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Activity Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow Private Self-Guided Tour

4.2 (25 reviews) 2–3 hours Private tour

out of 5

25 reviews

4.2

Glasgow Private Self-Guided Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Glasgow Private Self-Guided Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Forget about crowds, schedules or lines! With Pandemic Tours' self-guided experiences your smartphone is your new private guide.

In this incredible experience, Alex will guide you through the centuries of history around Glasgow. You'll have the chance to stroll around the city at your own pace, the opportunity to take astonishing pictures and enter any attraction you fancy.

Glasgow has its humble beginnings with the arrival of St. Mungo, the founder of this vibrant city, who will be our constant companion throughout the tour.

Discover astonishing places such as Glasgow Cathedral, the Medieval city centre surrounding it, the Old Tolbooth Steeple (a really instagramable spot), our Merchant City and our innumerable painted murals. If you are into Outlander, you're in luck! we will see some filming spots.

Please note: when booking, you will get an email with instructions on how to download our app and unlock the tour.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Cultural Tours Historical Tours Art Tours Walking Tours Street Art Tour

At a glance

Duration: 2–3 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: Exploro Limited

Ages: Adults (5–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Audio guide, videos, pictures, recommendations and all the info you need
Included: You will get an email with instructions to activate your tour
Included: Unlimited access to this Self-Guided Tour on the app
Included: Map, directions, GPS route and stops of each tour
Included: Alex will guide you through an audio guide (no computer-generated voice!)

Not included

Not included: Live Guide
Not included: Any entrance fee for the attractions mentioned during the tour

Itinerary

Glasgow Cathedral

30 min

This version of Glasgow Cathedral is from 1197 after the original Cathedral fell victim to a fire just after being built in 1136. Since then, however, the Cathedral has never been unroofed and the worship of God has been carried out within its walls for more than 800 years. Discover one of the emblems of Glasgow and all its surroundings alongside Alex in this amazing experience.
Stop 2

15 min

The Necropolis is Glasgow’s most famous graveyard. It was established in 1831, copying the Parisian graveyard Père Lachaise. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, rich inhabitants of Glasgow wanted to present themselves adequately even after their death, therefore the entire graveyard is built to impress. The Necropolis stretches over 37 acres which equals about 15 football (that is soccer) fields, or just about 150.000m2.
Provand's Lordship

Passing by

This lovely stone building has been called the Provand’s Lordship since the late nineteenth century. Before it was known as the Hospital of St Nicholas.
Stop 4

Passing by

Glasgow is famous for its murals. There are countless murals all over the city, displaying the history and culture of Glasgow. They were created to revitalise neglected walls and gable ends as well as an attempt to change perceptions about street art. Discover this amazing trail in our tour!
University of Strathclyde

15 min

Strathclyde University is one of the three major universities in Glasgow. A must-see location with a variety of murals and interesting architecture to discover as well.
Stop 6

5 min

This mural shows a mother lovingly cradling a baby and it is a futuristic representation of St. Mungo. Discover all the incredible details and history of this mural and the Saint who inspired it.
Tolbooth Steeple

Passing by

Immerse yourself as early as the fifteenth century! The first official record of this building is from 1626 and since then it was the Town Clerk’s office, the Justice Court, the Town Council and right at the top (for security reasons) the jail. Understand how years have affected this particular building and how it has changed over time.
Tron Theatre

Passing by

You are looking at the tower of Tron church which today is Tron Theatre and the street that it is located on is called Trongate. Originally it was known as Saint Thenew’s Gait because it was situated along the way to the supposed site of Thenew’s burial. As a reminder, Thenew, or how she is more commonly known today as Saint Enoch, is Saint Mungo’s mother. Why could this building be so memorable to us?
Glasgow Police Museum

Passing by

Glasgow had the first police force in the entirety of Great Britain and its history from 1800 to 1975 is exhibited in this museum. Here, you can gain insight into the people, events and other factors which contributed to the founding, development and progress of the City of Glasgow police force.
Stop 10

Passing by

This mural is called ‘Fellow Residents of Glasgow’ and was painted by Smug. This mural of a hiker foraging for mushrooms in the woodlands appears to be straight out of a fairy-tale. All animals you see in this mural can be found in Glasgow’s parks and green spaces. The animals appear through what looks like holes in the wall.
Stop 11

