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The Merchant City: A Self Guided Audio Tour of Glasgow

New To The Site! Glasgow, Scotland
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from $8.99 per person

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60 to 80 minutes (approx.)
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Instant confirmation

Overview

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.

What's Included

  • Get unlimited, lifetime use of this tour, before your booking date and after it
  • The virtual playback option, so you can listen to this tour like an audiobook from anywhere
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

    Meeting Location

    Meeting point

    Glasgow G2 1DH
    UK

    Show on Google Maps

    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    End point

    Blythswood Square
    Glasgow G2 4AD, UK

    The tour ends at Madeline Smith House at No. 7 Blythswood Square.

    What To Expect

    George Square (Pass By)

    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.
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    City Chambers (Pass By)

    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.
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    Equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington, Glasgow (Pass By)

    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.
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    Royal Exchange Square (Pass By)

    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.
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    Merchant City (Pass By)

    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.
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    The Tron Church Glasgow (Pass By)

    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.
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    St Andrews In The Square - Glasgow (Pass By)

    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.
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    Saints of Ingram (Pass By)

    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.
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    Buchanan Street (Pass By)

    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.
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    Blythswood Square (Pass By)

    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.
    Read more
    Show 8 more stops

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

    Frequently Asked Questions

    (6)

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The Merchant City: A Self Guided Audio Tour of Glasgow?

    A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST). Read more Apr 2025

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

    We're here to help.
    Activity code: C-110804P738


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    Frequently Asked Questions (6)

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.

    Filter by:

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The Merchant City: A Self Guided Audio Tour of Glasgow?
    A:
    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST).
    Apr 2025
    Q: What's included in the price?
    A:
    The following is included:
    • Get unlimited, lifetime use of this tour, before your booking date and after it.
    • The virtual playback option, so you can listen to this tour like an audiobook from anywhere.
    • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata.
    • Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start.
    • Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour.
    Apr 2025
    Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
    A:

    The minimum age to participate is 6..

    Apr 2025
    Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
    A:

    If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

    If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

    Apr 2025
    Q: Is this an accessible tour?
    A:

    Accessibility information for the The Merchant City: A Self Guided Audio Tour of Glasgow is as follows:

    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    Apr 2025
    Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
    A:

    Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for The Merchant City: A Self Guided Audio Tour of Glasgow will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

     

     

    Mar 2024

    What's Included

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    • Get unlimited, lifetime use of this tour, before your booking date and after it
    • The virtual playback option, so you can listen to this tour like an audiobook from anywhere
    • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
    • Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
    • Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour

    Additional Info

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

    Report Product Issue

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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    • If you find a lower retail or prepaid rate for the same tour, offered on the same date, time and priced in the same currency as your original purchase, on any other website between the time you book on City Boat Tours and 48 hours before your trip starts, we will refund the difference.
    • The lowest price guarantee does not apply where a lower overall price is found by breaking down the purchased tour into one or more parts sold separately.
    • City Boat Tours reserves the right to verify the lower price details. Examples of acceptable forms of verification include a web screenshot or a web address.
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    Free Cancellation

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    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    100% refund
    No refund

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST).

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