Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis
About
Glasgow's medieval cathedral, the only mainland Scottish cathedral to survive the Reformation largely intact, stands on the site of the city's founding legend, the burial place of St Mungo, patron saint of Glasgow. Free to enter (a timed slot must be pre-booked through Historic Environment Scotland), the building's dim, atmospheric lower crypt around the saint's tomb is the highlight. Behind and above the cathedral, the Necropolis climbs a steep hillside in a spectacular Victorian sprawl of monuments and mausolea modelled on Pere Lachaise in Paris, built by the city's merchant elite as their own eternal advertisement for success. It is free, open from early morning to late afternoon daily, and one of the best free viewpoints over the city centre.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓The cathedral's lower crypt around the tomb of St Mungo
- ✓The Necropolis's Victorian merchant mausolea on the hill behind
- ✓One of the best free panoramas over the city centre from the Necropolis summit
- ✓The only mainland Scottish cathedral to survive the Reformation largely intact
Tips
- →Cathedral entry is free but requires pre-booking a time slot online; last entry is well before closing.
- →The Necropolis is open 7:00 to 16:30 daily, free, no booking; paths are steep and can be slippery after rain, wear real shoes.
- →Visit the Necropolis in better light if photography matters to you; the hillside catches good late-afternoon sun.
Best Season
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