From dawn to dusk and into the night, there are a huge range of things to do in Glasgow during every hour of your trip. Glasgow is home to some of Scotland’s best cultural attractions and best of all, most of them are completely free!

You could easily fill your time exploring the different neighbourhoods, and enjoying the amazing shopping, dining and attractions in Glasgow. Maybe you’ll explore Glasgow’s music scene on a city walking tour, or uncover countless treasures inside its fantastic museums and art galleries?

When it comes to entertainment, events and great days out in Glasgow, you don’t have to look far – over a hundred Glasgow gigs take place every week, and you can also find tickets for theatre, performing arts and sporting tournaments. Like your events cool, quirky and off-beat? Then keep your eye out for vibrant festivals, special pop up Glasgow events.

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Greenock is a historic industrial town by the Firth of Clyde, 25 miles west of Glasgow.

Greenock grew from a fishing community to become the site of the first dock on the Clyde in 1711. Much of the west end of Greenock retains its impressive Victorian buildings, not least the 245-foot Victoria Tower which remains incomplete. Attractions include McLean Museum and Art Gallery and the Old West Kirk, which dates from 1591 and features stained glass by artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The town is home to the world’s first Burns Club, with many of the founding members having known Robert Burns himself. Burns’ love Mary Campbell (Highland Mary) died in the town and is buried in Greenock Cemetery.

The Greenock Cut is an aqueduct which is one of the top 50 walks in Scotland, offering panoramic views of the Clyde. The walk has a visitor centre which includes an interactive exhibition and coffee shop. Other viewpoints over the Clyde can be found at the town’s Esplanade, where visitors can overlook Gourock and the Tail of the Bank, and at Lyle Hill where a beacon sits which celebrates the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth and is still lit on special occasions. A distinctive anchor shaped war memorial to the Free French forces who fought in World War II stands on the western brow, in homage to the Maillé Brézé which exploded off Greenock’s coast and the other Free French vessels which sailed from the town.

Greenock has a number of shopping facilities, including the Oak Mall Shopping Centre, and many restaurants, cafes and pubs to eat in. The town has a variety of sporting facilities. Greenock boasts nine railway stations, which provide services to Glasgow, Gourock, Wemyss Bay and other surrounding stops. There is a number of local bus routes as well as services to further destinations such as Glasgow, Largs and Dunoon. Ferries run from Victoria Harbour along the Firth of Clyde to Dunoon and other destinations.

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The ferry port town of Gourock sits on the south bank of the Firth of Clyde, 28 miles west of Glasgow.

Gourock’s ice cream parlours and open-air waterfront swimming pool recall its days as a popular day-trip destination for Glaswegians. The open-air pool is one of only three remaining in Scotland and was refurbished in 2010. Kempock Street has a variety of traditional shops and is Gourock’s main shopping street.

Just behind Kempock Street lies Granny Kempock’s Stone, a 6ft monolith that is reputed to bring good luck to newlyweds and passing sailors who walk around it seven times. Other landmarks include Castle Mansions and St John’s Church, whose distinctive steeple dominates over Gourock.

The town also contains Castle Levan, a fortified tower house dating from the 14th century. The castle now runs as a bed & breakfast and is rumoured to be haunted. Gourock also has a golf club and is home to the Royal Gourock Yacht Club.

There are superb views from Gourock across the Clyde Estuary to the mountains of the south-west Highlands. Visitors can enjoy walks along the Ashton Front promenade. Three miles west of Gourock lies Cloch Point, where there is a lighthouse that dates from 1797. Regular ferries run from Gourock to Dunoon, Kilcreggan and Helensburgh.

A ferry service also runs from McInroy’s Point on the west side of town to Hunters Quay, home to such attractions as the Royal Marine Hotel and the ‘Jim Crow’ painted rock.

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Inverkip is an ancient coastal village in Inverclyde that has evolved to be a popular seaside resort with shops, bars, restaurants and a range of holiday accommodation. In the Inverkip part of Town of Renfrewshire, you will find a gruesome power-station chimney and large yacht marina.

This small village is situated at the mouth of the River Kip as it enters the Firth of Clyde 6 miles (9½ km) southwest of Greenock in the old county of Renfrewshire. Its lands were granted to the monks of Paisley Abbey in the 12th Century and they held these until the Reformation; the village was also a centre for fishing, smuggling and in the 17th century, severe witch-hunts. It became a seaside resort with the arrival of the railway in the 1860s and is today a yachting centre. Notable buildings include Inverkip Castle (on the Ardgowan estate), home of the Shaw Stewart family, and Ardgowan House (1748).

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Wemyss Bay is a small village on the Firth of Clyde and is the departure point for ferries to the Isle of Bute.

The history of Wemyss Bay (pronounced ‘weems’) can be traced back to the 15th century, but it was in the late 19th century that Wemyss Bay grew in popularity following the creation of the rail connection to Glasgow and the regular steamer service to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. The name of the village can be traced back to connections with the Clan Wemyss.

Wemyss Bay Station is regarded as one of the finest railway buildings in Scotland. It is a wrought-iron and glass palace that serves as a reminder of the glory days when thousands of Glaswegians would alight for their steamer trip ‘doon the watter’ (down the water) to Bute. The village still serves as the port for ferries to the Isle of Bute, and you can still arrive at Wemyss Bay by train and catch the CalMac ferry to Rothesay. The village is accessible by car but parking is scarce. The town has a selection of local shops and places to eat, and there are opportunities to go sailing in the bay.

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Largs is a traditional holiday resort on the west coast of Scotland.

Located on the Firth of Clyde, Largs is a charming Scottish seaside resort, complete with Victorian promenade and a choice of ice cream parlours and shops.

Close to Largs lies the Isle of Cumbrae, just a mile offshore. There is a regular ferry service to the island and the famous Waverley Paddle Steamer makes regular trips from Largs during the summer months.

To south of the town, a stroll along the pebbly shoreline offers fine coastal views, leading past the striking Pencil Monument. Largs is a popular spot for those travelling by sailing boat – the Largs Yacht Haven is the largest marina in Scotland and boasts excellent facilities.

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