Glasgow Cathedral

About

Stand in the spot where Scotland’s largest city first began to take shape. The thriving burgh that sprang up around Glasgow Cathedral has since grown into the vibrant city we know today. 

The awe-inspiring building dedicated to St Kentigern, also known as St Mungo, was built in the 1100s and drew countless pilgrims to his shrine. Today, it’s the most complete medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland, having survived the Protestant Reformation almost intact.

During your visit you can:

- Step down into the crypt built in the mid-1200s to house the tomb of St Mungo (St Kentigern).

- See the pulpitum, a richly carved stone screen between choir and nave added in the early 1400s.

- Find the effigy of Bishop Wishart, an ally of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

- Take our fun fact-finding Explorer Quiz or Symbol Spotter Quiz.

- Tour the cathedral with our audio guide using your own mobile phone with internet access. Buy your audio guide when you purchase your tickets, with a 20% discount for members. We'll show you how to load the guide to your phone in an email before you arrive.

About:

All areas of the cathedral will be open with the exception of the central aisle in the Choir area, but can be viewed from the crossing area.

Parking:

A public car park is about 80m from the cathedral’s west door, on the opposite side of the High Street.

Approach to site:

The cathedral is approached over paving, lowered kerbs and cobbles.

Visiting the site:

Visitors will be asked to follow a one-way route through the cathedral. Please follow signage wherever indicated. Access to some spaces may be limited.

- The west door has a stair lift down into the nave and a call point. Please use this or call the stewards on 0141 552 6891 to have the door opened.

- The main entrance on the south side has four stone steps up into the nave.

- The nave is level with a smooth slabbed floor.

- The choir is up five stone steps or via the stair lift. Speak to staff for help accessing the stair lift. (The lift has broken down, we are working to get it back up and running).

- The Blacader aisle will not be open at this time.

- The chapter house is reached up two steps and down eight. Information on the space will be available for those who cannot access it.

- The crypt is down 25 steps with a single handrail.

- There can be loud noises from the organ at times.

- There are pews in the choir and nave in which visitors can sit.

Toilets:

There are no toilets available at the cathedral. The nearest adapted toilet is at St Mungo Museum about 15m away. If the museum is closed, the next accessible public toilet is in John Lewis in Buchanan Galleries 0.8miles/1.2km away.

Dogs:

Assistance dogs are permitted at all our sites and within roofed areas. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and not left unattended at any time. Owners must pick up after their dogs.

Visitors' dogs are not permitted at the cathedral.