This Greenock shore excursion is built for first time visitors who want an overview of Glasgow with the flexibility to shape the afternoon around their own interests.
Your guide meets you at the pier and drives you into Glasgow, orienting you to Scotland's largest city along the way. The morning begins with a panoramic driving tour covering the main landmarks of what is often called Scotland's finest Victorian city.
From there you stop for an interior visit to Glasgow Cathedral, dedicated to St. Mungo and the oldest building still standing in Glasgow. The current structure dates largely to the end of the 13th century, though it incorporates elements from earlier 12th century cathedrals on the same site, along with two 15th century additions, the Blacader Aisle and the organ loft. The Quire holds a notable collection of modern stained glass installed mainly in the 1960s, regarded as one of the finest such collections in Europe. In the Lower Church you see the tomb of St. Mungo, also known as St. Kentigern, who founded a monastic settlement on this site in the 6th century, the origin point of the city of Glasgow itself.
After the cathedral, you have free time for lunch at a local pub. The afternoon is yours to direct: your guide can take you to any combination of Glasgow's free-entry sites based on your interests, including more time in the Old Glasgow area around the cathedral, the Necropolis cemetery, Provand's Lordship, St. Mungo's Museum of Religious Life, the People's Palace at Glasgow Green, Kelvingrove Museum, the Riverside Museum and the Glenlee tall ship, the City Chambers, the Burrell Collection, the Hunterian Museum at Glasgow University, or the Mackintosh House. Small groups can decide on the spot, while larger groups should let us know their preferences in advance in case a reservation is needed.
Late in the afternoon your guide returns you to the pier in Greenock.