Visit Glasgow's west end - People Make Glasgow

Glasgow's
west end

The leafy west end of Glasgow is known for its top attractions, quirky lanes, amazing food scene and relaxed vibe. It has also made it onto many UK-wide 'coolest neighbourhood' lists.

Leafy parks

Bohemian vibes

Cafe culture

Independent shops

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Ashton Lane

Things to see and do

The Tall Ship sits berthed on the River Clyde beside the Riverside Museum. The silver modern building has a wave-like designed roof which spikes into a blue sky.

Along the River Clyde are a range of attractions that will appeal to all ages. The kids will love the waterfront attractions of the Riverside Museum and the Clyde-built Tall Ship, which explore Glasgow’s transport collection and maritime history. Both are free-to-visit. Find out more at glasgowlife.org.uk and thetallship.com.

Kelvingrove Park is another brilliant spot surrounded by things to do. The beautiful park provides a leafy backdrop to not one but two of the city's grandest buildings, the University of Glasgow and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

The exterior of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum shows the Victorian brown sandstone building with its turrets rising into a blue sky.

Listed in Lonely Planet's 500 Best Travel Experiences in the World, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a must-see attraction with a little bit of everything, from Ancient Egyptian artefacts to amazing animal displays. Visit glasgowlife.org.uk for more details on the 22 gallery spaces.

The University of Glasgow is a stunning piece of gothic architecture, which is said to be the real-life inspiration behind Hogwarts. Explore the historic campus and see why it's often used as a filming location for Hollywood blockbusters.

The grand spire of the University of Glasgow can be seen appearing between trees on all sides.

The University also houses the Hunterian Museum, famed for being the oldest museum in Scotland and home to artefacts including parts of the Antonine Wall. The neighbouring Hunterian Art Gallery is where you'll find Mackintosh House. The recreation of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife, artist Margaret Macdonald's home together offers a glimpse into the life of Scotland's most famous architect and designer.

Visit the University of Glasgow's website for details on taking a self-guided tour of the stunning Cloisters and for more on each of its attractions.

Looking down a main road, the domed roof of Kelvinhall is to one side with Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on the other side. Both are brown sandstone buildings that are Victorian in style.

Rounding off this amazing concentration of attractions is Kelvin Hall, which is home to soft play, climbing walls, state-of-the-art collections, including the National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive. Sound like a lot to take in? Don’t worry - tours are free-of-charge! Check out the full offering at kelvinhall.org.uk.

The west end lends itself to a lazy wander along the historic streets, riverside walkways and cobbled lanes. Walk down one of the city's longest roads, Great Western Road, and find vintage shops, old-fashioned street lamps, churches transformed into arts spaces, parks and more. It's no wonder Great Western Road was recently named the third 'coolest street in the world' by Time Out (August 2022).

People walk down a cobbled lane with quirky buildings either side, with hanging baskets of flowers and fairy lights overhead.

Contrast this with a visit to the cobbled lanes, the most well-known of which is Ashton Lane. Here you'll find popular restaurants, bars and a boutique cinema beneath a canopy of fairy-lights. Thrifters will love the independent retailers, vintage tearooms and antiques on the likes of Dowanside Lane, De Courcy's Arcade in Cresswell Lane and Ruthven Mews Arcade. Visit our Independent shopping page for details on where to shop for Glasgow gifts, homeware and more.

Hidden gems

The sweeping stone staircase in Kelvinbridge, the Sixty Steps, is Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s only public structure and is an architectural quirk.
Top tip - make sure your visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum coincides with the organ recitals which are daily at 1pm (3pm on Sundays).
Take in the atmosphere of Scotstoun Stadium by attending one of the Glasgow Warriors rugby union matches. Find out when their home fixtures are at glasgowwarriors.org.

Top places for food and drink

It's in the west end that you'll find Glasgow's 2 Michelin starred restaurants, Cail Bruich and Unalome by Graeme Cheevers.

Meaning ‘eat well’ in Gaelic, Cail Bruich offers fine dining with many ingredients hand-foraged from the local area. View sample menus at cailbruich.co.uk. Unalome by Graeme Cheevers offers fine dining by an award winning chef. View the modern European menu at unalomebygc.com.

People sit outside on a sunny day around tables in front of a white building with the sign 'Ubiquitous Chip' on the side.

You can't go wrong by visiting restaurants that are much-loved by the locals. There is the Ubiquitous Chip serving Scottish fare in a leafy courtyard or the family-run Eusebi’s Deli, serving the best of Italian cuisine. Visit ubiquitouschip.co.uk and visit eusebideli.com to find out more.

