Looking for completely free things to do in Glasgow? Here are my favourite museums and art galleries, parks, architecture, culture, and hidden gems—all with zero entry fee!
> Read more – my guide to Glasgow
Top free things to do in Glasgow
- Explore the Glasgow City Centre Mural Trail – Glasgow has embraced street art – giving Banksy a run for his money. From the most well known Mural on the High Street, which tells the story of The Bird That Never Flew and St Mungo, follow the Glasgow Mural trail around the city to find the Hip Hop Marianettes, a spaceman, the world’s most economical taxi and a lot of love for famous Glasgow comedian Billy Connolly.
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery – One of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions. With 22 galleries, 8000 works of art, including Instagram favourites the floating heads, a spitfire plane, Roger the stuffed elephant, and the controversial Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John on the cross.
- The Duke of Wellington and GOMA – The Duke of Wellington might have defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, but the battle to keep a cone atop his statue outside the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art is as close to a literal representation of Glasgow as you can get – it has a certain persistence, humour and total disrespect of anyone in charge.
- The Glasgow Necropolis – a fascinating place to visit, the Glasgow Necropolis contains hundreds of memorials to the city’s dead, including many designed by Alexander ‘the Greek’ Thomson.
- The Cloisters at University of Glasgow – hidden under the University of Glasgows, these beautiful cloisters have become insta famous, and are particularly lovely when they are lit up with lights at christmas!
- The West End Lanes – hidden in the west end are many small and fashionable lanes – echoing those found in Melbourne. Search out 50s and 60s antiques on Cresswell and Ruthven Lane, cafes and collectables on Dowanside Lane and go for dinner and drinks on the most famous of them all, Ashton Lane.
- Glasgow Botanic Gardens & Kibble Palace – escape the city to find the stunningly beautiful Kibble Palace glasshouse in the equally lovely Botanical Gardens.
- The Barras Market and Barrowland Park Album pathway – the ‘barras’ street market is an east end of Glasgow institution. Named after the barrows that the traders used to ply their wares, the market is also home to the Barrowland Ballroom – the city’s seminal music venue. Over on the Barrowland Park is the album pathway – artwork created by Jim Lambie which lists the names and dates of bands who have played at the Barrowland since 1983.
Free Glasgow museums & art galleries
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum – opening in 1901, the spectacular Kelvingrove Art Gallery is one of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions. With 22 galleries, 8000 works of art, including Instagram favourites the floating heads, a spitfire plane, Roger the stuffed elephant, and the controversial Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John on the cross. Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
- The Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park – world‑class art & artefacts in a lovely green setting including medieval tapestries, Chinese ceramics, Islamic art, and works by Rodin, Degas, and Cézanne. Visit The Burrell Collection.
- Riverside Museum of Transport & Travel – designed by the world renowned Zaha Hadid Architects the Riverside Museum has cool displays of classic transport, plus the tall ship Glenlee outside on the Clyde. Visit the Riverside Museum.
- Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) – minimalist modern works housed in a neo-classical building and the famous Duke of Wellington statue – Glasgow’s most popular piece of art. The battle to keep a cone atop his statue outside GOMA is as close to a literal representation of Glasgow as you can get – it has a certain persistence, humour and total disrespect of anyone in charge. Visit the Gallery of Modern Art.
- The Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery (University of Glasgow) – Scotland’s oldest public museum (est. 1807), exhibits diverse collections—art, science, anatomy, archaeology—including Whistler, Mackintosh, Roman artefacts, coins, fossils. Visit The Hunterian.
- People’s Palace & Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green – opened in 1898, the People’s Palace is is Glasgow’s social history museum, chronicling city life from around 1750 to the present. Next door are the Victorian-era Winter Gardens which houses exotic tropical plants (currently closed for refurbishment)
- House for an Art Lover (Bellahouston Park) – based on Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s 1901 Art Nouveau designs, House for an Art Lover hosts exhibitions, events, a café, and gallery space. Visit House for an Art Lover.
- Glasgow Women’s Library – the UK’s only museum dedicated to women’s history, free to join with exhibitions and events. Join Glasgow Women’s Library.
- Scotland Street School Museum – Mackintosh-designed former school turned museum of Victorian education (currently closed for refurbishment)
- The Glasgow Police Museum – telling the story of Britain’s first police force (City of Glasgow Police, 1800–1975) the Glasgow Police museum opened in 2002 and displays over 2,000 international uniforms and insignia. Visit the Glasgow Police Museum.
