What are the top ten free things to do in Glasgow?

Glasgow has come in for an unfair amount of stick in the past and has been left with an unjust reputation. So banish preconceptions that have anything to do with football from your mind, because Glasgow is one of the most culturally rich cities in the UK, if not the world.

Literally packed full of museums, galleries, parks and other attractions, there is so much to do in the city that won't cost you a penny and help make it the perfect destination for backpackers.

So, in keeping with our recent guides to Edinburgh and Newcastle, what are the top ten free things to see and do while staying in a Glasgow hostel?  If you're visiting the city for the first time, you'd best prepare yourself...


Peruse the People's Palace and its stunning Winter Gardens

If you want to learn more about the history of Glasgow, there is no better place to go than the People's Palace.

Packed full of artefacts, paintings and photographs that shed light on the city's social and cultural history, it offers real insight into how Glaswegians have fared since 1750. Next door are the wonderful botanical Winter Gardens, which offer the chance to explore an array of exotic palm trees and plants.

Entry is free and it is open six days a week, from 10am until 5pm, apart from Fridays and Sundays when it opens at 11am. It is closed on Mondays.


Take a tour of The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is a stunning building that used to house the Glasgow Herald newspaper in the 19th century but fell into disrepair and was reopened by the Queen in 1999, following a £13 million restoration project.

Now, it is the Centre for Design and Architecture and has an array of exhibitions devoted equally to the two subjects.

It is one of many places in Glasgow where the legacy of the designer, architect and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh can be felt, and his influence on the building in its former life is celebrated with the permanent Mackintosh Interpretation Centre.

Found on Mitchell Lane in the centre of the city, it is open from 10.30am until 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, and from 12pm until 5pm on Sundays.


Look back in time at Victoria Park's Fossil Grove

To the west of the city is the beautiful Victoria Park - one of the many gorgeous green parts of Glasgow.

The large 50-acre park is great to explore and is packed with things to see and do, including a war memorial, working 19th-century clock tower, an arboretum and two curling rinks.

Hidden deep within is the magical Fossil Grove - the preserved remains of a 330 million-year-old forest that were uncovered when the park was being constructed in the 19th century. The accidental discovery was then excavated to reveal 11 fossilised tree stumps preserved exactly as they grew.

Viewable from an overlooking balcony, it is open daily between 12pm and 5pm, from April 1st until September 30th.


Visit the Gallery of Modern Art

Residing in the iconic former business and commercial exchange is the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), the most popular modern art gallery in Scotland.

Glasgow is renowned as a centre of art, and the impressive GoMA is home to some amazing collections, with regular temporary exhibitions running throughout the year that are always worth a visit.

A great library and cafe can also be found in GoMA, which is located in Royal Exchange Square in the heart of the city. Open seven days a week, it closes at 5pm every day apart from Thursdays, when it stays open until 8pm.


Kick a ball around Kelvingrove Park

Another of the 90 or so parks and gardens that lie within Glasgow's city limits, Kelvingrove Park is a vast, 85-acre expanse of greenland that is well worth exploring.

Filled with grand Victorian architecture, monuments and even a river, it is home to thriving wildlife and has its own art galleries and museum.

Cottages and monuments dating back to the turn of the 20th century provide some of the many highlights, with a skate park, tennis courts, bowling greens and a play area also offering alternative entertainment for summer days. Don't forget to pack a picnic, you could be there a while!


Rummage around Polmadie Car Boot Sale

The huge Polmadie Car Boot Sale in Glasgow runs three times a week and is a magnet for bargain hunters.

Loads of stalls selling everything you could possibly imagine can be found every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and the market itself is fully covered, so come rain or shine it's always on the go.

The Market runs from 6am until 2.30pm at weekends and from 8am until 2pm on Wednesdays. You will find it just off Polmadie Road on Jessie Street - the other side of the M74 from Glasgow Metropolitan College. If you're sat-navving it, you want the postcode G42 0PG.


Explore the Necropolis

If you're looking for something a little bit more on the macabre side of things, then the Necropolis could be right up your street.

The immense Victorian garden cemetery is overlooked by Glasgow Cathedral and spans a whopping 37 acres.

Tours are organised by the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis charity - who just ask for donations to help fund the constant restoration work they do - but make sure you book in advance because they're always over-subscribed.

With more than 50,000 people remembered at the Necropolis, there are many amazing stories and gothic sculptures to take in, but if you can't get on a tour you can always pay it a visit by yourself.


Check out the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery

Run by the University of Glasgow, the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery is the oldest public museum in Scotland and is more than 200 years old.

Packed full of incredibly diverse artefacts, from a Triceratops skull to rare works of art, it was founded by Dr William Hunter and many of its displays stem from his original collections.

While the art gallery is closing for refurbishment in 2012, the Museum, Zoology Museum and Mackintosh House that make up the Hunterian will remain open.

It is open six days a week, from 10am until 5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and from 11am until 4pm on Sundays.


Hop aboard a vintage bus at the Riverside Museum

Formerly known as the Museum of Transport, it relocated and more than doubled its collection to become the Riverside Museum, and the effort was well worth it.

With more than 3,000 items now on display, visitors can look back through travelling history and hop aboard many of the vintage vehicles at the Pointhouse Place attraction. There is also a Riverside Trail to follow around the outskirts of the museum, while guided tours lasting around an hour and a half can be booked in advance.

It is open seven days a week until 5pm from 10am on most days, with staff getting an extra hour in bed on Fridays and Sundays, when it opens at 11am.


Spot a bargain at The Barras market

In the east-end of Glasgow you'll find The Barras, a huge street and indoor market.

The historic market has been around since shortly after the First World War and is home to countless traders and merchants who still ply their wares every Saturday and Sunday, between 10am and 5pm.

In local dialect the term 'barras' means 'barrows' and is a reference to the traditional handcarts that were used by traders back in the day.

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