Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
George Square and around
he imposing architecture of
George Square
reflects the confidence of Glasgow's
Victorian age. he wide-open plaza almost has a continental airiness about it, although
there isn't much subtlety about the 80ft column rising up at its centre, which is topped
by a statue of Sir Walter Scott. Haphazardly dotted around the great writer's plinth are
a number of dignified statues of assorted luminaries, ranging from Queen Victoria to
Scots heroes such as James Watt and Rabbie Burns.
5
City Chambers
George Square • Guided tours Mon-Fri 10.30am & 2.30pm • Free •
T
0141 287 4018 • Buchanan Street underground
he florid splendour of the
City Chambers
,
opened by Queen Victoria in 1888,
occupies the entire eastern end of George Square. Built from wealth gained by
colonial trade and heavy industry, it epitomizes the aspirations and optimism of late
Victorian city elders. Its intricately detailed facade includes high-minded
friezes
typical of the era: the four nations which then comprised the United Kingdom at
the feet of the throned queen, the British colonies and allegorical figures
representing Religion, Virtue and Knowledge. Head inside and wander around the
ground floor, where you'll see domed mosaic ceilings and two mighty Italian marble
stairwells, but to get any further you'll need to join one of the
guided tours
of the
labyrinthine interior.
The Gallery of Modern Art
Royal Exchange Square • Mon-Wed & Sat 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-8pm, Fri & Sun 11am-5pm • Free •
T
0141 287 3050,
W
glasgowlife
.org.uk • Buchanan Street underground
Queen Street leads south from George Square to
Royal Exchange Square
, where the
focal point is the graceful mansion built in 1775 for tobacco lord William
Cunninghame. his was the most ostentatious of the Glasgow merchants' homes and,
having served as the city's Royal Exchange and central library, now houses the
Gallery
of Modern Art
. Surrounded by controversy from the day it opened in 1996, GOMA
has not lived up to the potential of the marvellous building and location, though as it's
free it does merit a quick visit. he mirrored reception area leads you straight into the
spacious ground-floor gallery, a striking room with rows of Corinthian pillars and huge
windows. It's principally used for temporary exhibitions of conceptual art. Down in the
basement there's a library and an unenticing café, while the smaller galleries on the two
upper floors are either linked together for larger exhibitions or used to show smaller
themed shows.
Royal Concert Hall
2 Sauchiehall St • See website for programme and prices •
T
0141 353 8000,
W
glasgowconcerthalls.com • Buchanan Street underground
he anonymous £30-million
Royal Concert Hall
has only three huge flagpoles
protruding to proclaim that this is, in fact, a building of note. he showpiece hall does,
however, have an excellent auditorium that plays host to world-class musical events.
Standing outside the concert hall is a statue of
Donald Dewar
, Scotland's First Minister
until his untimely death in 2000.
Along Buchanan Street
Buchanan Street
runs north-south one block west of George Square, defining
Glasgow's main shopping district. At the southern end of the street is the
Princes
Square
shopping centre, hollowed out of the innards of a soft sandstone building.
