Seven Cool Things to do in Glasgow

Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and is packed full of cool and quirky things to do. Whether you’re in town for a single day or several, there are an exceptional number of ways to keep yourself entertained. Families, friends and solo travellers can all explore, play and discover new things to your heart’s content.

So, if you’ve already checked into Leonardo Hotel Glasgow and you aren’t sure where to head first, this list should whet your appetite.

BRITANNIA PANOPTICON

Keith Edkins / The Britannia, Trongate

113-117 Trongate Glasgow G1 5HD

Claiming to be the world’s oldest surviving music hall, the Britannia Panopticon hosts regular shows and events, day and night. They offer recreations of the finest music hall shows and silent film viewings through the ages, as well as more modern shows such as the Drag-Opticon Show. As the name suggests, this is a place where you could see just anything. Head here if you fancy something new, old or downright bizarre.

GOVANHILL BATHS

By Stinglehammer [CC BY-SA 4.0], from Wikimedia Commons

126 Calder Street, G42 7QP

Though the water is long gone, these baths still stand proud and are now used to host art installations, yoga classes and even an annual carnival each August. This building is a shining example of how a community can pull together to save a local gem. Though it had been abandoned in disrepair for 10 years, the community have restored it and the building is now used every single day. Most of the Edwardian features remain, making this building worth a tour, even if you choose not to join in with any of the events or activities.

SHARMANKA KINETIC THEATRE

By Stinglehammer [CC BY-SA 4.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Trongate 103, G1 5HD

Sharmanka – the Russian word for barrel-organ – is home to a collection of kinemats, or moving mechanical sculptures. The shows last either 40 or 60 minutes and are performed for an intimate audience of just 25 people at any one time. The choreography combined with synchronised light and music offers stories that are funny and tragic, reflecting the human condition in what has been described as a robotic ballet. It is weird and wonderful, grotesque and bizarre and you really shouldn’t miss your chance to see it.

UBIQUITOUS CHIP

By Ben Sutherland, from Flickr

12 Ashton Lane, G12 8SJ

You’ll no doubt be wanting to sample some local fare while you’re up in Glasgow, and Ubiquitous Chip has to be on your list of places to go. For one thing, this is the home of the smallest pub in Scotland, Wee Pub, and the Brasserie which, underneath the Victorian iron trusses, presents plates that are more like works of art than food! For a post-dinner tipple, pop in for a bespoke cocktail or sample one of the many wines and whiskies on offer.

ESCAPE GLASGOW

Baltic Chambers, 50 Wellington St, G2 6HJ

With five escape rooms to choose from including two wizard themed rooms where you can race against your friends, and a Sherlock Holmes room where you find yourself working for Moriarty, Escape Glasgow is a prime spot for afternoon fun. combining your powers of observation and problem-solving skills, your group will have 60 minutes to break free and win the challenge.

ÒRAN MÓR

By Tim Parker, from Flickr

Top of Byres Road, G12 8QX

A midday pint is often reserved for special occasions and watching the footie, but Òran Mór have introduced a third option: A Play, A Pie and A Pint. This lunchtime spot has been attracting people since 2004 and shows no signs of its popularity letting up. In fact, they are attracting acclaimed playwrights from around the world and offer a wide variety of shows. So grab your pint and pie and settle down for some great theatre.

GLASGOW VINTAGE & FLEA MARKET

17 Bain St, G40 2JZ

This market takes place once a month, but there are regular pop-ups that appear all over the city in between. It’s one of the most popular markets in the whole of Scotland and is the perfect place to find all sorts of vintage clothing and retro homeware. You can easily spend an afternoon here rifling through the racks, and you never know what weird and wonderful things you might find.

Glasgow is the city of cool and there’s simply so much to do here that no list can quite do it justice. However, if you are going to start anywhere, any one of these activities will set you up for a weekend of fun and adventure. Get planning your next trip to Scotland’s largest city with Leonardo Hotel Glasgow.