The Lighthouse, Glasgow

The Lighthouse is tucked down Mitchell Lane, just off Buchanan Street in the heart of Glasgow. The building was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1895 as the offices of the Glasgow Herald newspaper, and it was his first major public commission. Its distinctive corner water tower, sandstone facades and Art Nouveau detailing made it a landmark from the start, and it later reopened in 1999 as Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture.

Inside, the highlight for most visitors is the Mackintosh Interpretation Centre, which uses drawings, models and photographs to trace the architect's career from Herald staffer to the designer of Glasgow School of Art, the Willow Tea Rooms and Hill House. From there you can climb the helical staircase inside the water tower, six storeys of tightly winding steps, to a small viewing platform with panoramic views across the city's rooftops towards George Square and the Clyde.

The Lighthouse also hosts changing exhibitions on contemporary design, architecture and urbanism, along with a shop stocking Mackintosh-inspired prints and books. Note that the building has been closed for a period in recent years pending future plans by Glasgow City Council, so it's worth checking the current status before visiting. When open, it's an easy add-on to a walk along Buchanan Street or a visit to the nearby Gallery of Modern Art.