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 popu ...

, 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 A city centre is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart of a city. The term "city centre" is primarily used in British English, and closely equivalent terms exist in other languages, such as "" in Fren ...

, 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 ...

to Glasgow Cathedral, 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 to

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 continuing as Argyle Street towards

St Enoch Square St. Enoch Square is a public square in Glasgow, Scotland, situated south of the junction of Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, two of the city's busiest shopping streets. History The Square sits on land that once was the western part of Glas ...

and Buchanan Street. Its most recognisable features are the Tolbooth Steeple, the surviving part of the 17th century Glasgow Tolbooth, 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 South ...

, 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 stil ...

, 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

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