Commonwealth Games
28 June 2026
· 5 min read
Going to Glasgow 2026? Here’s what to do beyond the venues
You've got your ticket. The sport's sorted. But between sessions — and Glasgow has a lot going on between sessions — here's how to make the most of the city.
The West End
If you're based near the Games venues you're already in the right part of the city. The West End is where Glasgow is at its best — leafy streets, great food, architecture worth stopping for.
Kelvingrove Park
Right in the heart of the West End and one of the finest urban parks in Scotland. If the sun's out — and in late July there's a reasonable chance — this is where you want to be. Wide open lawns, the River Kelvin running through it, and the red sandstone towers of the Art Gallery on its southern edge. Brilliant for an hour between sessions.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
Free entry, and it earns its reputation as Scotland's most visited free attraction. Salvador Dalí's
Christ of St John of the Cross, a genuine World War II Spitfire hanging from the ceiling, and over 8,000 exhibits across 22 galleries. The building alone — red sandstone, Baroque towers, built in 1901 — is worth the visit. Allow a couple of hours. See
glasgowlife.org.uk for opening times.
Ashton Lane
A cobbled back lane tucked off Byres Road, a short walk from Kelvingrove. Fairy lights strung overhead, a handful of good bars and restaurants, and a boutique cinema. This is where the locals actually go. Try the Ubiquitous Chip for a proper Scottish meal, or just grab a pint somewhere with a good view of the lane.
University of Glasgow
The campus is a five-minute walk from Kelvingrove and it's genuinely stunning — Gothic Revival towers, quadrangles, over 100 listed buildings. Free to walk around. If you're into architecture, this alone justifies an hour in the West End. Founded in 1451, it's the fourth oldest university in the UK.
The Clyde
Most of the Games venues sit right on or near the River Clyde, so you'll pass through this part of the city anyway. Make it count.
Riverside Museum
Free entry. Designed by Zaha Hadid and opened in 2011, the building is a statement in itself — a jagged zinc roof that zig-zags along the riverfront. Inside: over 3,000 objects covering Glasgow's transport history, from vintage trams and locomotives to a recreation of a 1900s Glasgow street. Great for families. Right on the Clyde, walking distance from the SEC. See
glasgowlife.org.uk for opening times.
The Clydeside Distillery is a five-minute walk from the Riverside Museum — Glasgow's first dedicated single malt Scotch whisky distillery in over 100 years. Tours and tastings available if you fancy something a bit different between sessions.
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City centre
Glasgow Green
The oldest public park in the city, sitting right on the Clyde in the east end of the city centre. TRNSMT Festival will have just wrapped up here in early July, so the park will be in good shape by the time the Games begin. Worth a walk through — the People's Palace museum on the Green is free and gives a good feel for Glasgow's social history.
The Glasgow Mural Trail
28 large-scale murals dotted around the city centre, all free, all walkable. A decent self-guided route takes around 90 minutes and takes you past some of the best street art in the UK. Good way to fill a morning if you've got an afternoon session.
For the football fans
Glasgow is a football city, and there's enough here to keep any fan busy for a full day. All three destinations below are worth the trip — but note they're all on the south side, a bit further from the Games venues than the West End.
Scottish Football Museum & Hampden Park
The national football museum sits inside Hampden Park — the national stadium and the venue where Glasgow last hosted the Commonwealth Games athletics in 2014. The museum covers the full history of the Scottish game, and stadium tours are available. Getting there is straightforward: train from Glasgow Central on the Neilston line, three stops to Mount Florida station — the stadium is a two-minute walk from the platform. See
scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk for opening times and tour details.
Rangers FC — Ibrox Stadium
Stadium tours and the Rangers Museum are available at Ibrox, one of the most iconic football grounds in Britain. Ibrox is easy to reach — take the subway from the city centre to Ibrox station, a short ride on the circular line, and the stadium is right there. Check
rangers.co.uk for tour availability during the Games period.
Celtic FC — Celtic Park
Stadium tours are also on offer at Celtic Park in the east end of the city. There's no subway station nearby, but it's reachable by bus from the city centre — the 61 and 62 services run that way. Worth checking
celticfc.com for tour schedules ahead of your visit.
Not making the trip?
If you're watching from home rather than heading through, TNT Sports has live coverage of every session and Channel 5 will be showing daily highlights — so you won't miss the big moments. The Watchsport app will have every Commonwealth Games session listed across both channels, so you can plan your viewing around what you actually want to watch.