2 people sit at a bar chatting and smiling. They are under an interesting canopy of different shaped lights.

The well-known Stravaigin serves Scottish produce with innovative flavours within a cosy setting. They also have live music many evenings a week adding to the relaxed environment. Visit stravaigin.co.uk to book.

Named one of the '15 coolest places to eat around the world' by travel magazine Wanderlust, Hanoi Bike Shop offers tasty traditional Vietnamese fare. Visit Hanoi Bike Shop's website to book. Also making it onto top foodie lists is Number 16 on Byres Road - check out Number 16's modern Scottish menu online.

For cosy, Scottish drinking spots, make a stop at the Arlington Bar – it’s reputedly the resting place of the real Stone of Destiny! Those looking for some food to go with their drink should try The Drake, with its exposed stone walls, tweed-covered seats and a coal fire for a cosy feel. Visit arlingtonbar.co.uk and thedrakebar.co.uk for more information.

West end areas on 'cool & hip' lists

Finnieston

The sun is setting over the Finneston Strip of bars and restaurants. People sit outside one bar on a corner under a glow from outdoor lighting.

The area of Finnieston is described as “the hippest place in the UK” by The Times and was named one of the "top 10 coolest neighbourhoods in Europe" by The Independent. There area has so much to see and do that we've created a whole neighbourhood page dedicated to this district. Visit our Finnieston neighbourhood page for details on shopping, eating, culture and more.

Kelvinbridge

The Kelvinbridge area was named as one of the 'Top 50 Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World' by Time Out Magazine (2019). Taking the impressive number 37 spot, the area was praised for being packed with historic architecture, green spaces, a thriving cafe scene and warm community. Kelvinbridge is based in the middle of one of the city's longest roads, Great Western Road (recently named 'third best street in the world' by Time Out). Take a table at Inn Deep, which is built into an arch beneath the bridge and a craft beer, while overlooking the river. Visit inndeep.com.

Partick

Venturing further west, you may want to spare a little time to explore Partick, recently voted as 'one of the UK’s hippest neighbourhoods' by TravelSupermarket. Praised for its quality coffee shops and restaurants, there is great community feel with its popular farmers market, family-friendly Victoria Park and two favourite city sports teams – Partick Thistle and Glasgow Warriors. Partick just happens to be home to the Scotland's Restaurant of the Year (Scottish Bar and Pub Awards, 2022). Gaga Kitchen and Bar scooped the prize for their South East Asian cuisine and cocktails less than a year after opening. Check out gagaglasgow.com to book.

Parks and green spaces

Two people sit on a bench looking out on a green tree-lined view. The turrets of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum can be seen in the distance between trees.

The west end is known for its leafy parks. Kelvingrove Park is one for all ages with bowling greens, tennis courts, a skatepark, the restored Kelvingrove Bandstand and beautiful city views from the top.

Follow the Kelvin Walkway along the River Kelvin and you'll end up at another of the city's most popular parks, the Botanic Gardens. Home to a rose garden, tree trail, woodland river walks and the Kibble Palace. The A-listed Victorian glasshouse, Kibble Palace, is considered one of the finest glasshouse structures in the world, with a collection of significant plants alongside classical marble statues.

Flowerbeds in bloom sit in front of the domed glass-panelled Kibble Palace in the Botanic Gardens.

Victoria Park is known as one of Glasgow's prettiest parks, with landscaped gardens and floral displays. Find out more about each of the city's parks at Glasgow City Council's website.

Music and arts in the west end

People dancing on a stage in colourful clothing.

The multicultural Glasgow Mela based on the traditions of the Indian sub-continent takes over Kelvingrove Park each summer, with top performers from around the world, alongside some delicious food stalls. The restored Kelvingrove Bandstand sees a series of concerts take place each summer for Summer Nights Festival, with a stellar line-up each year.

The West End Festival brings a month-long series of events, with parades, music, films, talks and much more in one of Scotland's biggest community events of its kind. Whilst Bard in the Botanics brings a selection of Shakespeare's plays to the Botanic Gardens each summer.

Visit our top events and festivals page for more info.

If you prefer a more intimate setting for comedians, then The Stand in the Woodlands area of the west end is one of the best comedy clubs in the UK, showcasing local and touring acts.

Theatre lovers are well catered for in the west end with a number of former churches enjoying a new life as community theatres. The UK’s most successful lunchtime theatre show, A Play, A Pie, and A Pint runs in Òran Mór. Both Cottiers Theatre and Webster's Theatre have also been restored beautifully to become magical settings for theatre shows, gatherings, cultural events and dining.

Article last updated: September 2022