Press release -
Glasgow Tower to re-open 19 July
The Glasgow Tower is the only structure on earth capable of rotating 360 degrees into the prevailing wind and holds the Guinness-World-Record for the tallest fully rotating freestanding structure in the World. At 127 meters high, the equivalent of over 30 double-decker buses, the Glasgow Tower is the tallest freestanding structure in Scotland.
More than £1.8million has been invested through Glasgow Science Centre and its supporting partners, including Scottish Enterprise, in refurbishing the iconic Tower. Independent experts familiar with the structure and its operation have been working with the Glasgow Science Centre to rectify longstanding issues, which sees the introduction of new lifts and the refurbishment of the main thrust bearing.
New additions to the Tower include a new interactive visitor experience area both at its base and also new technology in the viewing cabin which, at a height of 105 metres, offers stunning 20 mile views of the city and surrounds.
New visitor experiences provide guests with the opportunity to learn about the history of Glasgow and the site on which the Tower is built. Using archive images, visitors walk through a timeline tunnel that highlights key events in the city over the past 100 years before reaching a five-metre long map of the Clyde which boasts historic images and footage of how the local area has changed over the years. Also at the base, visitors will be treated to images of the striking views they can expect from the top of the Tower.
When visitors reach the top of Glasgow Tower they will be able to see out over 20 miles (on a clear day) across Glasgow, the Clyde and the landscapes beyond. They can also explore a virtual panoramic view on iPads using new GAR (Geo-located Augmented Reality) technology to see all 360 degrees around the viewing platform and zoom into over a dozen places of interest, accessing contemporary and archive images, whilst keeping their feet firmly in the viewing cabin.
Dr Stephen Breslin, Chief Executive of the Glasgow Science Centre, said:
“We are excited to return Glasgow Tower back to the city this summer. It is an iconic landmark along the River Clyde and a world-class feat of engineering.
“We have been working on bringing the Tower back into operation for some time now and we are pleased that it will be open for visitors from both at home and abroad to enjoy this summer.
“There has been a significant investment in the refurbishments and the visitor experience to ensure Glasgow Tower is a must-visit location for Glaswegians, Scots and international visitors alike.”
Liz Buchanan, Regional Partnerships Director at VisitScotland, said:
“It’s wonderful news that the Glasgow Tower will once again open to the public, especially as Glasgow prepares to welcome over a million visitors for the Commonwealth Games.
“With a wide range of Homecoming 2014 events taking place in Glasgow such as Who Do You Think You Are? Live alongside the Commonwealth Games, the 2014 MTV EMAs and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Glasgow has the chance to shine like never before. As Scotland welcomes the world this year, we can’t wait to showcase Scotland’s tourism icons, world-class events prowess and renowned Scottish hospitality both in Glasgow and right across Scotland.”
Bailie Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Jobs and the Economy at Glasgow City Council, added:
“This is a great day for Glasgow as we mark the reopening of the Glasgow Tower, a fantastic building on the banks of the Clyde. The remarkable technology and engineering behind this extraordinary structure continues the great tradition of these fields in Glasgow. I am certain the Glasgow Tower will prove to be a great attraction for both the people of the city and our visitors.”
Glass fronted elevators take visitors to the viewing cabins at the top of the Glasgow Tower in just over two minutes. The entire Glasgow Tower visitor experience costs only £4.95 per person. It is expected that the Tower will be extremely popular this summer, as such, time slots are allocated and visitors are urged to book tickets now by visiting the Science Centre in person, or by phone on 0141 420 5000.
The Glasgow Tower, which will remain open for the rest of Glasgow Science Centre’s summer season before closing on 2nd November for the winter, is playing an active part in the celebrations this summer and there will be some dates during the Games when public access will be limited.
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Regions
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Notes to Editors:
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation has three key roles:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
- To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com
- The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
- For more information on VisitScotland’s annual review please go to www.visitscotland.org/about_us/our_focus/annual_report.aspx
