Glasgow: Summer City

2025 marks a monumental milestone in Glasgow’s rich history: its 850th birthday. To commemorate this remarkable anniversary, we are excited to launch the Glasgow 850 Blog. With each monthly theme, we’ll bring you fresh insights, stories, and highlight 8.5 things to know about Scotland's largest city; showcasing the key facts and hidden gems that make Glasgow one of the most exciting cities to live, work, and invest in. 

Welcome to the June edition of our Glasgow 850 Blog: celebrating 850 years of innovation, culture, and community. This month we reveal 8.5 of our favourite things about Glasgow in the summer…

1. Long summer days

We may not have 24-hour sunshine like our Nordic neighbours but Glasgow (and all of Scotland) basks in daylight during the summer. At 55° N Glasgow is further north than you might think. 

At this latitude, we experience more than 17 hours of daylight during the height of summer. It’s also near the minimum latitude in which nautical twilight can last all night. Meaning that, thanks to our geography, Glasgow enjoys long summer days and nights that never seem to tip into full darkness.

The extended summer days are energising with extra daylight hours for outdoor activities, hobbies and benefits both the early risers and the night owls! 

2. Getting Outdoors and Further Afield

If outdoor pursuits are your thing, then Glasgow is the perfect base for exploring Scotland’s rolling hills, glens and lochs that all are within easy reach of the city centre. Glasgow is an enviable position, and within an hour’s drive you can be at the Ayrshire Coast, the Clyde Coast or Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park.

Hill walking, wild swimming and mountain biking are popular pursuits. Not to mention Pinkston Watersports and Cathkin Braes are both located within Glasgow. 

3. Parks and Gardens

With more than 90 parks and public green spaces, Glasgow lives up to its name as the ‘Dear Green Place’. In the summer, these spaces come to life – perfect for a stroll, picnic, or a lazy afternoon with a good book.

Kelvingrove Park becomes a hub of activity, Queen’s Park offers panoramic views from the flagpole, and Pollock Country Park (home to Highland cows and a world-class art collection) is the perfect urban escape. Meanwhile, the Botanic Gardens bloom with colour and offer a peaceful spot to enjoy the sunshine.

4. Summer Music

Glasgow’s musical roots run deep, and summer sees them stretch across the city – from hidden courtyards to open-air venues.

TRNSMT Festival transforms Glasgow Green into a three-day celebration of international headliners and rising talent. Over at Kelvingrove Bandstand, the Summer Nights series offers a more intimate setting with artists ranging from legends to local favourites. In the southside, Queens Park Arena brings grassroots gigs, spoken word and family-friendly events to neighbourhoods across the city.

5. Festive Fun

Glasgow hosts two major festivals each summer: the Glasgow Mela and the Merchant City Festival. 

The Glasgow Mela takes place each June in Kelvingrove Park and is Scotland’s largest South Asian festival. It is a colourful celebration of music, dance, poetry, artisan crafts, and family-friendly experiences - creating an inclusive space for cultural exchange.

The Merchant City Festival is a weekend of fun and entertainment with arts, circus, dance, live music and more in the streets and venues of Merchant City. It’s timed to coincide with Fair Monday so Glaswegians can make the most of the weekend’s festivities.

6. Piping

Whether you’re hearing it live from a busker on Buchanan Street or in full force at a competition, the skirl of the pipes is another addition to Glasgow’s summer soundtrack.

Each August, Glasgow hosts Piping Live, the world’s biggest piping festival, and the World Pipe Band Championships – welcoming thousands of pipers and drummers from across the globe. It’s a proud celebration of musical heritage that brings energy to the streets, from George Square to Glasgow Green.

7. Glasgow Fair

The Glasgow Fair dates to the 12th century when Bishop Jocelin made a request to King William the Lion for permission to hold an eight-day annual fair. The earliest fairs were held in the grounds of Glasgow Cathedral and focussed on trading and markets. From 1800 it was held in Bellahouston Park and was later known for amusements and entertainment. 

In the industrialised 20th century, however, the Fair Fortnight was the two weeks when everything in the city – from offices to factories - shut down at the end of July and workers went on their holidays. Today, it is still marked by a public holiday on the third Monday of July. 

8. Summer Graduations

Glasgow’s universities are core to the city’s character and summer brings a wave of celebration as thousands of student’s don caps and gowns for graduation.

The ceremonies at the University of Glasgow’s iconic Gilbert Scott building, the Royal Conservatoire, GCU, Strathclyde, and UWS mark a major life milestone – filling the city with pride, families and celebrations as graduates toast their achievements and look ahead to the future.

8.5 Commonwealth Games 

it’s been over a decade since Glasgow proudly hosted the 2014 Commonwealth Games, but the legacy of that unforgettable summer is still very much alive. The legacy of that landmark summer laid the foundations for world-class venues like the Emirates Arena, the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, and Tollcross International Swimming Centre – facilities that continue to serve both elite sport and local communities.

Looking ahead, Glasgow will once again step onto the global stage as host of next years’ Commonwealth Games. As the city celebrates its 850th anniversary this year, preparations for the next Games offer another powerful opportunity to showcase Glasgow’s ambition, energy, and capacity at scale.