Kelvingrove Park is a sprawling Victorian landscape defined by the winding banks of the River Kelvin and the grand, soaring spires of the surrounding West End architecture. Established in eighteen fifty-two, it was the first purpose-built…
West End and Ashton Lane
This walk guides you through the heart of Glasgow's bohemian West End, from scenic park trails and gothic university cloisters to the bustling shops of Byres Road and the fairy-lit pubs of Ashton Lane.
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1. Kelvingrove Park
2. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a massive, Spanish Baroque-style palace built from red Locharbriggs sandstone. It sits prominently on the banks of the River Kelvin, designed by architects Sir John W. Simpson and E. J. Milner…
3. University of Glasgow Cloisters
The Cloisters at the University of Glasgow are defined by a series of heavy, Gothic Revival stone arches and fluted columns that support the structure of Bute Hall above. While frequently referred to as cloisters, this space is formally an…
4. Hunterian Art Gallery
The Hunterian Art Gallery is distinguished by its modern, purpose-built structure situated beside the towering University of Glasgow library on Hillhead Street. It holds the title of Scotland’s oldest public museum, an institution that…
5. Byres Road
Byres Road is recognizable by its long, straight stretch of traditional sandstone tenements, which carry retail shops on the ground floor and three levels of residential flats above. This thoroughfare serves as the primary artery for the…
6. Ashton Lane
Ashton Lane is a narrow, cobbled backstreet in Glasgow’s West End, defined by the strings of fairy lights that stretch between its brick buildings. While it now houses a dense collection of bars, restaurants, and the Grosvenor Cinema, the…
7. Glasgow Botanic Gardens
The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are defined by the Kibble Palace, a sprawling glasshouse easily identified by its curvilinear wrought-iron frame and distinctive teacup-shaped dome. Originally designed for the private estate of inventor John…