Helensburgh tourist information

An elegant, planned coastal town, Helensburgh was named after Lady Helen Sutherland by her husband in the 18th century.

It grew in popularity in the 19th century, becoming known as the 'Garden City of the Clyde' and a genteel seaside resort for Glasgow's fashionable set. The town has retained this traditional feel, with a pretty promenade on the Clyde estuary and formal gardens.

The tourist information centre can be be found in the clock tower on the pier.

The Waverley is the last surviving paddle steamer to visit Helensburgh, and takes visitors on trips on the Clyde and on cruises around the nearby islands and lochs.

Hill House dates from 1903 and was designed by famed Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Strikingly modern at the time with its early Art Nouveau style, the original interiors and gardens (now owned by the National Trust for Scotland) are designed to be admired as a single decorative statement.