Time Well Spent: Glasgow’s Trongate
Overview
Nestled in the heart of Glasgow is the neighbourhood of Trongate, which is brimming with history, culture and creativity. It’s a blend of old-world charm and modern flair, and is a perfect place to spend some time exploring.
Whether you are a local looking to rediscover your city, or a visitor eager to experience the authentic Glasgow, my itinerary of how to spend your time will showcase the best spots to see, eat and enjoy.
Let’s dive into a day well spent in Trongate…
The itinerary
I recently had a day to myself, and decided to explore Glasgow’s Trongate. There is lots to see and do; here are my suggestions:
Modern Love Home Store
This sweet little shop, Modern Love Home Store, is full of quirky homewares and gifts. I picked up a few cute bits for my kids Christmas stockings, and could have quite happily bought more! I had my eye on a beautiful butter dish, as well as some of the candles.
The Modern Institute
There are lots of creative venues in Glasgow’s Trongate to explore, such as The Modern Institute which is round the corner from Modern Love Home Store. There’s also Street Level Photoworks and the Glasgow Print Studio which are located within 103 Trongate (where Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre is, more on this shortly!).
Outlier
On the recommendation from Sarah, who owns Modern Love Home Store, I headed to Outlier for a bite to eat and a coffee. I was seated at the bar where I could watch the staff at work in the open kitchen, and all the food looked really good. I just had a mince pie and a mocha, but will go back!
Glasgow Cathedral
I used to work at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, which is adjacent to Glasgow Cathedral! But I’ve actually only been inside the church twice. It’s beautiful; very grand. Opposite the cathedral is Glasgow’s oldest house, built in 1471, which you can also visit if it’s open.
My best friend Dawn gifted me a book for Christmas which features lots of walks in and around Glasgow, and one of the walks just happens to be from Trongate up to the Cathedral; hence the suggestion here!
Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre
The last stop on the itinerary is back in Glasgow’s Trongate for the Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre. The theatre was founded by Russian sculptor-mechanic Eduard Bersudsky and it’s a series of intricate kinetic sculptures or ‘kinemats’ that combine music, light and shadow play. It’s a truly unique experience and worth a visit. I’ve been twice; once with my children when they were younger (they suggest the show is suitable for kids over 4) and then again on my own.
Please do check the performance times in advance, and book your tickets online.
Other suggestions
If you want to get creative yourself, then the Splatter Art Studio is a great activity which is in the area. My daughter and I visited last year. It was lots of fun throwing paint at a canvas for an hour!! My masterpiece now lives in the hallway - I love it.
Another great place to visit is the Bare Bones Chocolate factory shop, where you can sit in and have a delicious hot chocolate.
Prefer a shorter walk than going up to Glasgow Cathedral, then the Barras market is worth a visit if it’s the weekend. Find out more here.
If you’d like help in carving out more time for fun and adventures, my Time Audit workbook is a great place to start. Click here to download for free.
