Glasgow, sport and the Commonwealth

Wed, 27 May, 2026 at 10:30 am to Wed, 05 Aug, 2026 at 12:30 pm UTC+01:00

McLennan Arch | Glasgow

Radical Glasgow Tours
Publisher/HostRadical Glasgow Tours
Glasgow, sport and the Commonwealth
Advertisement
A free weekly walking tour on Glasgow’s relationship with the Commonwealth, and the role that sport has played in shaping the city.
About this Event

Glasgow Green is the oldest public park in the city, and has for centuries been where the people of Glasgow have come to protest and argue, to dry their washing, to play football or to stroll by the banks of the Clyde.

Join us on this special tour running May-August for the duration of the 2026 Commonwealth Games Festival to walk though Glasgow Green and take a critical look at the city's relationship to the Commonwealth and its history as a hotbed of radical sporting traditions.

Probably the only tour in the world on which you will hear the stories of anticolonial boxers, champion cyclists, anarchist agitators, Glasgow's history as Second City of Empire, swimming in the Clyde, community football and much more.

The tour also includes a visit to one of Glasgow's weirdest bits of public art (there are some strong contenders), a bizarre modern megalith taking the form of a spiral through time...

Free and open to all, all tours will be BSL interpreted.

Time and distance: Meet at the McLennan Arch, Glasgow Green. The walk is a circular route lasting approximately 2 hours, the distance is just under 2 miles.

Accessibility: This route is on paved paths and pavements. There are no opportunities for seated stops along the majority of this route.

If you would like to see a detailed map of the route, or if there is any further information that would be helpful for access please email us: radicalglasgowtours at gmail.com.

This tour has been made possible thanks to the support of Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council, sportscotland and Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026.

All images c/o Wikimedia Commons


Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

McLennan Arch, Saltmarket, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Tickets

GBP 0.00

Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in Glasgow

A Dolls House
Tue, 26 May at 07:30 pm A Dolls House

269 Fenwick Road, G46 6JX Glasgow, United Kingdom

Benjamin Steer
Tue, 26 May at 07:30 pm Benjamin Steer

King Tuts Wah Wah Hut

GIT Improv Cage Match (May)
Tue, 26 May at 08:30 pm GIT Improv Cage Match (May)

The Old Hairdresser's

Trauma Enhanced Practice (Level 3) Training - 2 day
Wed, 27 May at 09:30 am Trauma Enhanced Practice (Level 3) Training - 2 day

Princes Street House

CIBSE Scotland Conference 2026 - Heating the Future
Wed, 27 May at 10:00 am CIBSE Scotland Conference 2026 - Heating the Future

University of Strathclyde,The Technology and Innovation Centre

Journey from Discovery to Care Through Data Integration Seminar
Wed, 27 May at 12:30 pm Journey from Discovery to Care Through Data Integration Seminar

Queen Elizabeth Teaching and Learning Centre

A Play a Pie & a Pint - Breathtaking Roads
Wed, 27 May at 01:00 pm A Play a Pie & a Pint - Breathtaking Roads

Oran Mor

The Neuroscience of Adverse Childhood Experiences
Wed, 27 May at 05:30 pm The Neuroscience of Adverse Childhood Experiences

The Glee Club Glasgow

Innovation in cities & regions of Scotland (Hybrid event)
Wed, 27 May at 05:30 pm Innovation in cities & regions of Scotland (Hybrid event)

University of Strathclyde,The Technology and Innovation Centre

Radical histories of the Gorbals
Wed, 27 May at 06:00 pm Radical histories of the Gorbals

197 Pollokshaws Rd

Tomb Raiding Cinema: Scratch video to experimental machinima
Wed, 27 May at 06:00 pm Tomb Raiding Cinema: Scratch video to experimental machinima

National Library of Scotland at Kelvin Hall

Glasgow is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Glasgow Events