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Glasgow River Walk

A photo guide to the Glasgow River Walk from Glasgow Green in the east to the Riverside Museum of Transport in the west on the River Clyde.

The Walk is from the Kings Bridge at Glasgow Green, just over 1 mile east of Glasgow centre, to the Transport Museum, just over 2 miles west of Glasgow centre.

You can walk all the way on the north side, and much of the way on the south side. Part of the south side between the Tradeston Squiggly Footbridge, and the Clyde Ark, has been closed off, so it is best to walk on the north side there.

Some of the Road Bridges here, when they were built, were the widest bridges in any UK cities.

Large Images on Flickr


The Kings Bridge

The Kings Bridge is situated at the east side of Glasgow Green, just over 1 mile east of Glasgow centre. This bridge was built in 1933 by the Engineer TPM Somers. This view shows the bridge has four equal flat spans.



Kings Bridge

Looking south across the Kings Bridge, down Ballater Street, showing the bridge is really wide with four lanes, two lanes going each way. The building with the high chimney across the river here is Ballantines Whisky Distillery. Map.


St Andrew's Suspension Bridge

A view just west of the Kings Bridge looking west to the St Andrew's Suspension Bridge, built in 1856 by the Engineer Neil Robson. This is a wrought iron and cast iron foot bridge, built to replace a small river crossing ferry.


St Andrew's Suspension Bridge

St Andrew's Suspension Bridge looking south. You can normally view rowing boats from this bridge, as there are two rowing clubs in the area.


Peoples Palace museum

The Peoples Palace museum is next to the St Andrew's Suspension Bridge, completed in 1898. The Museum tells the story of the people, and city of Glasgow, from 1750 to the end of the 20th century. The view from the top floor, looking out over the glasshouse is fantastic.
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Glasgow Green

Next to the People's Palace, is the 143 ft high Nelson's Column in the vast Glasgow Green park, built in 1806, the year after Nelson's death.

If you turn left at Nelson's Column, you go back to the riverside walk, where there are two rowing clubs, well worth viewing.


Glasgow Rowing

The Rowing Clubs at Glasgow Green with the Pipe Bridge in the distance.


Pipe Bridge

The Pipe Bridge and Tidal Weir were built in 1901 in Glasgow Green park. The weir has salt water on the west side, and fresh water on the east side.


The McLennan Arch

The McLennan Arch is situated at the west end of Glasgow Green. This Arch was originally built in 1796, as part of the Assembly Rooms on Ingram Street, designed by Robert and James Adam. That building was demolished in 1892. The Arch was preserved then erected here in 1922.


High Court of Justice building

Across from the Arch is the old High Court of Justice building, situated on the north side of the Albert Bridge, on the Saltmarket. This building was completed in 1811, the year after the death of its architect, William Stark. The area here was once referred to as Jail Square.


Albert Bridge

The Albert Bridge was built in 1871 by the Engineer Bell & Miller. This is a cast iron and wrought iron bridge. The bridge is situated at the west end of Glasgow Green, linking the Gorbals area on the south side, and the Saltmarket area on the north side.


Albert Bridge

Looking north over the Albert Bridge to the Saltmarket, and beyond that, the High Street.


City Union Rail Bridge

Next to the Albert Bridge is the City Union Rail Bridge from 1899 used for the St Enoch Train Station that closed in 1966. This Bridge is now used to connect Central and Queen Street Train Stations. There is a Lifeboat Training area here as well.


Victoria Bridge

Victoria Bridge is a few hundred yards west of the old City Union Railway Bridge. This bridge was completed in 1854 by the Engineer James Walker, one of the widest bridges in the UK at that time.


Victoria Bridge

Looking north over the Victoria Bridge from Gorbals Street to Stockwell Street. Just across the bridge, on the right, is a Clock Tower with no name that I can find so far. Victoria Bridge was converted to two lanes and cycle lanes in the early 2020s. Map G1 4SP


Victoria Bridge view west

Victoria Bridge looking west to the South Portland Street Suspension Bridge, and St Andrew's Cathedral on the right.
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St Andrew's Cathedral

St Andrew's Cathedral was built about 1814 by the architect James Gillespie Graham. This is the true cathedral in Glasgow now, as Glasgow Cathedral was only a Cathedral in the 1600s, it is now a Church of Scotland. You can visit St Andrews most days to view its interesting interior.
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South Portland Street Suspension Bridge

A view from the South Portland Street Suspension Bridge, looking north to Glasgow centre. This bridge was built in 1853 by the Engineer George Martin. There is an information board at the bridge, and some others, giving information about the bridges along the River Clyde. Map.


