The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451 making it the fourth oldest university in the UK and second oldest in Scotland. They do run tours of the building for visitors but they weren’t running on the day I went so I did the self-guided tour which can be found on the university’s website.
The first part of the university I visited was Professor’s Square, 13 houses that were designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott (architect of St Pancras Renaissance Hotel and the Albert Memorial, among others). The houses were built in the 1870s as accommodation for professors but are now admin offices and teaching spaces.
The Gilbert Scott building, and the one I most wanted to explore is obviously named after its designer Gilbert Scott who actually died before the building was finished leaving it to be completed by his son John Oldrid Scott in 1891. It really is stunning in person, particularly the tower.
The Cloisters connect the East and West Quadrangle to the Gilbert Scott building and I was keen to see them in person.
The Lion and Unicorn staircase was built in 1690 by William Riddel. It was part of the original university’s campus on the High Street; when the university was moved to its present location in 1870 the staircase was moved over by horse and cart and rebuilt on the new site.
It’s a lovely place to visit. You can find more photos here.
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