Glasgow Travel Guide

Glasgow Skyline - © Scott MacDonald

Introduction and Overview

The Glasgow Travel Guide highlights visitor attractions, places of interest and provides useful travel information for visitors to Glasgow, the largest and perhaps best known city in Scotland. The city guide provides information on Glasgow events, entertainment, nightlife, accommodation and much more.

The city has a rich and varied history, once known as the 'second city of the empire' gives an indication as to its importance. The city gained its wealth and power from the cotton mills, shipyards and coal mines, thus was an industrial powerhouse.

Today with the heavy industries no longer on the horizon, the city of Glasgow still has its energy and generates plenty of excitement for visitors.

Is has been noted by many that Glasgow has more than a hint of the continent about it, there are a number of stylist bars and restaurants that give rise to this.

The people of Glasgow known are Glaswegians are known for their warmth and humour. They have had to endure some tough times when heavy industry was closing and taking the lifeblood of the communities with it.

However they have re-built and renovated and today's Glasgow is very different to the image of a past industrial giant. The city has also been compared to North America, for its grid street system and streetwise locals.

The history of Glasgow dates back around 1,500 years ago, when it was founded by St. Mungo. Back in 1990 Glasgow became Britain’s first European Capital of Culture, this recognition acted as a catalyst in building upon Glasgow's reputation as an arts & cultural centre and showcased its credentials to the world.

The city has a lot to offer visitors the highlights include its museums, architecture and shopping for which Glasgow is famous.

Scotland’s largest city nowadays displays its flamboyance that one would expect from a culturally rich city a far cry from the depths of a slow decline when its heavy industry had been winding down. The rich and famous not to mention fashionistas have an affinity with Glasgow that has helped in its rejuvenation.

Glasgow shopping facilities offers visitors a plethora of designer stores and shopping paradises for the wealthy, famous and the fashion set. Areas around Buchanan Street, Sauchiehall Street, St Enoch Centre and the Designer Exchange are examples of this transformation.

Glasgow City Centre includes a number of impressive historic Edwardian and Victorian era buildings and civic squares including George Square in the heart of the city. Argyll Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street are three of the main shopping streets in the city.

It is also home to the main cultural venues in the city, with the Theatre Royal, Pavilion Theatre and Gallery of Modern Art all located here.

Glasgow's Merchant City is both a commercial and residential district, it is viewed as a trendy part of town with warehouse/loft apartments.

You can smell the aroma of the espressos on the street as you go past the fashionable cafes; there are a number of boutique designer stores, award winning restaurants, wine bars and clubs. It is where you will see Glasgow high society but being Glasgow there is a relaxed atmosphere.

The Financial District is located to the west of the city centre and includes the areas of Anderston and Blythswood Hill; Anderston once a dockyard area that had fallen on hard times has benefited from regeneration is now a thriving commercial and residential area.

Blythswood Hill includes Blythswood Square as its centre piece, the square is known for the architecture of the buildings with the original Georgian facades preserved.

The Glasgow financial district is one of the UK’s leading financial centres with a number of international and local financial services companies based here.

The West End area of the city is a bohemian area that includes a range of historic buildings with impressive architecture and there are a number of scenic tree lined streets in the area. The University of Glasgow is located here giving the area a large student population.

There are a number of cafes, bars, restaurants and hotels in the area that is popular with visitors. Other attractions in the area include the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Kelvingrove Park and Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

The East End area located to the east of the city centre includes the famous Glasgow Barrowland Market known locally as the ‘Barras’ where visitors can find street markets, indoor markets and a choice of pubs and shops.

Glasgow Green is one of the oldest public parks in the UK, inside the grounds is the People’s Palace that tells the story of Glasgow and its people of the years and Winter Gardens that includes exotic plants and palms and features the famous Doulton Fountain.

For visitors Glasgow offers an interesting mix of both the old and new. The city is easily assessable by road, rail and air for visitors from the UK meaning it makes a great location for a weekend and short break.

The diverse range of attractions and activities mean you can become absorbed in the cultural arts by day and party the night away in equal measure.



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