Gander Walking Tours in Glasgow
Description
Go for a gander on a tour which reflects the energy and welcoming nature of Glasgow itself. All tours are conducted by myself, Johnny -- so if you have read a good review, you will know that that is the tour that you will be getting! I will provide you with a memorable introduction to this stupendous city, and at the conclusion of the tour, will be delighted to email you as many Glasgow recommendations as you can handle, tailored to your personal interests. Walk with the self-styled Glasgow Gander around Glasgow City Centre, from Royal Exchange Square to Glasgow Cathedral, taking in the city's famed Victorian architecture, and drinking deeply of its vibrant atmosphere. Learn the fascinating story of Glasgow in the company of a passionate guide. PLEASE NOTE: Every effort is made to keep tour numbers to a maximum of 15, but, in exceptional and rare circumstances, there may be more than 15 people per tour. You will be informed about this by email if this is the case.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover the hidden history of this landmark building and be introduced to Mother Glasgow, Scotland's powerhouse, by the self-styled Glasgow Gander.
See the original cone-wearing commander, and discover the amusing story of this tradition of modern Glasgow at the expense of the Duke of Wellington.
Be guided around the symbolic heart of Glasgow, watch for the unpredictable movement of a rooftop ship, and see one of northern Europe's finest civic buildings, Glasgow City Chambers.
Encounter a often-overlooked gem of Georgian Glasgow and hear about a club where pig-like gluttony was encouraged!
In the shadow of one of the city centre's most striking buildings, hear the unflinching tale of Glasgow's growth as a commercial, then industrial city; its decline, renaissance, and the legacy, and ongoing impact, of Mother Glasgow on the world today.
On this ancient thoroughfare, near the 16th century Tron Kirk Steeple, hear the remarkable story of an incredible hidden entertainment venue, in all its glory and grottiness!
Beneath the glorious 17th century Tolbooth Steeple (where the Trongate, the Saltmarket, London Road, the Gallowgate and High Street meet), encounter the eye-popping history of Old Glasgow at its epicentre -- Glasgow Cross.
See Glasgow's most famous son hiding in plain sight: one of the best pieces of street art you'll ever see.
Across from the 15th century Provand's Lordship (the city's oldest house) take in four quite special buildings -- including a small blue one which is sometimes used for inter-dimensional travel!
Glasgow's architectural pinnacle -- our medieval, Scottish Gothic cathedral, with the dramatic backdrop of Victorian Glasgow's 'city of the dead', the Necropolis, behind. (Depending on COVID restrictions on group size and mask-wearing inside the cathedral, the tour may finish outside the church.)
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(584)
The walking tour was excellent due to our tour guide. He knew so much about Glasgow! Very interesting history and beautiful. We were very impressed and he answered all of our questions. Wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking.
This was a very good tour. The guide was very friendly and informative. He explained the historical and cultural side of Glasgow in an interesting and fun way. He pointed out things along the way that most people would miss. I highly recommend this tour.
Johnny was a fantastic tour guide! Communicated through Viator on where to meet to start the tour. Was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history of Glasgow. He answered any questions we had and even purchased Irn-Bru (Scottish soda) for us to try. He provided recommendations and sent an extensive list of them after the tour! I highly recommend this tour.
We were blessed with a sunny, warm day, but nothing sunnier than our tour guide, Johnny. Informative, knowledgeable, friendly and efficient, it was the perfect introduction into my brief stay in Glasgow to orient myself and figure out what I wanted to do going forward. I appreciated his ability to project, so I always heard him. He watched out for the group, but mostly, he really knows and loves the city. And...he even convinced me to go back to The Steps Bar for a pint - and I'm NOT a beer drinker! But I wanted to be Scottish for an evening, and he pitched the place well. And now, I'm off for another recommendation from him that we didn't get to on the tour. Can't recommend enough.
We had a fantastic time on the Glasgow Gander with Johnny. What really stood out was how thoughtfully the whole tour was done. Johnny is incredibly knowledgeable and clearly has a real love for Glasgow, but he never made it feel like a lecture. He told stories, pointed out things we would absolutely have walked past without noticing, and brought together the history, architecture, culture and everyday life of the city in a way that made it all genuinely interesting. One small thing that made a big difference for us was the way Johnny communicated. He spoke slowly and clearly and made sure everyone was following, which meant we could actually take in everything rather than feeling overwhelmed by a constant stream of information. It sounds like a small detail, but it made the tour much more enjoyable. And then there was the follow-up email! I was genuinely impressed by the exhaustive list of recommendations Johnny sent afterwards. Places to eat, drink, visit and explore, including things we would never have found on our own. It felt like the tour didn’t really end when the three hours were over — we were left with a fantastic personal guide to the rest of our time in Glasgow. Our only regret is that we didn’t do the tour earlier in our stay. Johnny’s list of recommendations was so extensive that we wished we’d had more time to visit at least some of the places he suggested. We absolutely loved the tour and would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Glasgow.
Brilliant tour of Glasgow with Johnnie who not only knew his facts but presented them in a conversational way which made it very interesting and enjoyable. Wonderful guide would highly recommend. Information sheet after was a brilliant resource.
Johnny was a wonderful, passionate guide presenting Glasgow as his home. George Square was closed for renovation, but Johnny still managed to do a lively presentation. St. Mungo was one of his favorite topics as well as Trongate and Tolbooth Square. After 3h we ended in front of Glasgow Cathedral. Unfortunately, it was a Sunday, so we had to wait another 30min till the 2pm opening: we visited it ourselves.
I’ve been on quite a few guided tours over the years, and this was by far the best one! Johnny was absolutely brilliant. His passion for Glasgow really shone through, and his knowledge of the city’s history and character was incredible. He made the tour fun, and the three hours flew by. I could have listened to his stories for a couple more hours. If you’re looking for a Glasgow tour that’s informative, engaging and full of personality, this is the one to book!
I’m so grateful that we decided to book this particular walking tour, among all the choices in Glasgow. It was non-stop packed with interesting information about history, architecture and everything Glaswegian. We appreciated how clearly he spoke and we listened to every word. From street art to art deco bars to hidden theatres to the magnificent cathedral, it was all covered. The time flew by. His emailed follow up tips were much appreciated. We followed his advice after the tour and went to both the Gallery of Modern Art and the Kelvingrove Gallery afterwards, wandering the West Side. Very thoughtful tour and guide. Highly recommended!
Johnny is a delightful and very knowledgeable guide. Highly recommend this tour around Central and the East End of Glasgow.
