The Glasgow 'Lighthouse'...

Image courtesy of Univercity of  Strathclyde

Heading up Buchanan Street after our coffee break in Princes Square we nipped down Mitchell lane to visit Glasgow's 'Lighthouse'. The building was originally designed by Charles Rennie Macintosh (his first public commission) and was formally the Glasgow Herald (newspaper) building.Sadly today you don't really get to appreciate the facade of the building due to some poor urban developments such as a  NCP carpark. Its corner former water tower has been developed as Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture,spread over six floors.

There is a permanent Mackintosh exhibition Interpretation Centre or ‘Mack’ Centre which celebrates Glasgow’s most famous architect and explores his life and work. After viewing this with our visitors Mike and I hiked up the 133 steps to the top of the tower to take in the views over the city. 

This is the glass roof of Central Station...

...and this is the roof of Princes Square.

Looking down on the viewing platform on the sixth floor which you can reach by an elevator...

...the four of us did just that. This is the view looking back up to the top of the Lighthouse tower viewing platform. The views here are good but not nearly as good as the 360 degree views from the open air tower.