Glasgow history & architecture
- Glasgow Cathedral and the Glasgow Necropolis – otherwise known as St Mungo’s Cathedral, the Glasgow high kirk is one of the last remaining examples of Scottish Gothic Architecture – saved from destruction during the Reformation. Next to the Cathedral is the fascinating and huge Necropolis, which contains hundreds of memorials to the city’s dead, including many designed by Alexander ‘the Greek’ Thomson. Visit St Mungo’s Cathedral.
- Glasgow City Chambers tour – a grand Victorian building on George Square, housing the city council and offering free public tours which run twice daily at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm on weekdays. They last about 45 minutes. Take a free tour of Glasgow City Chambers. Did you know that Glasgow City Chambers is used for the Debutante’s Ball in The Buccaneers including the staircase down which the debutants descended?
- The Lighthouse – part of Scotland’s Centre for Architecture and Design, the Lighthouse tower was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh as part of the offices for the Glasgow Herald Newspaper. The Tower once housed an 8,000-gallon water tank to protect the building from fire. Visit The Lighthouse (currently closed)
- Glasgow University and the Cloisters at University of Glasgow – Scotland’s fourth‑oldest university (founded 1451) can be explored with via a free self‑guided tour highlighting Gothic architecture, cloisters, historic staircases, Memorial Gates and library. The Cloisters beneath the university are a favourite with instagrammers. Take the self guided tour.
Glasgow parks, gardens & walks
- Glasgow Botanic Gardens & Kibble Palace – explore this Victorian glasshouse filled with exotic plants amongst 8 acres of botanical gardens, a welcome relief from the hectic city centre. Visit the Glasgow botanics.
- Pollok Country Park – Glasgow’s largest park, Pollok Country Park spans about 146 hectares, featuring woodland, gardens, riverside trails, mountain‑bike circuits, Highland cattle and access to cultural highlights like the Burrell Collection and Pollok House—all free to enter and open year-round.
- Kelvingrove Park – a 34-hectare Victorian park in Glasgow’s West End, established in 1852. It features lovely riverside walks, a bandstand, skate park, bowling greens, tennis courts, monuments like Stewart Fountain, and is next to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery.
- Glasgow Green – Glasgow’s oldest public park on the north bank of the River Clyde. Visit the Nelson Monument, McLennan Arch, the People’s Palace, and St Andrew’s Suspension Bridge over the river.
- Cycle or walk along the Clyde walkway and National Cycle Route 75 – explore this a 40‑mile (65 km) foot and cycle path along the River Clyde from Partick in Glasgow to New Lanark and the Falls of Clyde. The Clyde Walkway is designed as one of Scotland’s Great Trails. Walk the Clyde Walkway.
Explore Glasgow’s neighborhoods
- Merchant City – if you are looking for stylish restaurants and galleries, Merchant City is one of Glasgow’s oldest quarters. Originally home to tobacco merchants, the areas has transformed into a vibrant hub of bars, boutiques, and cultural venues.
- Buchanan Street & Sauchiehall Street – for high‑street shopping
- Glasgow’s West End – for vintage shopping, leafy parks, bohemian vibe visit Hillhead, Partick, Kelvinside to visit the University of Glasgow, Kelvingrove Museum, Botanic Gardens, and Ashton Lane.
- Glasgow’s East End – grittier than the west, Glasgow’s east end has local character and history. Visit Glasgow Green, People’s Palace, and the Barras Market.
- Glasgow Southside – visit Pollok Country Park, House for an Art Lover, the Tramway Gallery Queen’s Park and explore this laid back part of the city.
Free things to do in Glasgow for kids and families
- Burrell Collection – with digital art and treasure hunts, Pollock Park also has Highland cattle and an outdoor playground.
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum — kids will love the dinosaurs, stuffed animals, aeroplanes, and natural history galleries. The nearby Kelvingrove Park also has a playground
- Riverside Museum & Tall Ship — explore the transport-themed collections, vintage vehicles, and the Glenlee tall ship docked beside it.
My tips for exploring Glasgow on a Budget
- Many museums are closed Mondays—check opening times beforehand.
- Green spaces are open all year.
- Tours of City Chambers and Necropolis often require no booking.
- Local libraries and community hubs may list free workshops, talks, or events.
- Street art and murals change often—keep an eye for new works!
Love from Scotland x