Glasgow Cathedral Precinct

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If you’re looking to explore local history in Glasgow, look to the city’s Cathedral Precinct for a half day of discovering the city’s past. The complex includes parks and squares dominated by Glasgow Cathedral and The Royal Infirmary, a historic hospital complex which is still in use today. Glasgow Necropolis, located on a hill behind the main buildings, is quite elaborate and is worth spending some time in if the weather allows.

Glasgow Cathedral

• Winter Hours: open daily 10AM – 4PM
• 1PM – 4PM Sundays
• Summer Hours: 9:30AM – 5PM
• 1PM – 5PM Sundays
• Closes for lunch 12:30PM – 1:30PM daily except Sundays
• Last admission 15 minutes before lunch and again at end of day
• Glasgow Cathedral Website:

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/glasgow-cathedral

Likely the oldest surviving structure in Glasgow, construction of the city’s mighty Cathedral began in the 1100s. The style is ornate and distinctly Gothic, with similarities to other large cathedrals of the day like Notre Dame and The Se in Lisbon. Incorporated into the cathedral in it’s lower level amongst the intricate vaults and pillars is the tomb of St Mungo (St Kentigern), an early Christian missionary and the city’s patron saint. The main chapel includes gorgeous stained glass windows but interestingly did not have any pews or seating for the congregation when we visited on a weekday. There is also a smaller side chapel which has a heavenly feel, with blue paint and white details. Anglican services are held every Sunday at 11AM in the main cathedral and are open to the public. In the church yard on the side of the cathedral is a large burying ground where it is nearly impossible to not step of the grave markers with their fading carvings and inscriptions.

This gorgeous and fairly new stained glass window in Glasgow Cathedral tell the creation story – that’s Adam and Eve in purple in the bottom center panels.

Glasgow Cathedral Window

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A relatively new stained glass window in Glasgow Cathedral shows Adam and Eve beneath the sun and moon surrounded by stars and roses. The craftsmanship of the window’s intricate design is astounding. The color palette is also beautiful and thoughtfully selected. I imagine this took years to create. To find out about visiting Glasgow Cathedral: … Read more

Glasgow Cathedral Window quantity

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Category: Galleries by Subject, 2/3 Aspect Ratio, Aspect Ratio, Galleries By Location, Galleries by Orientation, Human Creations, Portrait / Vertical, Scotland

Tags: Glasgow, Glasgow Cathedral, Scotland, stained glass window

St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art

• Hours: 10AM – 5PM daily
• 11AM – 5PM Fridays and Sundays

Website: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/st-mungo-museum-of-religious-life-and-art

This small musum is located in a building which looks like a church from the outside, found on the right side of the main Cathedral Square. The museum houses a collection of religious art from a variety of religions, including Hindu and Buddhist art as well as historical objects related to St Mungo and the spread of Christianity in Scotland. The precinct gift shop is located here as well. 

Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary Museum

• Hours: 11AM – 3PM Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
• 1PM – 3PM Wednesday
• 12PM – 2PM Saturday
• Closed Sunday and Monday

Website: https://friendsofgri.org/museum/

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/friends-of-glasgow-royal-infirmary-museum-p2706231

A small, single-room museum dedicated to the development of medicine in Glasgow. I was unaware that Glasgow, and the Royal Infirmary in particular, were so instrumental in the development of modern medicine as we know it today. Of course you are dealing with the human body and the medical practice here, so this may not be a good fit for the squeamish or germ-phobic. The museum is on the left up the stairs from the main Cathedral Square and has very limited hours.

Glasgow Necropolis

• Hours: 7:00AM – 4:30PM daily

Website: https://www.glasgownecropolis.org/

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/glasgow-necropolis-p246371

Found on the hill behind Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Necropolis is an ornate and sprawling Victorian-era graveyard with many elaborate headstones, crypts, and monuments. It’s location allows for pretty views looking out over the sprawling 37-acre Necropolis complex to the Cathedral and the greater city beyond. The paths are steep in places and there are many stairs. Follow down the wide lane to the left of Glasgow Cathedral, then cross the Bridge of Sighs to reach the resting place of over 50,000 souls including the tombs of several prominent citizens from Glasgow’s past. When we visited a decent rain started falling so we just walked down to the bridge for a moment but did not feel the need to go wander through a cemetery in the cold rain.

General Considerations

The entire Glasgow Cathedral Precinct takes 2 hours to visit excluding Glasgow Necropolis which visitors could spend hours in if the weather is agreeable. While St Mungo and Glasgow Necropolis are open daily for decent stretches of time, Glasgow Cathedral has more limited open times and the Royal Infirmary Museum’s hours are quite limited. A good strategy if you’re visiting Tuesday – Saturday is to head to the Royal Infirmary Museum while the Cathedral closes for lunch. 

Also of note – nearby on High Street is a very well-known piece of street art of the side of a building depicting a man who appears poor with a sparrow perched on his finger titled “St Mungo”, which is included in a larger self-guided walking tour of prominent Glasgow street art.