48 hours in Glasgow with a comedy night built in
So, you’ve got the weekend in Glasgow: what’s the best way to spend it? You don’t want to cram in so much that you need a rest day. But it’d be criminal to visit without seeing staples like the Riverside museum and Glasgow’s very own West End.
Then, there’s the company you keep: how can you make everyone happy? Are you headed to Glasgow with your other half and need to find a compromise between shopping and museums?
Maybe your weekend in Glasgow is more of a pals adventure, where you want a mix of exploring and something lively to do at night that isn’t clubbing. Taking a solo trip? The world is your oyster – but even a loose itinerary will make your trip feel more structured.
Luckily, Glasgow’s great for all of it because you can do culture in the day, and you’re never far from a warm place to reset when the heavens open. If there’s one thing we’d recommend (especially when you want a crowd-pleaser), it’s a night of laughs in the basement of Blackfriars on Bell Street.
Home to Stuart Mitchell’s Comedy Club, it’s here you can enjoy 90-minute stand-up shows from up-and-coming comedians and some of Scotland’s top talent. With that night booked, all you need to do is fill in the gaps for the rest of the weekend plan.
Friday evening: arrive, get central (take it easy!)
Arriving late Friday night? We recommend checking into a central location and keeping your schedule fairly open.
Rather than rushing around, take some time to acclimatise: Merchant City is ideal because you can walk most places, and you’re not committing to big travel just to find food.
On the night you arrive (time-dependent), take a short leg-stretcher through town – Buchanan Street is usually busy with shops, and it’s an easy, low-effort way to feel like you’ve touched down.
The chances of it raining during your weekend in Glasgow are very high, so if the weather’s looking gloomy, swap the wander for something indoors.
Blackfriars (open midday to midnight daily) serves up Napoli-style, thin-base pizzas made with proper mozzarella and an excellent rotation of toppings. Pizza and a pint: what more could you ask for?
Saturday morning: Kelvingrove and the West End
When you wake up refreshed on your first morning in Glasgow, start Saturday with one of the city’s best attractions: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It’s free to enter, open 10am–5pm on Saturdays, and it’s the kind of place that suits any pace.
From Kelvingrove, you’ve got an easy wander to the West End. Take your time through the park and the streets nearby: grab a quick refuel with some coffee, or get a bite to eat as you venture past Glasgow’s beautiful architecture.
The key, here, is to just take things easy: you don’t want to overplan and end up shattered before the end of the night.
Saturday afternoon: Riverside Museum and a bit of Clyde-side
By this point, you’ve already seen quite a lot of the city, but there’s much more to come. After lunch, head for the Riverside Museum. Like Kelvingrove, it’s also free entry, so you’ll have plenty of time to learn more about Glasgow’s transport and technology.
Step back in time to ‘Main Street, a recreated, historically accurate Glasgow street scene from around 1890–1930. Need a breather (and more food)?
The on-site Riverside Café is handy for a warm sit-down, with proper lunch options like soup-and-sandwich combos and toasties (including a haggis-and-cheddar toastie, because what else would you have in Glasgow)?
Saturday night: end it properly at Stuart Mitchell’s Comedy Club
The easiest way to wrap up a weekend in Glasgow is to head to Merchant City and make Blackfriars of Bell Street your base for the evening.
It’s at 36 Bell Street, and it runs from midday to midnight (great for when you want to keep the whole night in one place after a long day of walking). The comedy club itself is in the basement, and it’s strictly over 18s.
Doors open 15–30 minutes before showtime, but because seating is unreserved, we recommend arriving 30–60 minutes early if you want a good spot (and if you’re in a group and want to sit together).
Drinks bought at the venue can be brought into the show, and the whole thing runs for roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.
During the show, you can expect plenty of one-liners and surprise moments from some of the country’s funniest comedians, all hosted by Stuart Mitchell.
