Glasgow's west end
Top attractions
Glasgow's west end is home to some of the city's most popular attractions.
Riverside Museum and the Tall Ship: Discover Glasgow’s transport collection and maritime history on the banks of the River Clyde. Kids love the interactive exhibits and the Clyde-built Tall Ship. Find out more at Glasgow Life and the Tall Ship.
Kelvingrove Park: A beautiful green space surrounded by landmarks. The park provides a leafy backdrop to the University of Glasgow and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum: Listed in Lonely Planet’s 500 Best Travel Experiences in the World, this is a must-see. Explore 22 gallery spaces featuring everything from Ancient Egyptian artefacts to stunning animal displays. Visit Glasgow Life for more details.
University of Glasgow: A Gothic masterpiece said to be the real-life inspiration behind Hogwarts. Explore the historic campus, it's cloisters, and see why it’s a favourite filming location for Hollywood blockbusters.
Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery: Housed within the university, and famed for being the oldest museum in Scotland. It is home to many artefacts including parts of the Antonine Wall.
Mackintosh House. Across from the main University building, Mackintosh House is a recreation of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife, artist Margaret Macdonald's home. It offers a glimpse into the life of Scotland's most famous architect and designer. Find out more at
Visit the University of Glasgow for more on each of its attractions.
Kelvin Hall: A venue for all ages with soft play, climbing walls, and state-of-the-art collections. It also houses the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive. Tours are free; check out Glasgow Life for more details.
Streets worth exploring
The west end lends itself to a lazy wander along the historic streets, riverside walkways and cobbled lanes.
Take a wander along Great Western Road, one of the city’s longest streets. Here you’ll find vintage shops, old-fashioned street lamps, churches transformed into arts spaces and leafy parks. It’s no wonder Great Western Road was named the third coolest street in the world by Time Out.
Contrast this with a visit to Ashton Lane, a cobbled lane strung with fairy lights. It’s home to popular restaurants, bars, and a boutique cinema.
Thrifters will love the independent retailers and vintage tearooms on Dowanside Lane, De Courcy’s Arcade in Cresswell Lane, and Ruthven Mews Arcade. Visit our independent shopping page for more details.
Eat and drink
The west end is home to Glasgow’s 2 Michelin-starred restaurants:
Cail Bruich: Meaning ‘eat well’ in Gaelic, this fine dining spot uses hand-foraged local ingredients. View menus at Cail Bruich.
Unalome by Graeme Cheevers: Modern European dining from an award-winning chef. See the menu at Unalome.
Local favourites include:
Ubiquitous Chip: Scottish fare in a leafy courtyard. Visit Ubiquitous Chip to book.
Eusebi’s Deli: Family-run Italian dining. Find out more at Eusebi's Deli.
Stravaigin: Scottish produce with innovative flavours within a cosy setting. Book at Stravaigin.
For cosy pubs 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 Arlington Bar and The Drake for more information. Or visit our cosy pubs page for more options.
Cool neighbourhoods
Kelvinbridge
Named one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods by Time Out, Kelvinbridge is packed with historic architecture, green spaces and a thriving café scene. Grab a table at Inn Deep, built into an arch beneath the bridge, and enjoy craft beer overlooking the river. Visit Inn Deep for more information.
Finnieston
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. Finnieston has so much to offer that we’ve created a dedicated page. Visit our Finnieston neighbourhood page.
Partick
Praised for its coffee shops and community feel, Partick is home to Victoria Park and the Glasgow Warriors. Partick is also home to Gaga Kitchen and Bar, awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025 for their South East Asian cuisine and cocktails. Check out Gaga Kitchen and Bar to book.
Parks and green spaces
The west end is known for its leafy parks.
Kelvingrove Park: Enjoy bowling greens, tennis courts, a skatepark, the restored Kelvingrove Bandstand, and beautiful city views from the top.
Botanic Gardens: Follow the Kelvin Walkway to reach this park with rose gardens, tree trails, woodland river walks, and the stunning Kibble Palace glasshouse. The A-listed Victorian glasshouse is considered one of the finest glasshouse structures in the world. Inside, there is a collection of significant plants alongside classical marble statues.
Victoria Park: 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.
Music and arts
The west end hosts some of Glasgow’s biggest cultural events:
Glasgow Mela: Scotland's biggest South Asian festival, celebrating with music and food in Kelvingrove Park. Find out more at Glasgow Life.
Summer Nights at the Bandstand: A series of concerts at The Kelvingrove Bandstand, always with a stellar line-up. Follow Summer Nights on Instagram to keep up to date.
WestFest: A month of parades, music, films, and talks. Check out WestFest for more.
Bard in the Botanics: A selection of Shakespeare's plays performed in the Botanic Gardens each summer. Visit Bard in the Botanics for details.
For comedy, head to The Stand, one of the best comedy clubs in the UK. It showcases local and touring acts. Find more details on our comedy page.
Theatre lovers can enjoy shows at Òran Mór, Cottiers Theatre and Websters Theatre, all housed in beautifully restored churches. Don't miss the UK’s most successful lunchtime theatre show A Play, A Pie, and A Pint at Òran Mór too.
Check out our theatre and performance page for more about what’s on offer across the city.
Want to find out about another area of the city? Visit our neighbourhood page to decide where to explore next.
Article last updated: October 2025
