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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Map . RSS Information Page.
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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.
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The Rowing Clubs at Glasgow Green with the Pipe
Bridge in the distance.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Looking north over the Albert Bridge to the
Saltmarket, and beyond that, the High Street.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Victoria Bridge looking west to the South Portland
Street Suspension Bridge, and St Andrew's Cathedral
on the right.
Map. Large Image.
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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.
Map G1 4ER. RSS Information Page
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The large Rail Bridges that run into Central Train
Station, built in 1878 and 1905.
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Glasgow Central Train Station opened in 1879,
mainly for Trains running to the south.
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George V Bridge was built in 1928 by Considere
Construction Ltd, with Granite masonry over
reinforced concrete box girders.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Map. Large Image.
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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.
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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.
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The Millennium Bridge was completed in 2002 by the
Engineer M G Bennett. The Millennium Bridge is a
footbridge that connects to the Glasgow Tower for
amazing views and the
Glasgow Science Centre
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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.
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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.
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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.
Map G3 8RS . RS Page.
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The Govan - Partick Bridge was completed in
September 2024 next to the Riverside Museum, allowing
a short walk between the Riverside Museum and Govan
Old Church that can be seen on the right in this
image.
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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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.
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Govan Old Church solid stone sarcophagus.
RS Page . Map
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Fairfield Govan Heritage Shipbuilding Museum is a
short walk west of Govan Old Church, for the history
of Shipbuilding on the River Clyde. This was the
largest shipbuilders in the world in the early
1900s.
RS Page . Map
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