another major city in Scotland. They had some beautiful sites and delicious food #hanoibikeshopforever.
