Glasgow: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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GBP 85 - 172 Hilton Glasgow
 Offering complete relaxation in a fully-equipped leisure club and contemporary dining in Cameron's restaurant, this hotel is ideal for your stay in Gl… MoreGBP 99 - 315 Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens
 Set in a tree-lined Victorian terrace in the fashionable West End of Glasgow, One Devonshire Gardens is a luxury boutique hotel, a Hotel du Vin with a… MoreGBP 79 - 200 Utopia Apartment
 Located just off Pollockshaws Road, this apartment is only minutes away from Glasgow’s lively city centre and Shawlands, host to fashionable wine an… MoreGBP 49 - 79 Cathedral House Hotel
 Located in the old part of Glasgow, next door to the Cathedral, this 19th century, Scottish Baronial-style building has been beautifully converted int… MoreGBP 90 - 175 Sherbrooke Castle Hotel
 This magnificent, baronial building offers luxury bedrooms, a bar, restaurant and conference facilities that cater for up to 200 people.
Sherbrooke … MoreGBP 110 - 200 Dreamhouse City Centre
 The apartments have been developed to provide the highest standards of luxury accommodation available in Glasgow; available for short or long term sta… MoreGBP 100 - 300 Dreamhouse city west
 Dreamhouse Serviced Apartments have everything you need to sleep, relax, entertain and work as and when it suits you.
Our 5 Star Glasgow apartments … MoreGBP 50 - 99 Purple Hotel Glasgow / Airport
 Just off junction 26 of the M8, this air-conditioned hotel is 4 miles from Glasgow Airport, 10 minutes by car from the city centre, and close to shops… MoreGBP 99 - 1,690 Malmaison Glasgow
 A striking converted Episcopal Church in the very heart of Glasgow’s bustling city centre, the hotel provides superb food and wine all just a short … MoreGBP 80 - 185 Radisson Sas Hotel Glasgow
 Contemporary, designer hotel with chic finishes and striking features. The purpose-built, architecturally striking Radisson SAS Hotel Glasgow - is rig… MoreGBP 100 - 140 Carlton George Hotel
 The Carlton George Hotel is a luxury 4-star property in the heart of Glasgow's city centre. Many local public golf courses and leisure centres within … MoreGBP 65 - 230 Menzies Glasgow Hotel
 This hotel with an outstanding leisure club and car park is close to junction 19 of the M8 and a few minutes’ drive from the Scottish Exhibition & C… MoreGBP 89 - 165 Glasgow Centrale Serviced Apartments
 Located in Glasgow’s city centre, within the financial district, these modern apartments are within easy reach of the commercial district and all of… MoreGBP 51 - 80 Ibis Glasgow
 Occupying a central position in the historic city of Glasgow, this modern hotel is ideally located close to train stations, the m8 motorway and the ai… MoreGBP 50 - 75 The Belhaven Hotel
 Set in the cosmopolitan west end of Glasgow, a few minutes walk from Byres Road where there are some of the best restaurants, bars, coffee shops and b… MoreGBP 60 - 96 Embassy Apartments
 These stylish apartments, converted from a Victorian town house, offer a prime location overlooking the picturesque River Kelvin and Botanic Gardens. … MoreGBP 99 - 199 The Spires Serviced Suites
 The Spires provide guests with fully serviced, luxury suites in the heart of the city centre of Glasgow. These recently opened suites have been awarde… MoreGBP 75 - 149 City Inn Glasgow
 City Inn Glasgow situated on the riverside combines a passion for modern design and innovation with contemporary living. Located next to the SEC in th… MoreGBP 64 - 199 City Apartments Glasgow
 City Apartments are ideal for today's sophisticated guests, who like that special feeling of having their own home when they are away for business or … MoreGBP 48 - 120 Albion Hotel
 Set back from the bustling Great Western Road and tucked in a quiet cul de sac. In the heart of Glasgow's fashionable West End, yet only 1 mile from t… MoreGBP 60 - 96 City Apartments Scotland
 Stylish 4 star self catering apartment located only 1 mile from the city centre. The accommodation offers the discerning traveller a luxurious and aff… MoreGBP 85 - 179 Crowne Plaza Glasgow
 This stylish and contemporary 4-star hotel has a great location on the banks of the River Clyde, next to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre… MoreGBP 89 - 399 Hot-el-apartments Glasgow Central
 Located in the heart of Glasgow, this stylish and modern development of non-smoking one or 2 bedroom apartments offers independent luxury accommodatio… MoreGBP 59 - 130 Novotel Glasgow Centre
 A modern hotel in the city centre, 2 minutes from both the motorway and rail networks. Situated within the business sector with easy access to various… MoreGBP 70 - 174 Marks Hotel
 Marks Hotel in Glasgow is situated in the heart of Glasgow's bustling city centre. Free Wi-Fi internet access is available in all bedrooms and through… More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Glasgow: Guide
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, and the third largest in the United Kingdom with a population of about 620,000 in the city itself, or over 1.8 million if the surrounding towns of the Clydeside conurbation are taken into account. Located at the west end of Scotland's Central Belt of Scotland|Central Belt on the banks of the River Clyde, Glasgow's historical importance as Scotland's main industrial centre has been challenged in recent decades by decline and change.
