The Merchant City: A Self Guided Audio Tour of Glasgow
Experience the magic of GPS on this self-guided walking tour through Glasgow. Three hundred years ago the wider Glasgow area was mostly countryside, with the Cathedral at its centre.
- 1 hour
- Mobile voucher
Experience the magic of GPS on this self-guided walking tour through Glasgow.
Three hundred years ago the wider Glasgow area was mostly countryside, with the Cathedral at its centre. The city began to change in the 1500s when Scotland became a Protestant country. Lucrative pilgrimages to Glasgow that had long been made by Roman Catholics ended, replaced by tobacco from America.
You’ll hear how Glasgow went from surviving to thriving, transitioning from the tobacco trade to cotton and, later, heavy engineering to eventually become the burgeoning ‘Second City’ of the Empire. How did these merchants become wealthy beyond our imaginings? Slavery.
We’ll explore Glasgow’s roles in slavery and its abolition while we walk the streets of the Merchant City district, discovering how the city developed from the 1600s until today. Everywhere you turn, from George Square to the Royal Exchange Square, you’ll encounter the wealth of Glasgow’s merchants written in stone.
Tickets will be delivered post-booking by email or physically delivered to your hotel
VOICEMAP CODE
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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.
This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
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- Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:
- Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app
- Create an account
- Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes
- Enter your code then select Download Now
PLEASE NOTE
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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.
This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.
When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.
Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.
SUPPORT
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For technical support and other queries, please email support@voicemap.me
Guide options
- Printed (English)
- Audio guide (English)
Prices
Included
- Get unlimited, lifetime use of this tour, before your booking date and after it (5)
Tips
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Route
- 1
George Square
Start your tour at George Square, the heart of Glasgow's civic life. Learn about its history and the mini Statue of Liberty, as well as the many notable statues that surround it.
- 2
City Chambers
Located on the east side of George Square, this grand municipal building showcases the wealth and ambition of Glasgow in the late 19th century. Discover its opulent interiors and fascinating history.
- 3
Equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington, Glasgow
Visit the famous statue with its iconic traffic cone hat. Discover the story behind this quirky tradition and its significance to the city's culture.
- 4
Royal Exchange Square
Walk to the Royal Exchange Square, home to the Gallery of Modern Art. Hear about Glasgow's role in the tobacco trade and how it led to the city's wealth.
- 5
Merchant City
Stroll through the Merchant City district, where the wealth from the tobacco and sugar trades is evident in the grand architecture. Learn about the merchants who built these stunning buildings and their impact on the city.
- 6
The Tron Church Glasgow
Explore the historic Tron Church, an important site in Glasgow's religious and social history. Learn about its role during the Reformation and its influence on the city's development.
- 7
St Andrews In The Square - Glasgow
A beautiful 18th-century former church now used as a cultural venue. Discover its history and the role it played in the lives of Glasgow’s merchants and their families.
- 8
Saints of Ingram
An elegant building that was originally a hospital and school for boys. Learn about its charitable origins and the impact of the Hutcheson brothers on Glasgow’s educational landscape.
- 9
Buchanan Street
One of Glasgow’s main shopping streets, filled with high-end shops and historic architecture. Hear about its transformation over the centuries and its role in the city’s commercial life.
- 10
Blythswood Square
End your tour at Blythswood Square, an elegant area that once housed the city's wealthy merchants. Discover the history of the square and its surrounding buildings, which reflect the grandeur of Glasgow's past.
Location
Start point
Meeting point
You must make your own way to the start point
Start points:
- The statue of Walter Scott is in the centre of George Square; the tour starts at the statue. George Square is in the centre of the city, beside Queen Street Station. It is easily reached on foot, by bus, or by train. - George Square