15 Most Unusual and Awesome Things to Do in Glasgow, Scotland

This enchanting fossilised forest will stump you. It’s not every day you stumble across a kingdom of perfectly preserved fossil tree stumps. A site of special scientific interest since its discovery in 1887, the Fossil Grove lies within Victoria Park. The 11 petrified tree stumps (an extinct species called lepidodendron or giant club mosses) formed during the Carboniferous period 325m years ago, when they were petrified in their growing position.

Behind the unassuming walls of Blessed John Duns Scotus Church in Gorbals sits a box adorned with the words “Corpus Valentini Martyris” or “the Body of Saint Valentine, Martyr”. The box holds the remains of a saint of this name (the Catholic church recognises several Saint Valentines). It’s decorated for Valentine’s Day each year, and its romantic connotations earned Glasgow the nickname the City of Love.

A fantastical fusion of theatre, mechanics and moving art, Sharmanka (which translates as “barrel-organ” in Russian) began in Russia in 1989 before making its way to Glasgow in the 1990s. The kinetic sculpture is more of an art exhibition than traditional theatre – you move around rooms as hundreds of carved figures and creatures made from scrap move in wondrous ways, depicting the highs and lows of the human spirit.

An ideal place to decompress, the Hillhead Bookclub is a happening spot in town – for those in the know. Like ping-pong? It has epic Balls of Fury-style sessions. Blast-from-the-past retro computer games? It has those too. Whether it be an extravagant vintage fair perfectly tailored to lazy Sunday wanderings or a hoot-worthy evening of Ball Drag Bingo, there’s always something going on in this desirable drinking den.

Meandering through a historic cemetery can be a surprisingly life-affirming experience – especially at the atmospheric Glasgow Necropolis. More than 50,000 bodies have been laid to rest at this sprawl of tombs, monuments and mausoleums, which go back as far as 1833. Its vantage point above the city, on a hill adjacent to the Glasgow Cathedral, adds to the otherworldly feeling.

The Saracen Head, also known as the Sarry Heid, will send your head spinning. This age-old watering hole, popular with Celtic FC fans, has quite the artefact inside a glass case: the skull of Maggie Wall, who they say was the last witch burned at the stake. Of course, who can tell if the story is true – but the rickety pub is certainly ripe for a few twisted tales, especially as it sits on the site of an old burial ground.

A must-see for architecture fans, The Cloisters at Glasgow University are both impressive and mesmerising. Beautiful fluted columns dance in unison amidst dramatic angled archways to create a harmony of stonework and showcase man’s ingenuity. They can be found connecting the east and west quadrangles near the Hunterian, and you may remember these beauties from their guest appearances in films Outlander and Cloud Atlas.

Twinkling fairy lights, a sea of cobbled stones and buildings overflowing with personality, Ashton Lane, is a discreet back street and pocket of fun. Graced with alluring bars, restaurants and even a cinema, this charming street is conveniently tucked away from the humdrum of bustling city life, and is well worth a visit if you’re up for a relaxed wee wander. A gem within a gem, Ubiquitous Chip attracts serious foodies from all over.

An area of calm where tea reigns supreme, Tchai-Ovna is unexpected and soothing to the soul. With over 100 choices of teas to sip from, the splendid spread of veggie eats and the added surprise of shisha, there’s a lot of goodness in one concentrated area. The wildly bohemian shack of a venue only adds to the intimate and unique atmosphere. An epicentre of creativity, works by local artists adorn the walls and live music often resonates throughout. Whether in need of tea or a little bit of down time, Tchai-Ovna is a mandatory pilgrimage.

More than just an Edwardian public bathhouse with a history spanning back to the early 1900s, Govanhill Baths are a physical symbol of the strength and unity found within close-knit Glaswegian communities. Following the announcement in 2001 that the baths, which once contained public baths, a washhouse and three swimming pools, were to be permanently closed down, community members formed a campaign against the closure. The community is now almost reaching their goal of reopening the baths as a community wellness centre, and numerous musical performances, theatre shows, art installations and even a skate-park event have taken place in this space to help generate support.

A little less tucked away than Ashton Lane but still just as appealing, Cresswell Lane is a popular place for independent specialist shops. There are lots of architectural features to marvel at too as well as drinking dens, which puts this meandering lane on a par with Edinburgh’s beloved Rose St. As a continuation of Ashton Lane, Cresswell Lane possesses all the same great qualities with a little more exposure to the ‘city buzz’.

The many museums of Glasgow are gems in their own right. And yet, the most intriguing is the one unexplored by the vast majority — Glasgow Museums Resource Centre. An enchanting hodgepodge of eclectic collections belonging to multiple museums, this resource centre is basically one giant storage room hosting the items not on display. Stored across 17 environmentally controlled storage pods, animals, fine art, fossils and armour make up just a few of the 1.4 million curiosities inside. Although touring this unmitigated wonderland is miraculously free, make sure to book in advance to secure a spot.

In a city embellished by the ‘Glasgow Style’ fingerprints of Mackintosh, it’s easy to render yet another Mackintosh attraction (as captivating as they are) a ‘not-so-hidden gem’. Standing out from the crowd yet starved of its rightful attention, Queen’s Cross Church or Mackintosh Church, is a hidden gem for design and architecture enthusiasts. Unique in that it is the only Mackintosh church ever to be fully completed, Queen’s Cross is a handsome display of modern Gothic charm with an Art Nouveau flair and slight tracings of Japanese style.

Free to enter (with a suggested donation of £3), this interactive museum is chock-full of models of vintage cars, motorcycles, trains, and more. The highlight, though, is a tour of the Tall Ship, otherwise known as the Glenlee, an 1896 barque formerly used as a cargo carrier and as a Spanish naval ship, which is now stationed adjacent to the museum in the Glasgow Harbor. Recommended by Madeleine Bazil

Step inside the world of the oldest police force in the UK, the City of Glasgow Police (1779-1975). This collection of more than 6,000 artefacts is a treasure trove for anyone interested in the history of bobbies on the beat. A highlight is the marvellous array of helmets, including one that resembles a top hat. The staff are ex-policemen volunteers, and there’s no entry fee.