In recent years, however, Glasgow has been awarded the European titles of City of Culture (1990), City of Architecture and Design (1999) and Capital of Sport (2003), and the city has transformed itself from being the once mighty powerhouse of industrial Britain to a centre for commerce, tourism, and culture. Visitors will find a revitalised city centre, the best shopping outside London, excellent parks and museums (most of which are free), and easy access to the highlands and islands. However, for all its regeneration projects, Glasgow still contains some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK.
Understand
Glasgow is almost completely unlike Edinburgh, 70 km to the east. You should visit both. Be patient with the local accent - it can be difficult to understand, even if you have had experience with English in other countries, indeed, a particularly thick accent often causes trouble to even native english speakers. The speed of the conversation tends to be quite quick in Glasgow. If necessary, ask people to repeat (even slowly!) what they are saying, Glaswegians are generally very friendly and able to communicate in much more formal English.
Dialect
As with all areas of Scotland , regional dialects are present in Glasgow. The Glasgow "patter" or "banter" as it's known has evolved over the history of the city. As each wave of migration takes place , new words and phrases are added to the dialect. There is a strong Celtic language connection due to the Lowland Scots , Highland Gaelic and Irish Gaelic influences.
Some phrases
Glasgow city centre is laid out in a grid pattern with streets running from east to west and north to south. The Western edge of the city centre can be considered to be the sunken M8 motorway section that approaches the Kingston Bridge . This area is known as Charing Cross and Anderston, Anderston being on the river front. Both areas have appropriately named railway stations. To the immediate east of Charing Cross and Anderston you will find Blythswood Hill, which is the home to Glasgow's financial district, with many ultra-modern office buildings mixing with the old Victorian architecture.
Just to the North of Charing Cross station is the start of the famous shopping street Sauchiehall Street running east to west. Approximately half way down Sauchiehall Street vehicle traffic is diverted away and the whole street is given over to foot traffic. Sauchiehall Street continues eastwards until it ends at the junction with Buchanan Street which runs north to south.
The Buchanan Galleries shopping centre sits on this junction and on the other side of that is Buchanan Bus Station.
If you turn eastwards along West George Street you enter George Square. On the north side of the square is Queen Street Railway Station, on the east side is the start of the Merchant City district and the Strathclyde University Campus. The square itself is populated by several statues of civic leaders and famous figures from history and is often used for outdoor events.
Continuing southwards on Buchanan Street, you encounter St Vincent Street which leads to the south side of George Square. Further south leads to several major shopping areas and department stores. Buchanan St ends at the major east west street, Argyle Street.
Argyle Street starts on the west side of the M8 motorway, passes under the Kingston Bridge next to Anderston railway station heading east. Argyle Street also passes the south entrance of Glasgow Central railway station and actually passes under the railway lines before joining Buchanan St. Continuing eastwards leads to St Enoch Square and the St Enoch shopping centre as well as lots of major shops. Argyle Street ends after a short section of pedestrianised street and becomes the Trongate.
