Linthouse and Drumoyne adjoin to the east, but Shieldhall is largely separated from these neighbourhoods by the A739 road which runs north–south from Junction 25 of the M8 motorway (the southern boundary of Shieldhall) under the river inside the Clyde Tunnel which opened in 1963, with Thornwood and Whiteinch on the opposite bank; in addition to vehicles, the tunnel also includes a section for pedestrians and bicycles.

As well as the various buildings of the Southern General Hospital[4][5] and its 2010s replacement, the imposing 14-storey Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Shieldhall includes a large industrial area which has been heavily used since the early 1900s,[6] [7] around the King George V Dock[8][9][10][11][12] which is the only commercial port still in operation within Glasgow.

There are a number of small clusters of housing from various periods of the 20th century in the area to the south of the hospital complex (including a distinctive converted art deco lightbulb factory),[15][16] as well as a small park containing the ground of the local Junior football team, St Anthony's,[17][18] who moved there in the early 21st century from further along the same main road towards Ibrox.

[19] Along with the motorway, this new ground occupies the land previously containing the 'Fifty Pitches', a large expanse of football parks.

[20][21] The closest railway station connecting to central Glasgow is Cardonald on the opposite side of the M8 motorway, while bus services are regular due to provision for the hospital, as well as the presence of a company (McGill's) operating routes towards Braehead and Paisley via Shieldhall in addition to First Glasgow which dominates the industry within the city.