Glasgow Cross is at the hub of the ancient royal burgh and now city of

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, Scotland, close to its first crossing over the

River Clyde The River Clyde ( gd, Abhainn Chluaidh, , sco, Clyde Watter, or ) is a river that flows into the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. It is the ninth-longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third-longest in Scotland. It runs through the major cit ...

. As a major junction in the city centre, its five streets run: north up the

High Street High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...

Glasgow Cathedral Glasgow Cathedral ( gd, Cathair-eaglais Ghlaschu) is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in Glasgow, Scotland. It is the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland and the oldest building in Glasgow. The cathedral was the seat of the Archbisho ...

, Cathedral Square and the

Royal Infirmary Royal Infirmary may refer to a number of hospitals in the United Kingdom: *England ** Blackburn Royal Infirmary **Bradford Royal Infirmary ** Bolton Royal Infirmary **Bristol Royal Infirmary **Chester Royal Infirmary **Derbyshire Royal Infirmary * ...

; east along Gallowgate and London Road, close to St Andrew's Square; south on the

Saltmarket The Saltmarket is a thoroughfare in the City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is a southward continuation of the High Street, running south from Glasgow Cross to the junction with Clyde Street and Crown Street by the River Clyde. It runs past the High Co ...

Glasgow Green Glasgow Green is a park in the east end of Glasgow, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde. Established in the 15th century, it is the oldest park in the city. It connects to the south via the St Andrew's Suspension Bridge. History I ...

and the Justiciary Buildings; and west along

Trongate Trongate is one of the oldest streets in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Trongate begins at Glasgow Cross, where the steeple of the old Glasgow Tolbooth is situated, being the original centre of medieval Glasgow, and goes westward changing its n ...

continuing as Argyle Street towards St Enoch Square and

Buchanan Street Buchanan Street is one of the main shopping thoroughfares in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. It forms the central stretch of Glasgow's famous shopping district with a generally more upmarket range of shops than the neighbouring streets: ...

. Its most recognisable features are the Tolbooth Steeple, the surviving part of the 17th century

Glasgow Tolbooth The Glasgow Tolbooth was a municipal structure at Glasgow Cross, Glasgow, Scotland. The main block, which was the meeting place of the Royal Burgh of Glasgow, was demolished in 1921 leaving only the steeple standing. The steeple is a Category A ...

, and the mercat cross replica commissioned in 1929 by

William George Black William George Black (23 December 1857 – 21 December 1932) was a Scottish antiquary, lawyer and politician from Glasgow. The son of a Glasgow solicitor, he was educated at Glasgow University, of which he was honorary LL.D. He contested Sout ...

, and designed by architect Edith Hughes. Linked to the Tolbooth stood the Tontine Hotel and its Assembly Rooms, designed from 1737 by architect

Allan Dreghorn Allan Dreghorn (1706–1764) was an 18th century Scottish architect largely associated with Glasgow Life He was born in Glasgow the son of Robert Dreghorn of Ruchill and his wife Margaret Dickie. He was involved in several fields: including ...

with adaptations in 1781 by architect William Hamilton of St Andrew`s Square. The Tontine was the exchange centre of early mercantile business and the focal point of political and social gatherings. A number of artist paintings over the centuries depict Glasgow Cross, the Tolbooth and Tontine. In front of the Tontine was placed the equestrian statue of King William III, erected in 1734; now sited at Cathedral Square. After the Tolbooth Steeple, the nearby

Tron Theatre The Tron Theatre is located in the corner of Trongate and Chisholm Street, in what was formerly the Tron Kirk which had started as the Collegiate Church of Our Lady and St. Anne in the Trongate area of Glasgow, Scotland. The Tron Steeple still ...

, formerly the Tron Kirk, built in 1794 is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The presently disused

Glasgow Cross railway station Glasgow Cross was a railway station in the city centre of Glasgow. History This station was opened on 1 November 1895 by the Glasgow Central Railway.Butt (1995) It was closed, with the line through Glasgow Central (Low Level), on 5 October 1 ...

sits beneath the junction. File:Glasgow Cross - geograph.org.uk - 992832.jpg, Glasgow Cross with Tolbooth Steeple and Mercat Cross. File:Annan, Thomas - Tontine Gebäude, Trongate (Zeno Fotografie).jpg, Tontine Buildings, Tolbooth, Steeple and King William equestrian statue at Glasgow Cross, 1868 photograph by Thomas Annan File:Glasgow Mercat Cross and Mercat Building.jpg, Mercat Cross and Mercat Building at Glasgow Cross

References

External links

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Glasgow Cross
at The Scotland Guide {{Transport in Glasgow Road junctions in Glasgow Streets in Glasgow