The Trongate is the site of the Trongate Theatre just before the junction of the Trongate, A8 Saltmarket (north south), Gallowgate and London Road (east west). This junction is known as Glasgow Cross and marks the original medieval centre of the city. It is dominated by the clock tower of the original City Chambers, and the small hexagonal building known as the Tolbooth. High Street runs directly north from Glasgow Cross and is the main artery of Old Glasgow, leading up to the Cathedral of Saint Mungo (or Glasgow Cathedral), and the Necropolis cemetery.
Further east from the Cross along the Gallowgate and London Road is the famous Barras market area and Barrowland Ballroom, leading to the areas of Calton, Bridgeton, Dalmarnock and Parkhead (home of Celtic Football team).
To the west of the city centre is the ever popular and dynamic Glasgow West End. This area is a truly happening part of town. With amazing architecture and tree lined streets this part of Glasgow thrives 365 days of the year. It has a high population of students with a number of universities close by. From the city centre it is best to travel west along Great Western Road (A82) and turn left on to Byres Road - this is the heart of the West End (parking in this area can be difficult - take a taxi or public transport). While there, be sure to pay a visit to the very unique Ashton Lane which is just off Byres Road. This part of the city is also the gateway to the amazing West of Scotland, from here you can easily travel to Loch Lomond and beyond.
Glasgow is served by two main airports close to the city:
Glasgow International Airport (GLA) is the main airport for domestic and European flights with transatlantic links to Canada and the USA (Chicago and Newark) with a daily flight to Dubai. Both British Airways and BMI operate frequent shuttle flights throughout the day to and from London Heathrow. If you are flying into the UK via Heathrow you will usually connect into Glasgow via one of these airlines. easyJet fly from Luton, Stansted and Gatwick. There's a frequent shuttle bus from outside the terminal building to the city centre, dropping off near both main railway stations (£3.30 single, £5.00 return; the journey takes about 20 minutes). In addition to this a "railbus" service operates via Paisley Gilmour Street railway station to the airport, simply get on a Paisley bound train at Central Station, alight at Gilmour Street, and a connecting bus will take you the short 2 miles to the terminal. One ticket (available at the railway station) will be valid for both legs of the journey.
Glasgow Prestwick International Airport (PIK), about 50 km away on the Ayrshire coast, is the Scottish base for Ryanair (see Discount airlines in Europe), and several other low cost carriers, as well as some holiday charter operators. The airport has its own railway station with two trains per hour to Glasgow Central (show your flight paperwork to get a half price ticket; the journey takes around 45 minutes). All trains to Ayr and Stranraer call at the airport. The X77 bus also runs from Buchanan Bus Station to the airport throughout the day, and crucially covers the times (early morning and late evening) when the trains are not running.
Trains from England and south west Scotland arrive at Central Station (officially known as Glasgow Central), while trains from Edinburgh and anywhere north of Glasgow arrive at Queen Street Station. There are four "shuttle" trains per hour between Edinburgh and Queen Street during the day; the journey takes 50 minutes, and a cheap day return costs around £8. There is also a roughly hourly service from Edinburgh to Central which runs via South Lanarkshire but is considerably slower. Both Central and Queen Street stations have left luggage lockers. The stations are an easy ten minute walk apart, or there's a frequent shuttle bus between them, which is free if you are holding a through railway ticket.
Most trains within Scotland, and sleeper services from London, are run by . Other trains from England are run by and . Virgin operate nine direct services from London Euston, two of these crack expresses which can complete the 400 mile journey in 4 hours 25 minutes. GNER operate 6 direct services a day from London King's Cross via Edinburgh, but at a much slower time of 5 hours 30 minutes.
The Caledonian Sleeper runs every night from London Euston except Saturdays, and the journey takes approximately 8 hours. Prices can vary greatly - a single berth one way ticket is available for £19, £29 or £39 depending on how early you book, but this can only be bought through the First ScotRail website. Walk-up fares for the sleeper are very expensive - a £39 supplement is charged on top of the usual Glasgow-London return rail fare (£94). Limited seating accommodation is also available on the sleeper trains. For foreign visitors, BritRail passes can be used to reserve places on the Sleeper.
