Glasgow walking tours, Strathclyde building guides, architectural walks Scotland, Scottish city architects trips
Glasgow Walking Tours
Strathclyde architecture guides in Western Scotland. Tailored Scottish building walks by e-architect.
post updated 5 November 2026
Contact e-architect for your tailored walking guide in Strathclyde: isabelle(at)e-architect.com
City walks are only for groups who book in advance, we do not run regular ones.
Contact Isabelle Lomholt – email: info(at)glasgowarchitecture.co.uk
Glasgow Architecture Introduction
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland. It has a wealth of architectural interest from Rennie Mackintosh’s School of Art building (The Mac, currently partly under serious restoration after the fire) to Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s buildings.
Riverside Museum building Glasgow designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), London:
photograph : Hawkeye Aerial Photography
Glasgow Architecture Tours
More recently buildings by world-famous architects Zaha Hadid, David Chipperfield, Foster + Partners and local architects Page & Park, Elder & Cannon and gm+ad architects have brought interest to the city.
Maggie’s Gartnavel Centre building design by celebrated Dutch architects OMA:
photo © Keith Hunter
The latest major building in the city is the Riverside Museum. Key recent building design include The Hydro by Foster + Partners and also the various venues for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. These buildings can be visited on our Glasgow Walking Tours.
Recently reopened, to designs by London architect office Bennetts Associates – Citizens Theatre:
photo courtesy of Bennetts Associates
e-architect : Architecture Walking Tours in the city since 2001
Glasgow Walking Tours – Building Guides
Glasgow Walking Tours can focus on the more historic buildings, contemporary buildings or a mix of both. The Glasgow Architecture Tour can be an introduction to the city’s main buildings or we can be tailor it to your group’s specific interests.
Glasgow Walking Tours Proforma
Hazelwood School building by Alan Dunlop of gm+ad architects, an architectural office based in this city:
photograph : Andrew Lee
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Glasgow Tours
Email info(at)glasgowarchitecture.co.uk to book your Glasgow Tour
Major architects who worked and designed buildings in the city are Rennie Mackintosh and Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson.
Glasgow School Art, badly damaged by fire and behind scaffolding sadly:
photos © Isabelle Lomholt
Unmissable buildings are the Glasgow School of Art (booking required for interior), Willow Tea Rooms – both by Rennie Mackintosh and St Vincent Street Church by Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson.
If time allows, it is worth leaving the city centre and heading south to House for an Art Lover, the recreation of a design by Mackintosh. Close by is the Burrell Museum, a ket 20th Century scottish building.
If you have a few hours to spare a trip west to Hill House in Helensburgh by Rennie Mackintosh is well worth it.
More recent architects include Gillespie Kidd & Coia who designed Modern churches outwith the city centre.
The Riverside Museum in Glasgow by Zaha Hadid Architects is one of two major recent buildings in Scotland (the other being the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh by EMBT/RMJM).
Other recent key buildings in the city are the Radisson Hotel by gm+ad architects and Homes for the Future by various architects.
Famous architects with buildings include Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster and David Chipperfield, though none of the buildings represent their best work.
This site has around 2000 pages with the majority being focused on buildings in the city. It is the largest city in Scotland and world-famous for 20th Century architecture in particular, notably the Mac building. We have a series of Glasgow Tours – online architecture guides – but also take tour groups around the key developments from past and present.
Historic Glasgow Buildings : best Architecture of the past, no images
photo © Adrian Welch
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Strathclyde Architecture Guide References
Glasgow Architecture Tour
Reference:
Dear Isabelle
I am speaking for all, when I announce that we were very satisfied with the guided tour to Glasgow on Sept. 28th. Adrian did a very good job. We felt well informed, but not over fed. The flow between sights and buildings was harmonious. Time was kept all along, and Adrian was very helpful and flexible with our wishes.
I/we will warmly recommend e-architect.
