The largest city in Scotland and the third largest in the UK, Glasgow has always been involved in British history in some form or another. What was once a world-dominating manufacturer and engineer of shipping vessels has transformed into a modern, vibrant and dynamic cultural hub rich in creativity, entertainment and atmosphere. In 1990 Glasgow was European City of Culture and still to this day it has all the hallmarks of a world-class destination.

Location, Climate and Atmosphere

Billy Connolly, the popular and world-renowned Scottish comedian, once mused that ‘there are two seasons in Scotland: June and Winter’. What made it as funny as it was is simple: it was true. Glasgow is notorious for its bad weather, usually a mix of rain and cloud. That being said, the city will enjoy sunny and warm days during the summer months. Winters are normally wet winters with pinching cold temperatures.

Glasgow is located on Scotland’s western central belt and is roughly an hour’s train ride away from Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city. Not very far outside Glasgow (20 mins approx) are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Antonine Wall and the New Lanark World Heritage Site. The Antonine Wall – which was built in the AD 140s – was the northernmost point of the Roman Empire’s expansion and is an unbelievably fascinating place of history. Meanwhile the New Lanark World Heritage Site documents the life of an 18th century cotton mill village (which operated all the way up to 1968) that was also the site of the world’s very first workplace nursery school.

Its atmosphere is something Glasgow is universally renowned for. The locals, known as Glaswegians, are well known for being friendly and welcoming people with a distinctively social quality about them. “People make Glasgow” became especially evident during the recent Commonwealth Games. The city’s night life scene is a founding factor behind the acclaimed atmosphere. One of music’s biggest bands – Oasis – was discovered and set on the path to fame in Glasgow’s King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. The Barrowlands, which sits just east of Glasgow’s historic Merchant City area, was once voted the second best small venue in Europe.

Food and Drink

Glasgow’s culinary offerings are a balanced blend between traditional and contemporary/continentally influenced dishes. More traditional Scottish foods such as mince, neeps and tatties and also haggis – which is traditionally eaten on the 25th January each year as part of Burns night – can be found in various pubs across the city. Brunch fans should definitely have an Afternoon tea, which is what people in the UK enjoy as an alternative to the traditional brunch experience.

Glasgow’s food and drink scene is one that constantly develops and, due to its proud diverse culture, has many foreign influences throughout it. Amongst the wealth of bars and restaurants you’ll find Italian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Brazilian, Moroccan, American, Algerian, Australian and many other examples of international and exotic food. Being the modern city it is Glasgow is always keeping up with the trends; and the restaurant scene is no exception to this.

Popular Glasgow restaurants include Tony Macaroni (where you can get a main meal for £5), Two Fat Ladies, Gamba and Rogano just to name a few. Many well-travelled Scottish chefs have spent years abroad perfecting their culinary skills and then returned home to open their own restaurants. For example Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or – located just round the corner from Blythswood Square – offers a properly fine dining experience.

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Things to do

The Commonwealth Games may be over and all the festivals of this event and visitors may be gone; but the buzz remains. There’s always something to do in Glasgow. For those with a keen interest in all things historical museum entry is totally free. The Riverside Museum, which was last year awarded as European Museum of the Year, is one of Glasgow’s newest and most modern museums: well worth a visit. Glasgow, being diverse as it is, is one of those cities that can offer a huge range of variety and doing things like going to an Opera on one night followed by a live concert the next is something completely normal in Glasgow. Whether it be Cabaret or a Comedy club, dinner and a movie, a night out in the city centre or a day in Kelvingrove Park followed by an evening in the hip West-end… Glasgow has it covered!

A must-see visitor attraction, and one of the city’s stand out examples of ingenuity and architectural flair, the Glasgow Science Centre is another attraction that sits alongside the Clyde. Opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2001 the Science Centre has been one of Glasgow’s most popular places to visit for over a decade. The tower that sits next to it, the Glasgow Tower, is the only structure on earth capable of rotating 360 degrees and holds the Guinness World Record for a rotating free-standing structure.

Glasgow is recognised as the second largest retail centre in the UK and the city’s ‘Style Mile’ contains over 1500 shops. Many people from Edinburgh actually take regular trips through to Glasgow to go shopping. There are also two massively popular out-of-town shopping centres in Braehead and Silverburn which are a short and direct bus ride away from the city centre.

The Glasgow School of Art, a famous art school housed in a building designed by Glasgow’s own legendary Charles Rennie Mackintosh and often considered a masterpiece. Traces of his influence, style and design can be seen all over the city. The Willow tea rooms was designed by the master himself and opened in 1904, where traditional afternoon tea can be enjoyed today.

New music and live acts are forever playing in Glasgow’s venues and clubs (remember Oasis), and are constantly being given the chance to play their freshly produced music to eager and lively crowds. If ever in Glasgow you won’t be short of places to go if you’re looking to listen to some new music over a few drinks in an energetic atmosphere.

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