The main approaches to Glasgow are:
from England on the M74 motorway; Glasgow is about 150 km north of the border
All routes converge on the M8 which carves through the city centre. Glasgow has no credible park-and-ride system, but some of the subway and suburban railway stations do have small car parks. There are several expensive multi-storey car parks near the motorway in the city centre. The NCP ones are the most expensive - those run by the city council are a lot cheaper; these being Concert Square (near the Royal Concert Hall), Cambridge Street (just off the pedestrianised area of Sauchiehall Street) and Charing Cross.
In general however, driving in Glasgow's central area should be avoided if you are not absolutely sure of where you are going, with its maze of one way systems, bus lanes and pedestrian precincts. Glaswegians are not the most patient drivers in the world and particularly dislike hesitancy (taxi drivers being the worst culprits). Parking restrictions are strictly enforced, and vehicles parked illegally or in an obstructive manner will be towed away and the owner of the vehicle will be liable for a £150 release charge to recover it.
Long-distance arrive at Buchanan Bus Station (in the city centre, close to Buchanan Street Underground /Queen Street train stations). The main operator is , but Stagecoach also run a budget inter-city bus service called . Somewhat confusingly however, the two operators often combine and merge services, so don't be surprised if you are put on a Citylink bus when you hold a Megabus reservation and vice versa.
For travellers arriving from outside Scotland, the nearest ferry ports are Troon (near Prestwick Airport), for in Northern Ireland, or Rosyth (near Edinburgh), for in Belgium. Each is about an hour's drive from Glasgow. Aberdeen, 2 and a half hour's drive away, is served by ferries from Norway.
(SPT) is the agency responsible for the local public transport network, which it describes as one of the most integrated and developed in the UK - but they mean by British standards, not European standards. There are no integrated tickets for single local journeys, although you can buy a one-day Roundabout ticket for either local surface and subway trains or buses. For information on public transport phone 0870 608 2608 (call charged at national rates).
If you are in town for a week or more then SPT's ZoneCard might be useful. It can be used on suburban trains, buses, and the underground. Prices vary depending on how long you want it for (1 week - 1 year) and how many "zones" you want it to cover. If you buy a three or more zones you can travel in the whole Glasgow area ( zones 1 - 8) for free.
Subway trains run in a double circle around the Glasgow city centre and some inner suburbs. There are interchanges with surface trains at Buchanan Street/Queen Street and Partick stations. 06:30-23:30 (Sunday 10:00-18:00). £1 flat fare, or £1.90 for unlimited daily use after 09:30 or all day at the weekend. No bikes.
radiate from Central and Queen Street stations to the suburbs and surrounding towns. The network is the largest in the UK outside of London, although there are only two trains per hour on some routes; others are much more frequent. Bikes go free, although many trains have no bike spaces. Daily season tickets are available which can give you complete freedom of the network, or just in and around the city centre and inner suburbs.
Buses go everywhere. is the main operator. There's a bus at least every ten minutes on main routes during the day, making it easy to get into the centre of town, though getting out to a specific destination isn't so easy. In the city centre, buses won't necessarily stop at every stop on their route, so check the sign at the stop. Stops are clearly marked with the services that stop there.
You must have the right change on buses, as for safety reasons the driver has no access to cash - you put your money in a slot which checks the amount and deposits it in a storage box.
The center of Glasgow is very pedestrian friendly with major shopping streets given over to foot traffic. As you move out of the city center all areas have proper pavements and most major junctions have pedestrian crossings. The River Clyde also has several foot bridge crossings. The main difficulty with walking out of the centre of town is finding where the crossings over / under the M8 are. Heading west, some roads appear to go over Charing X only for the pavement to disappear. Heading North, the underpasses at Cowcaddens can sometimes feel unwelcoming.
As befits a city that was at its richest through the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th, Glasgow has a fine legacy of Victorian buildings. Most of Glasgow is built in the salmon colored sandstone that is the trademark of the city and which positively glows on a bright day; none of Aberdeen's dour granite here.