Venlig hilsen
Henning Bakke Jensen, Arkitekt maa
Glasgow Architecture Tour visit to the Italian Centre, Merchant City:
photo © Adrian Welch
Our Glasgow Architecture Tour on 28 Sep 2013 for an architectural contingent from Denmark – we visited a wide range of buildings on the city walking tour from the School of Art, CCA, Spectrum, Radisson, The Lighthouse to Homes for the Future. In the afternoon on the bus tour we visited Crown Street housing, House for an Art Lover, the Science Centre, The Hydro and the Riverside Museum – the highlight for the group being Zaha Hadid’s building.
16 Jul 2013
Riverside Museum building design by Zaha Hadid Architects:
photo © McAteer Photograph
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Strathclyde Architectural Visit References
Recent Latest Glasgow Walking Tours
The walking tours (for around 150 people) went really well and I am sure all my delegates really enjoyed it. We did have quite a few no shows on the evening but it was a horrible rainy night so I guess that was going to happen. Thank you again for all your help.
Gayle Hodge – Project & Business Development Manager for In Conference Ltd
George Street Buildings designed by Hoskins Architects:
image courtesy Hoskins Architects
8 Jun 2013
Recent Glasgow Walking Tour
We completed a seven hour tour of the city for visitors from Spain and England, taking in most of the key buildings from the Burrell Museum to the Riverside Museum, Homes for the Future to School of Art building. The highlight of the walking tour? I would say the interior of the School of Art.
Riverside Museum Glasgow by Zaha Hadid Architects:
photo © Keith Hunter
25 Apr 2013
Recent Glasgow Walking Tours
We were delighted to show a group of Finnish visitors around the city today – Building Control board members from all over Finland: highlights were the tour around Hillside Primary School and the visit to the Italian Centre (the sun came out at that point, such a pleasant urban space). The tour was a mix of walking and touring by bus and tailored to the specific preferences of the group.
A group of architecture students from The Netherlands will be our next group of architectural visitors to the city, in early May.
We can provide basic advice for Walking Tours of Glasgow as you start your visit preparations – about types and areas of buildings in Strathclyde.
Riverside Museum building design by Zaha Hadid Architects, London, UK:
photo © Keith Hunter
We generally do Glasgow Architecture Tours for groups but individuals are welcome to contact us for prices. We have a standard 3-hour tour through the city centre, taking in a mix of old and new architecture. Typically this is supplemented with a bus tour to outlying buildings in the city, such as The Burrell and the Riverside Museum. A tour destination outwith the city that is sometimes requested is Hill House in Helensburgh (by architect Rennie Mackintosh) but it takes about 45 minutes to get there and admission is not free.
A Walking Tour of Glasgow at Fore Street Housing, near Victoria Park in the west of the city, on 2 June 2012:
photograph © Adrian Welch
We can assist with developing your group’s programme ahead of your Glasgow walking tour. If the you wish to focus your trip on say Strathclyde office buildings or Scottish social housing then we can advise on a logical route. Occasionally architects meet up with our Glasgow Walking Tours if a specific building is of interest.
We can take visitors to the Commonwealth Games buildings but please note much of the site is still under construction. A bus is required for tours of this location as the area is outwith the city centre. If there are specific buildings you wish to visit in Scotland please contact us, we also do architectural tour routes in Edinburgh.
The world-famous Burrell Museum design by architect Barry Gasson with John Meunier and Brit Andresen, recently refurbished by London’s John McAslan and Partners:
photo © Janie Airey Art Fund 2023
Please note that arranging restaurants, buses, etc. for a tour carries an additional fee. We prefer if these aspects are arranged direct by the visiting group, through their travel operator or office administration.
Glasgow Walking Tour
Contact Isabelle Lomholt to arrange your walking and / or bus tour on info(at)glasgowarchitecture.co.uk
Payments must be made in full prior to the Scottish architectural tour.
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Architecture Tours
e-architect also organise architecture walking tours in other European cities such as Edinburgh, London, Cambridge, Liverpool, Barcelona, Copenhagen, etc.
Walking Tours Glasgow : contact us on +44 for your Scottish city architectural tour
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Glasgow Walking Tour References
Glasgow Walking Tour Reference from Norwegian Architects
Dear Isabelle,
Oh yes, we had a splendid time in Scotland, thanks to you, Colin, and your beautiful country.
