Glasgow History Shipbuilding

Clydebuilt Exhibition & Scottish Maritime Museum

Pushing up along the Clyde from Glasgow Centre (by Clyde River boat trip is easiest - see below), the superb Clydebuilt exhibition is situated at Braehead. It's the place to head for 300 years of Clyde River history and Glasgow shipbuilding heritage.

The oldest Clydebuilt vessel - M.V.Kyles is here, and dates from 1863, built by Fullerton's of Paisley. Clydebuilt is a good one for the kids too, with opportunities to steer your own ship, romp around the oldest Clydebuilt vessel and take the controls of a real steam engine. The attraction, combined with a boat trip down the Clyde River should keep the kids happy for a full day.

For further information contact Customer Services Clydebuilt, Braehead Shopping Centre, Kings Inch Road, Glasgow G51 4BN. Telephone 0141 886 1013. (checkout the Scottish Maritime Museum's weblink right for details on the Clydebuilt attraction, plus more important museums and maritime museums dotted around the Clyde & Ayrshire coast).

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Glasgow Clyde River Boat Trips

A trip to Glasgow isn't complete without a boat trip down the historic River Clyde (which alongside old historic shipyards has some pretty dynamic modern architecture lining its banks these days!).

Clyde Waterbus Services (weblink right) offer boat trips on the River Clyde on the Pride O' Clyde waterbus. The boat departs from Glasgow City Centre waterfront and journeys all the way up to Braehead shopping centre taking in the Clyde Auditorium, the Finnieston Crane and the Glasgow Science Centre along the way.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can sit back on the boat with a nice drink and absorb a piece of Glasgow's shipbuilding history. The boat trip lasts around 30 minutes. The departure point at Glasgow is just below Central Station Railbridge on the Broomilaw - just at the bottom of Jamaica Street opposite Jurys Inn Hotel. The departure point at Braehead is the waiting room on the left side of the Maritime Museum with Green Car park adjacent (you go through a swing gate to get to the waiting room). Check the Clyde Waterbus website right for departure times which are around every one and a half hours daily.

See also the weblink right for Waverley Excursions, and boat trips on the Clyde River via the character Waverley Paddle Steamer. Cruising 'doon the watter' on the Waverley Paddle Steamer is one of the best ways to take in the Clyde (they offer boat trips further afield too around the Ayrshire coast and more). The Waverley Steam Paddler's main port is the Glasgow Science Centre, and it chugs on up towards Dunoon and Rothesay. Pre-book online via their website right, or contact the Waverley booking line on 0845 130 4647. The Waverley Excursions Departure point is on the Southside of the Clyde adjacent to the Glasgow Science Centre.

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Glasgow Science Centre, Clyde River Southside

Nearer to Glasgow City Centre along the Clyde River is one of Glasgow's newest attractions - the Glasgow Science Centre. Its on the south side of the river facing onto the Scottish Exhibition Centre and combines a selection of attractions including the Science centre crammed with interactive science oriented exhibits (great for kids), a planetarium, an IMAX cinema, a Science Show Teahtre and the 127m Glasgow Tower. Checkout the Glasgow Science Centre's weblink right for current exhibits, workshops and Science Theatre shows.

If you've never been to an IMAX cinema, now's your chance in Glasgow here at the Science Centre complex. Action packed films like the Harry Potter Movies are usually on the menu, blown up to football pitch size and boomed out on a 12,000 watt sound system. 2D and 3D cinema is also on the menu.

It takes two and a half minutes to ride to the top of the 100m Glasgow Tower. For views of Glasgow and the Clyde River the scene from this skytower is the best. Abseiling down Glasgow Tower also seems to be rather popular these days.

Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow G51 1EA . Tel. 0871 540 1000. (weblink right for details).

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Glasgow Developments¬

If you're keeping a watch on Glasgow's most exciting developments, particularly in architecture, you might want to be keeping your eyes on activity along the Clyde River. The impressive Armadillo or Clyde Auditorium (its name relates to its striking shape) opened in 1997. The Armadillo Concert Hall and Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre are situated on the northbank side of the Clyde River.

The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) opened earlier in 1985. Outside of London, this is one of Europe's largest conference centres and Glasgow has clearly put itself on the conference venue map! (see SECC weblink right for details). Foster & Partners are the architects responsible here, and the Armadillo concert hall is a particularly impressive achievement. The whole area of the Clyde Waterbank here is on the crest of a boom, with future plans afoot for a new Transport Museum base further up around Glasgow Harbour and the Tall Ship,

A choice of restaurants, hotels, bars and shops are evolving too around the Conference Centre and Concert Hall. Check the SECC weblink right for forthcoming events including big music names, exhibitions and booking conference venues. Its all conveniently close to Glasgow International Airport (just a 15 minute drive away). From within Glasgow it couldn't be easier to get here. Trains run regularly around every 20 minutes from Glasgow's central station to the Exhibition Centre's own railway station. Download a detailed directions map from the SECC website. It's a pleasant walk along the riverside footpath (around a mile) from Glasgow City Centre.

Also on the northside of the Clyde and within walking distance of the Scottish Exhibition centre is the Glenlee Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour (weblink right for details). Development is ongoing here (soon the area will bring under one umbrella a maritime and shipbuilding theme, with the Transport Museum also finding a new home here). The annual Glasgow River Festival (in July, weblink right) continues to make waves. Activities revolve around the Tall Ship, Glasgow Science Centre and the SECC. You might want to join the long-haul sail of one of the old ships sailing during the festival, including the Tenacious - the UK's largest square rigged tall ship. The Tenacious sails as far afield as Southampton, with shorter trips available to Oban. See the Glasgow River Festival weblink right for details.

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