How to Spend a Quiet Day in Glasgow, Scotland

In my 1.5 years of traveling abroad full time, I’ve gotten very accustomed to planning very chill day trips. A lot of my time is spent in busy cities, or being busy with work, or being stressed about something or other, so when I plan quick visits to new places, I try to keep those visits very low-key and relaxing, rather than fast-paced and jam-packed with activities.

One of my favorite day trips was to Glasgow in the fall of 2023, mainly because it was so leisurely and enjoyable. I stayed outside of the main, busy city center and focused on exploring quieter areas at a slower pace - it was really rewarding and was absolutely a day well spent! If you’re like me and don’t want to be rushing around all day, stuck to a rigid itinerary and stressing if you’re off track by a half hour, this blog post is for you. Take it from someone who thrives on comfort and casualness - this is an awesome way to spend a quiet, relaxing day in Glasgow.

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EXPLORE THE UNIVERSITY

I would start my day in Glasgow by walking around the University of Glasgow and exploring the architecture here. I’m consistently blown away by the beauty of the universities in the UK, and Glasgow was yet another to leave me speechless! There was virtually no one around when I strolled through campus, so weekday mornings seem to be a good time to walk around without it being too crowded. Be sure to walk to the West Quadrangle, the cloisters, and the bell tower - truly some of the most stunning architecture I’ve ever seen! It feels like you’re at college in an 80’s coming of age movie, especially if you visit during autumn.

VISIT THE KELVINGROVE MUSEUM

From the University, it’s about a 12 minute walk to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which I think is a must when visiting Glasgow! It’s a huge museum and gallery with tons of different sections and exhibits to explore. The building itself is gorgeous, too, with elegant arches and pillars lining the walkways, upper levels overlooking the foyers and open spaces below, and even some hanging art pieces to give the empty airspace some dimension and character. You can spend as much or as little time here as you want, and the best part is: it’s free!

WALK AROUND KELVINGROVE PARK

While you’re in the area, take a stroll around Kelvingrove Park. Regardless of how busy it is, it’s a really serene area, especially during autumn. You’ll likely see kids playing, dogs running around, couples holding hands, people sitting on benches enjoying the day - it’s a really wholesome, enjoyable walk that again, you can spend as little or as much time doing as you want!

GET DONUTS FROM TANTRUM

Right across the road from the Kelvingrove Museum is Tantrum Doughnuts, where you’ll find the most unique selection of homemade donuts I think I’ve ever seen. And they’re not the over-the-top, sickly sweet type of donuts that look pretty, but don’t taste good and are hard to eat. Tantrum serves donuts that focus on both classic and original flavor pairings that are absolutely delicious without being too showy. I got the blueberry and white chocolate old fashioned and the pistachio and hibiscus, and both were phenomenal. 100% recommend this stop while you’re in Glasgow!

WINDOW SHOP DOWNTOWN

There’s not much better when you’re in a new city than just taking some time to walk the streets and see what it’s all about, even if it’s just on your way to lunch! I like having somewhat of an open-ended itinerary for day trips so that you don’t feel too locked into a schedule. Timings never actually go to plan, and that just causes unnecessary stress, so why bother? If you’re going to plan out your entire day, make sure to plan some time for meandering around the city in search of pretty buildings, yummy food, cozy cafes, cool street art - whatever your heart desires.

GET LUNCH AT OX AND FINCH

Speaking of lunch - again, I’m all for walking around and stopping wherever makes your stomach growl, but if I can make a recommendation, it’s absolutely for Ox and Finch. Their menu is to die for, and every single thing I ate and drank was a 10/10. Pictured below are the basil sour cocktail, lemon and parsley gordal olives, buffalo mozzarella with plums, almonds, and thyme (no longer on the menu), and chips with roast garlic aioli. Genuinely some of the best small plates I’ve ever had, and the restaurant was super homey and inviting, especially dining solo!

EXPLORE THE HIDDEN LANE

Just three minutes away from Ox and Finch is the Hidden Lane: a collection of shops located on a small, hidden road off of Argyle Street. It’s a super quaint little area with colorful buildings and quirky stores that’s definitely worth a visit! You’ll find vintage clothing, antiques, coffee, tons of food, pottery, jewelry, and overall a really cool community of artists and their work! It was one of my favorite parts of Glasgow, so I fully recommend a stroll down the lane to see if anything catches your eye.

FIND THE HIGHLAND COWS AT POLLOCK COUNTRY PARK

If you’re looking to end your day in Glasgow with a little baby-cow-therapy, look no further than Pollock Country Park! It’s super easily accessible by bus, and it’s a gorgeous area that’s great for walking, relaxing, and of course, seeing adorable Highland cows. They are definitely not shy, and will come right up to the fence to say hi, so don’t be alarmed by their friendliness! I’m not sure if you’re supposed to pet them or not, so I didn’t out of caution and suggest that you don’t touch them either (also out of caution). Time does fly by when you’re watching these guys, though, and I could have stood there for hours just taking photos and watching them interact with each other. Definitely a highlight in Glasgow that lots of people might not realize is right outside the city, so I totally recommend! It’s a great way to end the day on a high note.