Vennlige hilsener fra
Øyvind, Trondheim
Glasgow Walking Tour Reference
We had a very good time in the city: I have the impression that everybody was very satisfied! As for your walking tour, we liked very much your intro about the the city’s historic development.
Looking at the architecture of the different squares (Ingram, Italian Centre e.g), I found most interesting. And everything about Rennie Mackintosh was to the point!
On Saturday we had a nice bus tour: We started out at Graham Square and Homes for the Future and then went on to the dockside building projects. After that, along the scottish countryside up to Loch Lomond. Even though it was rainy, the Gateway Visitors centre building was worth seeing. But the the rest of the centre was a dog!
We had a nice lunch at the Duck Bay restaurant by the shores and then we went to see Hill House. Your advice about the Hunterian Museum really made our day: we finished our tour there!
Thank you very much for guiding us: I won´t hesitate to recommend your Glasgow walking tours to other colleagues visiting Scotland!
Kind regards
Eivind
Scottish Walking Tours: contact us to arrange your Architecture Tour guide.
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Glasgow Building Tours
Tours of Glasgow : the best buildings in Strathclyde of the past
The Lighthouse by Page\Park Architects – Scotland’s Centre for Architecture:
photo : David Churchill
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British Building Tours
London Architecture Walking Tours – find the post on the e-architect website
Other cities where architectural walks are offered include Manchester, Cambridge, Oxford, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield. In Scotland we have also guided visitors around Aberdeen and Dundee.
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Glasgow Architecture
Glasgow School of Art – sadly burnt down for a second time, in 2018
Design: Charles Rennie Mackintosh Architect
photo © Isabelle Lomholt
If there is one building in Glasgow you shouldn’t miss, it is this one. The Modern design features in most histories of world architecture and is a key work of the early 20th Century. Internal architecture tours need to be booked in advance and have a cost.
Riverside Museum Glasgow
Design: Zaha Hadid Architects
photo © Adrian Welch
If you are really short of time and can only visit two Glasgow buildings then this is a good option, but not the only one. It is designed by one of the world’s most celebrated living architects and this is her only Scottish building, opening in 2011. Apart from the architecture the Transport Museum (as many locals still call it) is well worth a visit anyway to walk round the fascinating exhibits that map the city’s industrial past.
Science Centre Glasgow – BDP Architects
Design: BDP, Architects
property photographs © Adrian Welch
The Science Centre is located at Pacific Quay, and although it is a little windswept down on the River Clyde, there are a whole series of interesting new buildings by well known architects in this area, on both sides of the river: the BBC Scotland building, the new The Hydro arena and the Clyde Auditorium – better known as the Armadillo. There is also historical interest here in the old docks and the Titan Crane, memories of the city’s industrial heritage.
Burrell Museum building redevelopment – John McAslan + Partners
photo © Janie Airey
BBC Scotland – David Chippefield Architects
photograph © Peter Cook
House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park – Andy Macmillan after Mackintosh, 1996
photo © Adrian Welch
City Chambers – William Young architect
Kelvingrove Art Gallery – renewal by BDP
Radisson Hotel
picture : Andrew Lee
Scotland Street School, 225 Scotland St – Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1906
Willow Tea Rooms, 217 Sauchiehall St – Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1904
Hunterian Gallery – Charles Rennie Mackintosh: recreation; gallery, 1978
Clyde Auditorium – ‘Armadillo’
photo © Steven Powell
Princes Square, 48 Buchanan St – Hugh Martin & Partners, 1988
Crown Street Gorbals – housing – various architects
Gallery of Modern Art Glasgow, Royal Exchange
Glasgow Cathedral precinct, Townhead – various, 1200; refurb. Page & Park, 1987
Spectrum Building – gm+ad architects
photo © Adrian Welch
Hazelwood School – Alan Dunlop, gm+ad architects
Tramway Theatre – Zoo Architects
Glasgow Imax – BDP Architects
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – Sir Leslie Martin
St Andrew’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, 170-188 Clyde St – Gillespie Graham, 1817
Merchant City Buildings
Italian Centre – shops – Page/Park architects
Caledonia Road Church, 1 Caledonia Rd, Gorbals – Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, 1857
Egyptian Halls, 84-100 Union St – Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, 1873
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A short trip to the west is suggested if you have more than one day in the area:
Cardross Seminary, Cardross, near Helensburgh – Gillespie Kidd & Coia, 1966
Also a visit to the east can be made to Stirling and Falkirk:
Finally a visit northwest to Loch Lomond is another option:
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Notable Glasgow Building Designs
Contemporary Glasgow Property Designs – recent Strathclyde architectural selection below:
Notable buildings in the city include the Willow Tearooms (1903) Sauchiehall Street near Blythswood Street Charles Rennie Mackintosh for Catherine Cranston. Also worth visiting is the Blythswood Square Hotel (2009) conversion of Royal Scottish Automobile Club, originally remodelled in 1923 by architect James Miller.