Glasgow was also the home of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, one of the "Glasgow Four" a group of leading proponents of art nouveau architecture. Indeed, during his lifetime, Mackintosh was probably better regarded abroad than he was in his native Glasgow, even apparently inspiring Frank Lloyd Wright. However, recently resurrected as one of the cities most beloved sons. You will notice, along with quite a few of his buildings to see in the city, including his magnum opus, the Glasgow School of Art, many other knock-offs and impersonations exist.
The following list is a selection of significant buildings in Glasgow.
If this just whets your appetite for information on Glasgow's architecture, try and get hold of a copy of Central Glasgow: An Illustrated Architectural Guide, by Charles McKean and others. There are various editions (ISBN:1873190220, ISBN:1851582002, ISBN:1851582010).
The Victorians also left Glasgow with a wonderful legacy of museums and art galleries, which the city has dutifully built upon. The following list is only a selection. The city council alone runs 13 museums and galleries; for a full list of these see their website.
There are many club nights, concerts and festivals in Glasgow. seeglasgow.com, the official Glasgow tourist site has of events in the city
is one of Europe's leading symphony orchestras and it performs in the on Sauchiehall Street
The (nearest Subway: Buchanan Street) also produces the world famous every January.
The is held every year in June
in the city's West End is also a very popular park, particularly with the students from the nearby . The most prominent landmark here is the on the banks of the River Kelvin which runs through the park. It also contains a recently constructed Skate Park.
Glasgow has a small, but lively scene which centres around the Merchant City area (the so called "Pink Triangle" formed by Revolver, Bennets and the Polo Lounge). Intolerance and homophobia are sadly more marked in Glasgow, and the city's gay venues are consequently not as publicly visible as in Scotland's capital, or deliberately flaunted as is the case in London and Manchester. Nevertheless, the city is still gay-friendly, which is shown in the annual "Glasgay" celebrations in October. Discretion is advised in public.
Glasgow has three universities:
. Located in the west end of the city, this university has served Glasgow since 1451 and is the fourth oldest in the United Kingdom, and also one of the country's most prestigious.
is situated in the north-east of the city centre and was originally founded in 1796 as Anderson's University, and later became the Royal College of Science and Technology (affectionately nicknamed "The Tech" by Glaswegians) before finally gaining full University status in 1964. In 1993 it absorbed the former Jordanhill College of Education, and gained that institution's campus in the West End.
, to the north of the city centre, is Glasgow's newest university. It was formed from the merger of Glasgow College of Technology and Queens' College in 1992.
Jobs in Glasgow can be found through the government-run JobCentres. Be aware that you will need a National Insurance number and, if you are not a citizen of the European Economic Area or Switzerland, the correct type of work visa to work legally in the UK. Your employer should require this to ensure you pay the correct rates of income tax. However if you ask around you'll find a lot of bars and nightclubs offer work cash-in-hand. Some of the many temp agencies in the city centre aren't too fussy about immigration niceties either. With the city's growing financial services industry - quite a lot of opportunities for office temps.
The epicentre of Glasgow shopping is the so-called "Golden Z", made up of the largely pedestrianised thoroughfares of Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street. Here, virtually all of the big name retailers are represented, with some of the stores being second only to their Oxford Street counterparts in London in terms of size.
in the East End is the essential Glasgow shopping experience. Hundreds of market stalls selling everything you could possibly want and a load of other stuff too. Free entertainment available from time to time when the Police raid the place for counterfit goods. Open 10am - 5pm every weekend; weekday opening in the weeks immediately before Christmas.
Glasgow has won the title "Curry Capital of Britain" two years running and has a huge range of restaurants, Indian or otherwise. If you are looking for last minute deals on dining, lists many offers. It is possible to search for restaurants in Glasgow on the site. Note that this service requires you to register on the website. There are clusters of good restaurants in the West End and the Merchant City.
Fish & Chips (aka "Fish Supper") is a perennial favourite, and there are a healthy number of fish and chip shops around the city. As mentioned above, many will also offer Asian or Italian dishes alongside the traditional chip shop fayre. Given Glasgow's well publicised love of "junk food", bad establishments don't usually last long and consequently most are of good quality. In the centre of town, four of the best "chippies" are:
Jack McPhees (Hope Street, City Centre - off Sauchiehall Street & Byres Road, West End) Chain of sit down restuarant with table service. Slightly more expensive than a takeaway, but excellent quality.
