Glasgow for Guides 

Kelvingrove was one of the last great museums of the Victorian era, opening in 1901, as part of Glasgow's International Exhibition of that year. In 1902 it became Glasgow’s civic art gallery and museum. The city's residents regularly vote it their favourite building.

The collections range from fine art and design - including examples of French Impressionism and the Scottish Colourists - to natural history including Sir Roger the elephant, plus arms and armour, human history and Ancient Egypt.

You can give the students free time inside the museum, just make sure you have set a meeting point and time to regroup. 

Walk through Kelvingrove Park to the University 

The University of Glasgow is an ancient, world top 100 research-intensive institution with a rich history of "world-changing" innovations. It is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world, and one of Scotland's four ancient universities.

Glasgow University's prestigious past can be seen through achievements from its former students. 

• • James Watt (developed the modern steam engine)

  • Adam Smith (father of modern economics)

  • Lord Kelvin (created the Kelvin Scale)

  • Ian Donald (created first ultrasound image of a baby)

Take a look around the university buildings and the courtyard

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and is located on the River Clyde. It began as a small religious settlement in the Middle Ages, around a church founded by Saint Mungo, the city’s patron saint.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Glasgow grew very quickly because of trade, shipbuilding, and industry.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Clyde became one of the most important shipbuilding areas in the world. Many large and famous ships were built there, including passenger ships, warships, and cargo ships.

Shipbuilding gave work to thousands of people and helped Glasgow grow into a very large and busy city. The phrase “Clyde-built” became famous and was known for high quality. After the Second World War, shipbuilding slowly declined, but this past is still an important part of Glasgow’s history and identity today.

It's important to point out that life wasn't great for everyone, Victorian Glasgow was a city of dramatic contrasts: the "Second City of the Empire" booming with industrial wealth from shipbuilding and engineering, visible in grand architecture, juxtaposed with extreme poverty, overcrowding, disease, and harsh slums in the East End, creating stark divides between the wealthy merchants and the working-class masses. This era saw massive population growth, immense industrial power, pioneering infrastructure like early electric lighting and the subway, and iconic architecture. 

Glasgow Cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It was built in the Middle Ages and is dedicated to Saint Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow. The cathedral is special because it is one of the few Scottish churches that survived the Reformation almost unchanged. Inside, visitors can see beautiful stonework and the tomb of Saint Mungo.

Near the cathedral is the Glasgow Necropolis, a large Victorian cemetery on a hill. It was opened in the 1800s and is the burial place of many important people from Glasgow’s past. From the Necropolis, there are great views of the city. Together, the cathedral and the Necropolis show Glasgow’s long religious and social history.