We also suggest a visit to Glasgow Art Club (1840s) 185 Bath Street, with gallery added by John Keppie and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Close by are the Blythswood Square Category B listed terraces on each of its four sides (c.1823 – 1829), with frontages by John Brash for the trustees and successors of William Harley.
An important work is St. Vincent Street Church (1859) by Alexander “Greek” Thomson, St Vincent Street. This is one of Glasgow’s significant ecclesiastical buildings in architectural terms after the Cathedral.
Finally it is worth taking a look at St. Stephen’s Renfield Church (1852) by John Thomas Emmett, corner of Bath Street and Holland Street. Lastly, we note Mercantile Chambers (1900) by James Salmon 35-69 Bothwell Street.
This Glasgow Tour page is maintained by Scottish Architect Adrian Welch, who may be available to give city walks.
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Glasgow Tour Questionnaire
We do walking tours of Glasgow and have developed a brief questionnaire to provide smooth communication for requirements. Please answer the following questions (copy & paste into an e-mail):-
1. How many people are coming?
2. What is the composition, eg. how many are architects?
3. Who is your leader/director?
4. Who will be your contact/spokesperson?
5. What are the dates and times of the trip?
6. Which areas are you proposing to visit?
7. Do you need hotel reservations? If not, please specify your hotel and address
8. Do you need travel within Scotland? If not, please specify your method of transport
9. Do you require restaurant recommendations?
10. Do you require restaurant prior bookings?
11. Do you require just one guide, or more? (we strongly advise two guides for over 15 people)
12. Would you like others, such as architects, to attend and talk about certain buildings?
13. Are you interested in a specific sector or type of architecture?
14. Are you mostly interested in contemporary architecture, our speciality?
15. Do you require any maps or guide books sent ahead at cost + postage?
16. What proportion of your entourage speak English?
17. Do you have any special requirements, disabled access, dietary needs, etc.?
If there are any other requirements please note them and share with us via email.
Glasgow Walking Tours
Please use the website, it is packed with information on buildings, architects, hotels and restaurants. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have queries.
Some of the best new buildings are listed on the website’s contents (site map) page. It may be a good idea to surf the site, pick the buildings that interest and then we could help you visit them.
Please contact us – Adrian Welch and Isabelle Lomholt – to arrange your Tour to Glasgow, Scotland.
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The Lighthouse was housed in a building by Mackintosh and contained Scotland’s Centre for Architecture & Design.
Glasgow Building Tours : info(at)glasgowarchitecture.co.uk
We have shown visitors around all the above buildings and more for over 11 years. Tour guides can show you round the city on our standard 3 hour tour or tailored to meet your needs, by foot, bus or car.
Contact Isabelle Lomholt on for your walking / bus tour of the city. Guides are available for larger tour groups. Our standard city tour lasts three hours and takes in a mix of old and new buildings.
Tours can be tailored to meet your needs. We can also visit buildings outwith the city on tours such as Hill House near Helensburgh. We have also taken tours to buildings outside the city centre such as House for an Art Lover, the Burrell Museum and Hazelwood School. We also guide tours in Edinburgh and the east of Scotland.
Pictures for the Glasgow Architecture Walking Tours + Bus Tours in Strathclyde by e-architect guides for pre-booked visiting groups page welcome.
Contact Isabelle on email: info(at)glasgowarchitecture.co.uk
