Tag: Doors Open Day

Following on from Glasgow Doors Open Day highlights, here are a few places to go outside the city centre.

Starting in Govan, Glasgow Press (Saturday only) is a real treat. Enjoy the smell and noise of old-timey letterpress printing, and get your name in headlines with a personalised newspaper, a collaboration with Newspaper Club. You can also enjoy a look at Govan’s historic graving docks while you’re there.

Heading further south, Camphill Gate, a historic tenement, and Langside Halls (across the road from each other) are interesting, and further afield Holmwood House, a spectacular Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson villa is worth the trip.

And I can’t wait to see what’s behind the doors of Govanhill Picture House.

In the west, Arlington Baths is one of my favourite buildings in the whole of Glasgow. This well-preserved Victorian baths has so many fantastic features, most famously the superb Turkish Baths. Not to be missed! I will be going along to see if the Slipper Room is still as ramshackle as it was in 2012 (above). 

St Charles Borromeo RC Church, North Kelvinside – Saturday only. A striking Gillespie, Kidd & Coia church. This is a short walk from Jaconelli’s Cafe on Maryhill Road if you need to be revived by ice cream.

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Glasgow Doors Open Day is my favourite weekend of the year. So many amazing buildings, and every year there are new surprises. Here are a few of my favourites in the city centre, that don’t need to be booked in advance.

Glasgow City Chambers, Saturday only. There are so many magnificent details in the City Chambers, it is always a surprise no matter how many times you visit. There are also free daily tours (Mon-Fri) during the rest of the year.

Garnethill Synagogue, Sunday only. Excellent opportunity to see inside this beautiful building on Hill Street.

Glasgow Art Club, Bath Street. One for the Mackintosh fans.

The Trades Hall, Merchant City. Lots of fun details in this historic Robert Adam-designed building.

The Pyramid, Anderston Kelvingrove Parish Church – striking Modernist church easily spotted by its green pyramid roof.

Also worth seeing:

• The Tenement House, Garnethill. A chance to see this National Trust property for free. It’s a fascinating glimpse of tenement life as it once was.
• Britannia Panopticon Music Hall. Always fun to visit, the Panopticon advertises itself as the world’s oldest surviving music hall. It has regular open days throughout the year.
• Glasgow Evangelical Church – a little hidden gem near Glasgow Cathedral.

I am also looking forward to tours of the Mitchell Library, Barrowlands Ballroom and Tennent’s Brewery.