The Glasgow Commonwealth Games are a great time for cheering on your team and soaking up the jubilant collective sporting atmosphere in a great authentic Scottish pub. But what else should you do when the Games aren’t keeping you busy? Glasgow has a whole host of other activities to keep you busy during the Glasgow summer, and best of all, a lot of them make for great vacation photos too!

Here is our big list of the best things to do in Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games. We’ve selected activities that are cheap, authentic, look great as a backdrop for your vacation photos, and best of all, are uniquely Glasgow. All the best elements for making memories during your Glasgow vacation!

The Best Things To Do In Glasgow

1. The Botanic Gardens

At Glasgow West End you can find the stunning Glasgow Botanical Gardens. These two hundred year old gardens are a paradise of greenery and flowers, with the River Kelvin winding beside green heaths, woodland copses and tended flower beds. The centrepiece of the Botanic Gardens is the exquisite Kibble Palace, a beautifully designed historical greenhouse featuring tropical blooms and classical statues, as well as a fish pond. Entry into the Botanical Gardens is free.

2. Victoria Park

Victoria Park in the summer is filled with colour, as garden paths burst with colourful blooms. Sail a boat on its waterways, cross charming bridges and visit the Fossil Grove: preserved fossilised tree stumps that were discovered in the 19th century, and now have a popular museum built around them for viewing. Entry into Victoria Park and the Fossil Grove Museum is free.

3. The Willow Tearooms

All good tearooms are convincingly art nouveau, and The Willow Tearooms are a perfect example of the divine early 20th century ‘tendency to tea’. Open seven days a week, the tearooms were designed by internationally famous architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who had the final say in everything from the waiters’ uniforms to the cutlery. The tearooms, a perpendicular dream of straight lines and generous glass, were recently purchased by a charitable trust and gifted to the city of Glasgow. Take a moment to enjoy some tea and cake between Commonwealth events, and allow yourself a little subdued glamour on the side.

4. The Clyde Waterfront

Stretching for 20 kilometres along the River Clyde, you can stroll from the historical original city of Glasgow, Glasgow Green, through the City Centre and then to Clydebank, Renfrew and Dumbarton. There’s plenty to see on this historic heritage walk: museums and science centres, shopping districts and ancient shipbuilding premises are just some of the riverside delights that await you on a walk along the industrial waterfront along the River Clyde, and make for dramatic photo spots.

The Best Things To Do On Day Trips From Glasgow

1. Loch Fyne, Argyll

Located a mere one to two hour drive from Glasgow, the town of Argyll is a foodie heaven for the seafood caught fresh from the Loch Fyne. Enjoy oysters, visit and sample from smoked salmon houses, and enjoy local artisan breweries on the famous “Seafood Trail”. If sampling the best of local cuisine is not enough, you can work it all off again with some sailing, biking, hiking, fishing or golf in one of the world’s most stunning settings. In the region you can also visit the Victorian spa town of Helensburgh, or descend further south to enjoy the region’s famous art deco icecream parlour, Nardinis, in the town of Largs. Loch Fyne is a visual delight as well as a culinary one, boasting sparkling waterways embraced by green hills, and is a beautiful place for vacation photos.

2. Stirling

For history lovers, the fortress city of Stirling is a place of not only great beauty but rich regional history. Visit the Stirling Castle, where Scottish kings and queens once lived, including Mary Queen of Scots, where you can explore the Great Hall and royal apartments. 2014 is also the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, and a new visitor centre on the outskirts of Stirling features lots of information about the Battle and medieval warfare. Want more? Mugdock Country Park features the 14th century ruins of Mugdock Castle, the gothic mansion Craigend Castle, and a WW2 gun site.

3. Loch Lamond

The famous Loch Lamond is only around a half hour drive from Glasgow, and offers a selection of activities for sport lovers. You can go island-spotting, indulge in watersports or explore the surrounding national park by foot. For a more relaxed way to cover ground, take a ride on the Maid of the Loch, the last paddle steamer built in Britain. And don’t forget to take an amazing photo!

By Jade Riviére

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