5 min

The church was originally built in 1824 replacing an older version. It was designed by English architect Thomas Rickman in the gothic revival style. On the graveyard, you will find the graves of tobacco merchants Andrew Buchanan and John Glassford. The older Ramshorn cemetery, now partly covered by Ingram Street, was the ‘fashionable’ – and expensive – place to be buried in Glasgow in the eighteenth century before the Necropolis become the new place to be buried on.
Stop 12

Passing by

In this spot, you can see a statue of Mercury, the Roman God of financial gain, commerce, eloquence, poetry, travellers, boundaries, luck, trickery and thieves. Mercury stands on a marble plinth and is one of two sculptures of Mercury made by Alexander Sandy Stoddart. The statues represent the Italian quarter of Merchant City.
City Chambers

Passing by

The City Chambers were completed in 1888 and inaugurated by Queen Victoria who is honoured with a statue at the opposite end of George Square. They are also a site used as the registry office in the City of Westminster of London in a famous series. Can you guess which one?
George Square

Passing by

George Square is named after King George III and initially was laid out as early as 1781 as part of a scheme to create a grid-style city centre in typical Georgian style but the square was not developed for another 20 years!
Duke of Wellington Statue

Passing by

We'll be passing by one of the emblems of Glasgow, which you might find a bit bizarre. You will learn all about it and also all about its inhabitants' sense of humour.
Gallery of Modern Art

Passing by

A must visit in the city of Glasgow. We'll let you know everything you need to know about this incredible Gallery.
Stop 17

Passing by

This establishment is from 1983. The interior is inspired by the works of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the tea room itself is modelled on Kate Cranston’s Ingram Street tea rooms from the early 1900s. Alex will tell you the origin story of these Tea Rooms.
Buchanan Street

10 min

You have arrived in the twenty-first century. From the Middle Ages at the Cathedral to the tobacco merchants of the eighteenth and nineteenth century, past the shenanigans of the 1990s, you are now in the lively centre of today's Glasgow.
The Lighthouse

Passing by

The Lighthouse is a visitor centre, exhibition space and event venue situated in the heart of Glasgow.
Stop 20

Passing by

This is the final Smug mural you'll be seeing on this tour. It is called ‘Honey, I shrunk the Kids’ and is referred to as photo-realistic street art.
Stop 21

Passing by

Fittingly, we are finishing this tour close to St Enoch subway station which sums up the full circle of the tour.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

All our tours are self-guided. You will be led by the GPS in the app. Remember to check the "Before You Go" Section of your ticket and give Pandemic Tours App access to your location!

End point

The tour finishes at St. Enoch Subway Station, near the Roman Fort.

Using your ticket

Your Exploro Tour is Ready!

Thanks for booking your self-guided tour with Exploro, we’re excited to help you discover the city at your own pace!

To avoid issues, OPEN THE TOUR A DAY EARLY and check everything loads correctly

Here’s everything you need to get started:

If you DON’T HAVE the Exploro app yet:

1. Download the Exploro app from our website: https://exploro.app

2. Open the app and sign up for a free account.

3. Follow the onboarding steps. When asked, select the platform where you bought your tour (e.g. Viator, TripAdvisor), choose your tour from the list, and enter your booking reference number to unlock it.

4. If you have any trouble unlocking the tour during onboarding, copy and paste the link below in Chrome or Safari (tap Allow if prompted) then enter your booking reference number to unlock it.

Already HAVE the app installed?

1. Make sure you're signed in to your account in the Exploro app

2. Copy and paste this link in Chrome or Safari to open your tour in the app (if asked click on allow):

https://exploro.app/tours/glasgow-self-guided-walking-tour?source=viator

3. Insert your booking reference number.

Helpful tips:

Make sure your phone is charged
We highly recommend bringing a portable charger
Bring earphones to avoid disturbing others
Wear comfortable shoes
The tour is completely flexible — explore anytime

Want to revisit the tour later?

You’ll find it saved under the “Saved” tab in the Exploro app anytime.

It is suggested opening the app a little earlier to familiarize yourself with the interface and to make sure you've given it access to your location. This will ensure you can fully utilize the map function for a seamless experience.

If you have any questions or run into any issues, feel free to contact us at [email protected] or drop a message via WhatsApp at +39 389 644 9134, we're happy to help!

Don't forget to rate the tour when you're done. Thanks!

Enjoy your journey,

The Exploro Team