Edinburgh: Privately Guided Day Tour of Glasgow in Luxury Minivan

5.0 (22 reviews) 8 hours Free cancellation Private tour

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22 reviews

5.0

Edinburgh: Privately Guided Day Tour of Glasgow in Luxury Minivan — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Edinburgh: Privately Guided Day Tour of Glasgow in Luxury Minivan, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Beginning at one of Glasgow's oldest and most impressive structures, Glasgow Cathedral, you’ll embark on a journey through the very best of Glasgow.

Moving into what’s left of medieval Glasgow, you’ll hear stories from your private, local guide about the significance of Trongate and how it shaped the city.

From here, you’ll venture into the city centre through George Square and to the water’s edge to see the Finnieston Crane - an icon from Glasgow’s shipbuilding legacy.

Next, you’ll get to discover the iconic buildings of the West End, including Glasgow University and the People's Palace at Glasgow Green before visiting one of the city’s oldest quarters: the Merchant City.

Avoid the stresses of travel as you step away from fixed itineraries and crowded buses and sit back and relax on a private tour which includes;

A Private Day Tour tailored to your preferences
An Expert Local Guide
A Door-to-Door Service
Travel in a Luxurious, Mercedes-Benz V-Class Premium Minivan

Day Trips Full-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Historical Tours Ports of Call Tours City Tours

At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–7
Guide: English
Operated by: Hopscotch Travel

Ages: Adults (5–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Private transportation
Included: On-board WiFi: WiFi on board
Included: All Fees and Taxes
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle
Included: Experienced Kilt-wearing guide

Not included

Not included: Lunch

Itinerary

Glasgow Cathedral

one hour

One of the most impressive sights in Glasgow, the Cathedral is simply awe-inspiring. Sitting on the original site where St. Mungo built his first church in 614 A.D., it’s safe to say there’s an extremely ancient history in this city.

In fact, many people believe Edinburgh is an older city, but St. Margaret’s Cathedral in Edinburgh is actually younger than the Glasgow Cathedral you see today, which was built in the 12th Century.
Stop 2

30 min

On your tour, you’ll also get to experience what’s left of Medieval Glasgow. As you head along High Street, one of Glasgow’s oldest streets, you can marvel at the ancient buildings - and perhaps catch sight of the famous Tollbooth Steeple where the city’s witches, thieves and murders were hanged.
George Square

2 hours

Right at the heart of Glasgow, George Square is somewhere you absolutely have to see. Throughout the square, you’ll find many statues of famous Scottish politicians, literalists, military personnel and royalty.

Perhaps the most notable part of George Square is the Glasgow City Chambers. On a weekday, you are allowed to go inside and marvel at the 3-storey marble staircase - which we believe rivals The Vatican’s two-storey staircase.

The architecture around the square is actually very similar to America, and that’s why it’s been used by major Hollywood films such as Fast & Furious and World War Z.
Finnieston Crane

30 min

As you travel out of the city centre, you’ll spot the Finnieston Crane dramatically silhouetted against the River Clyde. It’s an icon for the Scottish shipbuilding industry - although it was never used to build ships. It was actually used for lifting extremely large items onto ships - like locomotives and steam trains.

Around the Finnieston area, you’ll get to witness ‘Modern Glasgow’ with the SECC and The Hydro, a central place for music and arts.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

one hour

Built in 1901, Kelvingrove Art Gallery is not only a sensational building architecturally, but also with its wealth of information and history. Here you can learn all about the fascinating history of Glasgow, from its creation, to its Merchant history, the Industrial Revolution and the rise of communism known as ‘Red Clyde’.

There’s also the famous ‘floating heads’, a real-live spitfire, an Egyptian exhibit, and an extensive art gallery - and even a live organ recital if you catch it at the right time.
Glasgow West End

Passing by

Being driven through the West End is a great way to see all the sights. It’s an affluent area with many stunning buildings and plenty of stories to tell. Your guide will point them out as you go, such as the ancient, gothic-style University of Glasgow which was founded in 1451.

The University is actually the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world!
People's Palace and Winter Gardens

one hour Admission not included

Get your picture taken by the Doulton Fountain with the beautiful backdrop of the People’s Palace or Glasgow Green Park.

This Victorian structure was the largest Terracotta fountain ever constructed in the world at the time, and on top, you’ll see a statue of Queen Victoria proudly looking over Glasgow Green.

You can also venture into the People’s Palace if you are interested in learning more about Glasgow’s history. The museum features a wide range of artefacts, pictures, prints and films about life in Glasgow through the ages.

Please note: The People’s Palace is currently closed for an exciting refurbishment project. It is due to reopen in 2027. Therefore it will not be possible to visit the inside of the venue.
Merchant City

2 hours

The Merchant City is one of Glasgow’s oldest quarters and is filled with stunning architecture. Every street is named after a famous merchant who built their wealth trading in the Indies in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Today, it’s an area bursting with eateries and shops, so it’s an excellent place to walk around and explore.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Westfield
Dalkeith Aparthotel
The White House
The Hoxton, Edinburgh
Wilde Aparthotels, Edinburgh, Grassmarket
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
No. 16 Learmonth Terrace
Turnhouse Airport
Old Waverly
Grove House Hotel
Premier Inn Waverley
Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh West

and 222 more pickup points

We offer convenient pickup from any Edinburgh hotel or port. One of our friendly team members at Hopscotch Travel will contact you at least 24 hours before your scheduled tour to reconfirm all the details. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us anytime if you have any questions.