You are on Introduction. Skip to the next section.

Introduction

• Buchanan Street, Glasgow, runs from Sauchiehall Street at its north end, marked by the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Buchanan Galleries Shopping Centre, to Argyle Street at its south end, opposite the entrance to St Enoch Shopping Centre.
  The total distance is approximately 700m (0.4 miles).
  Buchanan Street is part of the main pedestrianised shopping area of the city centre.
  Buchanan Street is divided up into 5 sections in this guide, from the north end to the south end.
  1. Sauchiehall Street to Bath Street.
  2. Bath Street to Nelson Mandela Place (West George Street).
  3. Nelson Mandela Place to St Vincent Place.
  4. St Vincent Place to Gordon Street.
  5. Gordon Street to Argyle Street.
  Buchanan Street is part of the main pedestrianised shopping area of the city centre.
  Also pedestrianised, but not forming part of this guide, are Sauchiehall Street, Royal Exchange and St Enoch Square.
• The average width of the pedestrianised section is approximately 18m.
  The lighting along Buchanan Street is mostly modern bright white lighting on lampposts.
  Most pedestrian crossings are split with a signal controlled pelican crossing to each side of the street.
  The crossings are push button controlled.
  There is tactile paving at each pedestrian crossing, together with dropped kerbs.
• People Make Glasgow - Buchanan Street link (new tab) - click here.
• Glasgow City Parking link (new tab) - click here.

You are on Access Guides Available For (Buchanan Street). Skip to the next section.

Access Guides Available For (Buchanan Street)

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• Leisure and Entertainment View
  • Princes Square Shopping Centre - To view the access guide please click here (new tab).
• Car Parks View
  • Concert Square Car Park - To view the access guide please click here (new tab).
  • St Enoch Shopping Centre - To view the access guide please click here (new tab).
• Comments View
  • For information on Q-Park Jamaica Street please click here.
  • For information on Q-Park St Enoch please click here.
  • For information on public toilet facilities in St Vincent Street please click here .

You are on Getting Here. Skip to the next section.

Getting Here

• Buchanan Street is a pedestrianised street with other streets crossing it.
• There are bus stops in Bath Street (West Nile Street Stop), West George Street - Eastbound (Dundas Street Stop), St Vincent Place - Westbound (North Court Stop) and Argyle Street (Buchanan Street Stop).
• The nearest railway stations are Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central.
• The nearest subway stations are Buchanan Street (steps and escalator access only) and St Enoch (lift, steps and escalator access).
• There are taxi ranks in Queen Street at the Argyle Street end, George Square (Glasgow Queen Street Station) and Gordon Street (Glasgow Central Station).

You are on Parking. Skip to the next section.

Parking

• BLUE BADGE PARKING
• There are 6 Blue Badge bays in Queen Street, outside Primark and Next at the Argyle Street end.
• There are a further 6 Blue Badge bays on the opposite side, opposite Sainsbury's Local (photographs 1 and 2).
• There are 6 Blue Badge bays in George Square, in George Street (north side) (photographs 3 and 4).
• There are 4 Blue Badge bays in West Nile Street on the east side outside Las Iguanas restaurant (photographs 5 and 6).
• There are 5 Blue Badge bays in Mitchell Street between Mitchell Lane and Argyle Street.
• This section of the street is cobbled and uneven (photographs 7 and 8).
• PUBLIC PARKING
• There are 6 paid public multi-storey car parks with Blue Badge bays available.
• Parking is not free for Blue Badge holders.
• 1. Concert Square Car Park (photograph 9) is to the north of Buchanan Street in Cowcaddens Road with a pedestrian entrance in Port Dundas Road.
• There are 10+ Blue Badge bays available.
• This car park is approximately 230m from the north (Sauchiehall Street) end of Buchanan Street.
• 2. Buchanan Galleries Car Park (photograph 10) is located to the east of Buchanan Galleries Shopping Centre, giving covered access to the north end of Buchanan Street.
• There are 10+ Blue Badge bays available.
• This car park is approximately 250m from Buchanan Street when accessed via the Buchanan Galleries Shopping Centre.
• 3. NCP Car Park Mitchell Street (photograph 11) is to the west of Buchanan Street via Mitchell Lane.
• There are 5 Blue Badge bays available.
• This car park is approximately 120m from Buchanan Street.
• 4. Q-Park Jamaica Street Car Park (shown in photograph 12) is located to the south east of Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, off Union Street.
• There are 10+ Blue Badge bays available.
• The pedestrian access in Union Street is approximately 200m from the south (Argyle Street) end of Buchanan Street.
• 5. St Enoch Centre Car Park (photograph 13) is located above the St Enoch Shopping Centre and vehicular access is via Maxwell Street.
• There are 10+ Blue Badge bays available.
• Pedestrian access is via the shopping centre lifts, approximately 100m from the south (Argyle Street) end of Buchanan Street.
• 6. Q-Park St Enoch (photograph 14) is located to the south of the St Enoch Shopping Centre in Maxwell Street.
• There are 10+ Blue Badge bays available.
• This car park is approximately 250m from the south (Argyle Street) end of Buchanan Street.
• There is an open air pay and display car park in Dunlop Street (photographs 15 and 16) located at the east end of St Enoch Shopping Centre, with 10+ free Blue Badge bays, approximately 400m from the south (Argyle Street) end of Buchanan Street.
• However, access is covered most of the way if cutting through the St Enoch Shopping Centre as the Blue Badge bays are directly opposite the east entrance to the shopping centre.
• ON STREET PARKING
• There are metered pay and display standard on street parking bays in most streets around Buchanan Street, principally West Nile Street, Mitchell Street, Drury Street, St Vincent Place, George Square, Queen Street and Union Street.
• Parking is free in these bays for those displaying a valid Blue Badge.

You are on Toilet facilities. Skip to the next section.

Toilet facilities

• There are public toilet facilities including accessible and standard toilets and baby changing facilities in St Vincent Place at the junction with Buchanan Street.
• There is a charge to use these facilities.
• There are accessible and standard toilet facilities at the north end of Buchanan Street, in the Buchanan Galleries Shopping Centre.
• There are accessible and standard toilets at the south end of Buchanan Street in the St Enoch Shopping Centre.
• There are accessible and standard toilets in the Princes Square Shopping Centre between Gordon Street and Argyle Street.
• Many cafés and shops also have toilet facilities; however, they may not be accessible toilets.
• Some cafés have toilets behind coded entry doors for customer use only.

You are on Section 1. Sauchiehall Street to Bath Street. Skip to the next section.

Section 1. Sauchiehall Street to Bath Street

• The length of this section is approximately 90m.
• Photographs 1 and 2 show each end of the section, looking south and north respectively.
• Looking south from Sauchiehall Street towards Bath Street, the east side of the pavement is on the left and the west side of the pavement is on the right.
• This section is pedestrianised from Sauchiehall Street to Bath Street.
• Vehicle access to the street is limited to emergency vehicles only.
• The pavement has a slight slope down towards Bath Street.
• The pavement on the right (west side) is raised by 2 shallow steps without handrails sloping down towards Bath Street.
• The pavement has dark grey stone tile paving that is uneven in places.
• The steps are a lighter grey stone.
• There are stainless steel posts where the raised section ramps down to Bath Street.
• The slope is steep at this point.
• The pavement on the left (east side) is raised by up to 3 shallow tapered steps without handrails, with a raised platform area past a statue and in front of the steps up to The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
• There is a statue, bins, a street guide and local map on this platform.
• It then has an easy slope.
• The pavement has granite tile paving.
• The steps are a light grey stone.
• The main paved roadway has granite tile paving and a slight slope down towards Bath Street.
• The central area of the pedestrianised zone has black planters, with trees and benches towards the left.
• The paving behind the benches changes to grey concrete slabs.
• At the end of the section at Bath Street, beyond the bins and a bike stand, there is a line of stainless steel posts across the width of the road.

You are on Crossing - Bath Street. Skip to the next section.

Crossing - Bath Street

• There are traffic lights and pelican crossings at the junction of Buchanan Street and Bath Street.
• Bath Street is 2 lanes wide and has two-way traffic.
• The crossings have push button controls and visual indicators.
• The buttons are 113cm to 123cm high.
• There is no audio alert, however, there are rotating cones under each button unit indicating when it is safe to cross.
• These crossings can also be operated by sensor beneath.
• At the edge of both pavements is a dropped kerb with tactile paving to the full width of the crossing.
• Just to the west of the junction there is a bus stop (West Nile Street stop).

You are on Section 2. Bath Street to Nelson Mandela Place / West George Street. Skip to the next section.

Section 2. Bath Street to Nelson Mandela Place / West George Street

• The length of this section is approximately 170m with a steep slope looking down from Bath Street.
• Photographs 1 and 2 show each end of the section, looking south and north respectively.
• Looking south from Bath Street towards Nelson Mandela Place, the east side of the pavement is on the left and the west side of the pavement is on the right.
• This section is pedestrianised from 10:00 - 19:00, with vehicle access for loading only outside these hours.
• There is a line of stainless steel posts with two central posts that are raised during the day and waste bins (photograph 3).
• The pavement has a 5.5° slope down towards Nelson Mandela Place.
• On the left pavement (east side) there is a level raised platform at the entrance to Buchanan Galleries Shopping Centre, with no steps at the Bath Street end, increasing to 18 medium height steps with central handrails and landings (photographs 5-7).
• In front of the steps there are two low black plinths which may be a hazard to partially sighted pedestrians (photograph 8).
• The pavement on the right (west side) has dark grey stone tile paving that is uneven in places.
• There is a line of stainless steel posts and waste bins to separate pedestrians from any vehicles (photographs 9 and 10).
• There is a steep 8° ramp to the lower side of the Paperchase store entrance (photograph 11).
• To the left, beyond the steps and opposite Paperchase there is similar dark grey stone paving.
• There are also benches (photograph 12).
• The main paved roadway has granite tile paving and slopes down towards Bath Street (photograph 13).
• Halfway down this section the street splits to go around the Buchanan Street underground station entrance.
• There is a line of stainless steel posts in front of the entrance (photographs 14 and 15).
• Vehicles go to the left (east) of the entrance while the right is protected for pedestrians (photographs 16 and 17).
• There is no lift access to the underground at this station.
• To the rear of the entrance there are benches facing south (photograph 18).
• At the end of the section the road splits again, with a second entrance to the underground station to the left, a steep ramp for vehicles in the centre, and the end of the stainless steel posts to the right at the junction of Nelson Mandela Place (photographs 19-23).
• Before the ramp, behind the station entrance there are two low black plinths which may be a hazard to partially sighted pedestrians (photograph 20).
• On the corner during the day there is a street seating area for the bar/restaurant on the corner (photograph 24).
• In July 2023 there were temporary building site works and fencing taking up the right of the pavement area before the bollards at the subway station.
• The distance between the construction fencing and bollards was 100cm (photographs 26-29).

You are on Crossing - Nelson Mandela Place / West George Street. Skip to the next section.

Crossing - Nelson Mandela Place / West George Street

• The junction of Buchanan Street and Nelson Mandela Place / West George Street is staggered with traffic lights and pelican crossings.
• The street is one-way for buses and taxis only from right to left (west to east).
• To the east at West George Street there is a single pelican crossing (photographs 1-5).
• There is a drop kerb and tactile paving to both sides.
• Stainless steel posts mark the end of the pedestrianised section.
• To the right there is a church in the centre of a split in the road with West George Street to the south side and Nelson Mandela Place, a quiet cul-de-sac to the upper north side.
• The crossing of the cul-de-sac has dropped kerbs with tactile paving to both sides.
• The road is paved with granite blocks that are uneven in places (photographs 6-8).
• The pavement continues in front of the church with concrete slabs.
• There are railings in front of the church and lampposts and a bin in the centre of the pavement (photograph 9).
• There is then a pelican crossing similar to the other at the opposite end of the junction (photographs 10-12).
• The crossings have push button controls and visual indicators.
• The buttons are 110cm to 120cm high.
• There is no audio alert, however, there are rotating cones under each button unit indicating when it is safe to cross.
• These crossings can also be operated by sensor beneath.
• Just to the east of the junction there are bus stops in Dundas Street and at the Queen Street Railway Station.
• George Square is beyond.

You are on Section 3. Nelson Mandela Place / West George Street to St Vincent Place. Skip to the next section.

Section 3. Nelson Mandela Place / West George Street to St Vincent Place

• The length of this section is approximately 88m.
• Photographs 1 and 2 show each end of the section looking south and north respectively.
• Looking south from Nelson Mandela Place towards St. Vincent Place, the east side of the pavement is on the left and the west side of the pavement is on the right.
• This section is pedestrianised between 10:00 to 19:00, with vehicle access for loading only outside these hours.
• The street has a slight incline going south.
• There is a line of stainless steel posts with two central posts that are raised during the day (photograph 3).
• The street is paved with dark grey slabs to the sides with a central cambered granite tile paved centre that is uneven in places (photographs 4-6).
• At the Nelson Mandela end there are two lines of low black plinths which may be a hazard to partially sighted pedestrians (photograph 7).
• To the left there are trees, a bicycle rack, black planters, refuse and dog waste bin, recycling bin and benches (photographs 8-11).
• At St Vincent Place the end of the pedestrianised area is marked by two sets of bins and planters (photographs 12-13).
• To each side there are matching lines of stainless steel posts and tactile paving (photograph 14).
• Outside Starbucks there is street café furniture (photograph 15).
• There is a digital street guide screen on the left at Nelson Mandela Place / West George Street (photograph 16).

