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    The Lighthouse

    4.1 (43 reviews)
    Open 10:30 am - 5:00 pm

    The Lighthouse Photos

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    View up the spiral staircase
    Michael B.

    Had a bit of a mooch inside Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture and it's multiple floors, exhibiting things such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh's furniture designs and scale models of buildings past and present. The main draw for me though was scaling the spiral staircase up the Mackintosh Tower which opened out to a narrow balcony wrapping round its summit, giving you impressive views over Glasgow's cityscape. We found that the 'guide panels' which were supposed to highlight key landmarks in the distance were far too vague to help, which was a shame. They've a nice-looking gift shop by the ground floor entrance. The Lighthouse is worth a quick visit if you're nearby, but it's probably not a destination you'd spend much time in.

    View from 6th floor
    Crystal L.

    Me and my partner both love exploring new places (especially if they were free) so the Lighthouse was a must. The main thing that made me want to visit was because they had a top floor which had a view over Glasgow. The building interior looked cool when we entered, basic and simple designs so it wasn't overwhelming. We were told by the lady at the reception that there were exhibitions on certain floors so we were looking forward to see them. We went to the top floor first as I really wanted to see what sort of view it gave over Glasgow, the actually floor is quite small with some chairs but the view was definitely nice. The rest of the journey was somewhat..underwhelming to be honest. There weren't many exhibitions as a couple of floors were closed, and the floors that did have exhibitions weren't very interesting. I'd probably come back if there was something interesting going on next time.

    Closer look of the Lighthouse
    Torterry C.

    I just like this place. They got gallery and great place to observe the city and visitor even can go up the tower to enjoy the amazing view of the city! Plus it is free to enter, there is nothing not to like. I was a curious at first why a friend of my will take us to this little alley. And the we took the lift from there. When we got out of the lift. Bann! A brilliant city view wss right in front of my face. And then we went to check the current exhibition inside the house, it was just fun. Then we saw this cool stairs way and followed it up. It wasnt as long as it seems Wow. Great place for a panorama view of city. I would recommend this place for every visitors to the city, or people who just want to enjoy the view on top.

    Mackintosh chairs/display
    Sarah P.

    After living in the City Centre for a few months I thought it was high time to pay a quick visit to The Lighthouse - and the views didn't disappoint! After a quick browse through the Mackintosh gallery and the local offering ('Sample', a collection of Scottish textiles), it was off to the third floor to climb the spiral staircase to the viewing tower. The staircase is not mobility friendly, so prams and the like are stuck waiting at the base. Be forewarned, the viewing ledge is quite narrow and it can be a bit of a jostle when busy. The only drawback of the visit (hence the 4* rating) was the 6th floor closure for a private event, as this is the only space with a mobility-friendly viewing platform (including a lift). You might come just for the views, but the galleries are also well worth a peek!

    Tower stairs, from official website
    Gillian M.

    I was introduced to The Lighthouse by a good friend of mine who works there. Every week or so he would inform me of the current and upcoming exhibitions and the history and details behind them. His enthusiasm was infectious. Nestled in Mitchell Lane, just off Buchanan Street, it is definitely worth a visit especially on a Saturday when entry is free. Be sure to endure the climb up the small, winding staircase to the tower where you will see a different, almost unrecognisable, Glasgow. Spectacular. It has recently gone into administration and I urge people to turn it into a thriving museum once again.

    Cake in the cafe on the 5th Floor
    Sarah T.

    Went to The Lighthouse yesterday (I'm ashamed to say I've never been!) but I was meeting someone to discuss Dogs That Dine and blog related things and she recommended here. I'll definitely be returning soon! I made my way inside and headed straight for the cafe (time was of the essence!) on the 5th floor. I didn't have time to look at any of the exhibitions on the other floors sadly. There is a lift but I chose to you the esculators which were really narrow (more narrow than the norm). Making it to the 5th floor, I headed straight into the cafe. I really like this cafe. It's quiet, bright and spacious. There were a few other people there and we found some comfy seats in the corner. We stayed there for about 4 hours and never once felt like we were in the way. We ordered a range of cold drinks, tea and cake. Oh the cake.. There was a small range of cakes on display and I opted for the Victoria Sponge. It was so yummy! Everything in the cafe is really well priced too. Oh and they have free wifi. What more do you need? There are toilets located on the second, third and fifth floors. When we left, we headed to the toilets and they were clean, tidy and I loved the sinks! The toilet seats were really low down (think back to primary school days) which I found pretty funny/a bit odd. Oh and there were Bayliss & Harding hand washes which I really like. We took the lift down which takes you straight into the gift shop. There were a lot of Charles Rennie Mackintosh items (jewellery, cards, prints) which really caught my eye. It's a nice little gift shop and the staff are really friendly. I'm definitely going to go back soon! I had such a nice afternoon and I really want to explore the Lighthouse more!

    Beautiful simple bowls on sale in the gift shop

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    Review Highlights - The Lighthouse

    There were a lot of Charles Rennie Mackintosh items (jewellery, cards, prints) which really caught my eye.

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    St Andrews In The Square - St Andrews In The Square, Glasgow

    St Andrews In The Square

    (5 reviews)

    £

    Gallowgate

    Glasgow, when will you learn? If a building like St Andrews in the Square existed anywhere else in…read moreEurope, it would feature on postcards, be highlighted on guided tours and sign-posted from across the city. Tourists would flock and photograph it from every angle, creating albums on Facebook entitled "Me at St Andrews in the Square" to a sea of thumbs ups from friends who like it. Instead, this lovingly-restored 18th century church is inconspicuously located in among modern east end flats and virtually impossible to stumble across unless you are specifically looking for it. And what a pity, because when it's lit at night, it provides one of the most spectacular photo opportunities in the city. Those who do know this building, know it's one of the greatest classical churches in Europe with a truly sumptuous interior. Now used as a performing arts centre, St Andrews in the Square can also be hired as a spectacular setting for ceilidhs, concerts, weddings and receptions. Just go. I promise you will not be disappointed.

    Despite living in Glasgow my entire life, I had no idea this place existed until a few weeks ago…read more This is incredible considering it is one of the most stunning buildings in the city. It seems to live in a sort of parallel universe, stuck in the middle of blocks of flats. I visited the cafe a few Sunday ago and, despite the sophisticated art deco style interior and impressive menu, the place was dead. I think this is because most people don't realise it's there.

    The Lighthouse - architects - Updated May 2026

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