Finnieston, Clydeside & the Riverside: The Finnieston Crane beside the River Clyde

A mini guide to

Finnieston, Clydeside & the Riverside

Cranes, bridges and museums on the Clyde, with Finnieston's bars and restaurants behind

Welcome to the area

Cranes, bridges and museums on the Clyde, with Finnieston's bars and restaurants behind

The Clyde was Glasgow's working river, and the Finnieston Crane, a disused giant cantilever crane, is kept as a symbol of that engineering heritage; it was used to load cargo, in particular locomotives, onto ships. Nearby, the Scottish Event Campus holds the SEC Centre, the Armadillo concert hall and the Hydro arena, and Bell's Bridge and the Clyde Arc cross the water to Glasgow Science Centre and Pacific Quay.

Further west, the Riverside Museum, in a building by Zaha Hadid Architects, opened in 2011 and shares Pointhouse Quay with the Tall Ship Glenlee, a barque built in 1896. Across the river, Govan has Govan Old Parish Church, home to the Govan Stones, and the former Fairfield shipyard offices. Finnieston and Kelvinhaugh sit behind the waterfront on the north bank.

Highlights

Start here

If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.

See all 14 things to do

Find your way

On the map

The map shows Finnieston, Clydeside & the Riverside and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.

View a larger map →

Insider tips

Before you go

1

Cross the river on foot

Bell's Bridge, the Clyde Arc and the Tradeston Bridge are all open to pedestrians; the Tradeston Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that links Anderston to Tradeston.

2

Allow time at Riverside

The Riverside Museum and the Tall Ship Glenlee share Pointhouse Quay. Check Glasgow Life and the ship's own site before you set out.

3

Check what is on at the SEC

The Hydro, the Armadillo and the SEC Centre host large events, so the waterfront can be very busy on event nights.

4

Use the Subway for Govan

Govan station is the one for Govan Old Parish Church, according to SPT.

Tips from the Britlens editors

Photo credits

Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits