The 1970s proved to be a transformative decade for Glasgow, defined by sweeping social change.
Thousands of residents moved out of ageing inner-city tenements and into newly built housing estates on the city’s outskirts, reshaping Glasgow’s landscape and communities.
On the world stage, the decade was marked by major political and cultural moments. Richard Nixon became the first U.S. president to resign in the wake of the Watergate scandal, blockbuster films like The Godfather, Star Wars, and Grease dominated cinema, Billy Connolly rose to national fame, and the UK experienced political upheaval that culminated in Margaret Thatcher’s election as prime minister in 1979.
Meanwhile in Glasgow, the live music scene flourished. Big-name performers took to the stage at Green’s Playhouse — renamed The Apollo in September 1973 — and Hampden Park once again hosted a European Cup Final, with Bayern Munich facing Saint-Étienne in 1976.
Here are 70 atmospheric pictures that capture a fascinating glimpse of Glasgow in the 1970s.

69. Sauchiehall Street
Shops on Sauchiehall Street pictured in 1970 with the Royal Hotel also visible. | Virtual Mitchell

70. Virginia Street
A view up Virginia Street in Glasgow's Merchant City in May 1975. | Virtual Mitchell


