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HOW GLASGOW BUILT THE WORLD: THE SPARK OF IMAGINATION TO THE FLAMES OF INDUSTRY

Quick Details

Per Person

£ 15

DISCOVER GLASGOW’S RADICAL THINKERS AND HOW THEY CHANGED THE WORLD

Wander the cobbled streets of Glasgow’s Merchant City with tour guide Dave, and uncover the stories of rebels, reformers, and revolutionary thinkers who helped shape the city’s future.

From the world’s first professional police force to hot air balloon flights, early vlogging, and music legends, this walking tour celebrates the people who dared to dream differently. Learn about David Dale, the philanthropic merchant who built a better working world, and Hugh MacDonald, the pioneering “people’s journalist.” Stand in the footsteps of James Watt as he tinkered with the engine that helped fuel the Industrial Revolution. Explore the complex legacy of the Glasgow Merchants, and discover how some Glaswegians used their wealth and influence not for power, but for progress.

What to Expect:
✨ History to be proud of; how Glasgow led the world
✨Glasgow’s first police force, and the surprising stories behind it
✨ Inventors, industrialists, and early influencers who changed the game
✨ The architecture, ambition, and contradictions of a city built by merchants

About This Tour

When?: 16th & 17th August, 11am & 2pm

Price: £15 per person

Duration: 1.5 hours

Meeting point: outside Merchant Square, on the corner of Candleriggs and Bell St

Ending point: Ramshorn Church, Ingram St

We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

About This Event

We will be running a series of tours in May, June, July, August & September of 2025 for Glasgows 850th birthday, with a different topic every month. Please look on the event page for more information about our other tours!

Would you like to book this tour as a private tour for an event for your group? Get in touch, we offer discounts for larger groups! Our email: walkingtoursinglasgow@gmail.com