Glasgow Bridge

Glasgow Bridge is a few hundred yards west of the South Portland Bridge, completed in 1899 by the Engineer Blyth & Westland. Glasgow Bridge is at times named Jamaica Bridge, mainly local sand stone.


Glasgow Bridge

Glasgow Bridge looking north to Jamaica Street, and beyond that, Union Street, four lanes in a one way system, all running south. Map G1 4NP.


Central Train Station bridges

The large Rail Bridges that run into Central Train Station, built in 1878 and 1905.


Glasgow Central Station

Glasgow Central Train Station opened in 1879, mainly for Trains running to the south.


George V Bridge

George V Bridge was built in 1928 by Considere Construction Ltd, with Granite masonry over reinforced concrete box girders.


George V Bridge

A view north across the George V Bridge to Oswald Street in Glasgow centre with Hope Street beyond that. The four lanes all run north. Map.


Tradeston Footbridge

A view from the King George V Bridge looking west to the Tradeston Footbridge. This bridge connects the International Financial Services District on the north side, to the Tradeston district on the south side. You can walk down either side here, but only on the north side after the Tradeston Footbridge.


Tradeston Footbridge

A view looking north over the Tradeston Footbridge, also known as the Squiggly Bridge, built in 2009 by the Engineer Halcrow. The Tradestone area has a vast amount of new buildings, such as a casino, restaurants, hotels, and dwelling flats, many with river views. Map.


Kingston bridge

An image from the Tradeston Bridge, west to the Kingston M8 motorway bridge, completed in 1970 by W A Fairhurst & Partners. The Kingston is claimed to be the largest and busiest city road bridge in the UK. The bridge had to be strengthened in the 1990s, a ten year project while still being used.


Kingston Bridge

The Kingston Bridge where there is a large painting on the north side. The painting was completed in 2009 by the Australian artist, Sam Bates. This artist painted a number of paintings around Glasgow and at the Renfrew Ferry. Map.


Clyde Ark bridge

The Clyde Ark bridge a few hundred yards west of the Kingston Bridge, completed in 2006 to designs of the Halcrow Group. The Ark is sometimes referred to as the Squinty Bridge. It connects the Govan area in the south, to the Finnieston area in the north. The bridge was needed to reduce traffic on the Kingston Bridge.
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Clyde Arc

An image from the Clyde Arc, west to the Hilton Garden Inn, Finnieston Crane, SEC and OVO Hydro. The 165ft high crane was completed in 1932. The crane was used for lifting heavy machinery onto ships, such as steam trains for export. The crane has been retained as a landmark since being un-used from the 1990s. The Inn here has a riverside terrace, popular with walkers for coffee or dinks and meals.
Map . Wiki Page.


Bell's Bridge

Bell's Bridge looking west, completed in 1988 by the Engineers Crough & Hogg. The footbridge can rotate to allow large vessels up-river. This bridge was built for the Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988, to link the Garden Festival on the south side, to the SEC on the north side of the river. Map.


Millennium Bridge

The Millennium Bridge was completed in 2002 by the Engineer M G Bennett. The Millennium Bridge is a footbridge that connects to the
Glasgow Science Centre


Millennium Bridge

The Millennium Bridge looking west to the Riverside Museum of Transport, just over half of a mile west. That is the Waverley paddle steamer docked here. The centre of the Millennium Bridge can be raised to allow large vessels up-river. Map.


Clydeside Whisky Distillery

About 100 yards south of the Millennium Bridge, on the north side of the river, is the Clydeside Whisky Distillery with a visitor centre. The path is about half of a mile from here, west to the Riverside Museum of Transport and Tall Ship museum.


Riverside Museum

The Riverside Museum of Transport is a great free attraction, showing modes of travel throughout the 1800s and 1900s, one of Glasgow's top visitor attractions. There is also the Tall Ship museum that has to be visited, also free of charge.
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A Bridge is being built accross here in 2024 that will allow visits to Govan Old Church on the south side of the River Clyde, just a short walk from the Museum of Transport.


Govan Old Church

Govan Old Church has 31 pieces of early Medieval sculptures from the 800s to 1000s, including an ornate solid stone sarcophagus, carved stone slabs, and hogback Viking stones.


Govan Old Church Stones

Govan Old Church solid stone sarcophagus.
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This is the last bridge on the west side of the River Clyde, not counting the Clyde Tunnel 2 miles west, and the huge Erskine Bridge 7 miles west.

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