You are on Crossing - St Vincent Place. Skip to the next section.

Crossing - St Vincent Place

• There are traffic lights and pelican crossings at the junction of Buchanan Street and St Vincent Place.
• St Vincent Place is 2 lanes wide and has one-way traffic left to right (east to west), open to all traffic.
• The road is busy.
• The crossings have push button controls and visual indicators.
• The buttons are 110cm to 120cm high.
• There is no audio alert, however, there are rotating cones under each button unit indicating when it is safe to cross.
• These crossings are being automated so buttons do not need to be pressed.
• At the edge of both pavements is a dropped kerb with tactile paving to the full width of the crossing.
• Just to the east of the junction there are public conveniences.

You are on Section 4. St. Vincent Place to Gordon Street. Skip to the next section.

Section 4. St. Vincent Place to Gordon Street

• The length of this section is approximately 90m.
• Photographs 1 and 2 show each end of the section looking south and north respectively.
• Looking south from St Vincent Place towards Gordon Street, the east side of the pavement is on the left and the west side of the pavement is on the right.
• This section is pedestrianised 10:00 -19:00, with vehicle access for loading only outside these hours.
• The street has a slight incline going south.
• There is a line of stainless steel posts with a central vehicle gap (photograph 3).
• To the left there is a digital advertisement board, similar to the digital maps (photograph 4).
• The street is paved with dark grey slabs to the sides with a central cambered granite tile paved centre that is uneven in places (photographs 5-7).
• To the left there is a line of lampposts, trees, bins, black planters, benches, a blue old police box, stainless steel posts and a street guide at the end of the section (photographs 8-11).
• To the right there is a line of stainless steel posts and bins (photographs 12 and 13).
• At the St Vincent Place end there is a 3D map of Buchanan Street and a water dispenser (photographs 14 and 15).
• In July 2023 there were temporary construction fences taking up some of the walkway on the left near St Vincent Place and opposite Gordon Street (photographs 16-18).
• There is a digital map opposite Gordon Street (photograph 19).

You are on Junction - Gordon Street. Skip to the next section.

Junction - Gordon Street

• At the junction with Gordon Street there is no pedestrian crossing as the pedestrianised area continues straight through and down Gordon Street.
• Gordon Street terminates at this point and gives access to Glasgow Central Railway Station and the Blue Badge parking bays in West Nile Street.
• There is a slight camber to the road at the junction and the granite block paving is slightly uneven in places.

You are on Section 5. Gordon Street to Argyle Street. Skip to the next section.

Section 5. Gordon Street to Argyle Street

• The length of this section is approximately 260m.
• Photographs 1 and 2 show each end of the section looking south and north respectively.
• Looking south from Gordon Street towards Argyle Street, the east side of the pavement is on the left and the west side of the pavement is on the right.
• This section is pedestrianised 10:00 -19:00, with vehicle access for loading only outside these hours.
• The street is level.
• In Gordon Street, at the start of the section to the left, there is a telephone kiosk and a cash point with a planter beyond (photographs 3 and 4).
• The street is paved with dark grey slabs to the sides with a central cambered granite tile paved centre that is uneven in places.
• There are steel posts in a row on the line of the change of paving to each side with bins, planters and benches (photographs 5-8).
• The main feature of this section of the street is that during better weather, there is street café culture seating erected with barriers which reduce the width of the walkway (photographs 9-12).
• At the end of the street at the Argyle Street end, the steel posts continue to both sides with planters, benches, bins and bike rack (photographs 13-18).
• There is also a BT hotspot mobile phone charging point (photograph 14).
• The road then terminates at Argyle Street.
• In July 2023 there were temporary building site works and fencing taking up the right of the pavement area between Exchange Place and Springfield Court (photograph 19).
• A bench is also available near the fencing (photograph 20).

You are on Crossing - Argyle Street. Skip to the next section.

Crossing - Argyle Street

• There are traffic lights and pelican crossings at the junction of Buchanan Street and Argyle Street.
• Buchanan Street is 2 lanes wide and has one-way traffic right to left (west to east), open to all traffic.
• The road is busy.
• There are bus stops in Argyle Street and at St Enoch underground station.
• St Enoch underground station, with lift access is opposite the end of Buchanan Street.
• The crossings have push button controls and visual indicators.
• The buttons are 110cm to 120cm high.
• There is no audio alert, however there are rotating cones under each button unit indicating when it is safe to cross.
• At the edge of both pavements is a dropped kerb with tactile paving to the full width of the crossing.