The Coronation (Gallowgate, just east of Glasgow Cross in the Barrowlands) A Glasgow institution - the usual friendly Glaswegian reception and competitively priced.
Da Vinci's (Queen Street, City Centre, opposite Archaos nightclub) Late night dining in this handily positioned sit-down takeaway near many of the city's nightclubs.
Santini's (John Street, Merchant City, 200yds from the City Chambers) Affectionately known as the "gay chippie" since it is next door to Revolver, one of Glasgow's best gay bars, it is open into the small hours and offers a variety of takeaway dishes.
Stravaigin , (28 Gibson Street, West End - nearest Subway: Kelvinbridge), Tel. +44 (0)141 334 2665, Located adjacent to Glasgow University and Kelvingrove Park, this award winning gastro-pub offers a wide selection of both European and World cuisine made from Scottish ingedients. Also reknowned for its creative cocktails.
Also visit the award winning Killerment Polo Club on Maryhill Road.
Di Maggio's (Royal Exchange Square, Merchant City, & Gibson Street, West End) Locally owned chain of family-friendly Italian restaurants with several outlets in the city and outlying towns. Good value and usually no need to book.
Dino's (35-41 Sauchiehall Street, immediately opposite Cineworld and Royal Concert Hall) One of Glasgow's oldest and best known Italian restaurants. Good quality and friendly service.
L'Ariosto , 92-94 Mitchell Street, Glasgow G1 3NQ (3 minute walk from Central railway station). One of Glasgow's top Italian restaurants - expensive but award winning and offers its own courtyard and live music.
Glasgow has a lot of places to drink.
For single malt whiskies, try The Pot Still, on Hope Street - a few blocks north of Central Station. It stocks over 300 single malt whiskies (as well as other drinks, of course), and the staff really know their stuff. Its also an excellent example of a traditional British pub, with a great atmosphere.
The West End has many student-oriented bars, catering of course for Glasgow University, centering around Byres Road and Ashton Lane. Curlers; one of the most famous, is now part of the "Scream" chain and is located next door to Hillhead tube station on Byres Road. Scream also operate The Ark adjacent to Strathclyde University's city centre campus just north of George Square.
If you like your rock & metal music you should try the The Solid Rock Cafe at the bottom of Hope street, Rufus T.Firefly's at the top of Hope street and the Crowbar in between.
Real Ale can be found at the Bon Accord on Charing X, Clockwork BeerCo near Hampden Park, and also The Three Judges on the Dumbarton Road, at the bottom of Byres Road, which has won the CAMRA award (Campaign For Real Ale) most years for the past 2 decades.
Republic BierHalle just off Buchanan St has beers from all round the world and a sister branch in the Southside.
Waxy O'Connor's is an vaguely Irish themed bar (on Nelson Mandela Place, I think) which boasts six bars, nine rooms and three floors. The premises is a fun, with steps and stairs running up and down htrough the maze of rooms and bars. Worth a visit, even if just to find the restrooms! It can be spacious and intimate at the same time, which you will only understnad if you visit there. It has loads of wood beams and an imitation treetrunk rooftop, which adds to the confusion of the church theme and 'Lord of the Rings'-like setting.
Bath St has a constantly shifting array of "style bars", if that's your thing. Similarly Sauchiehall St. The quality varies wildly depending on your taste / tolerance. One recommended bar is on the corner of hope street and bath street.
Be warned though about dress codes, particularly in some of the more upmarket establishments in the city centre and West End - sportswear and trainers are often banned, and some door staff are notoriously "selective" about who they do and don't allow in. The general "boozer" type pubs don't have dress codes, but football shirts are almost universally banned in all - particularly at weekends.
If you want live music with your pint go to the See / Music section above.
The Victorian House, 212 Renfrew St., Small Hotel. Beds between £25-40
McClays Guest House, 264-276 Renfrew St., Guest House. Beds between £14-30
Premier Travel Inn, Ubiquitous chain of budget hotels, around £55 per night for a double room. There are two in the city centre, one in Charing Cross in the middle of the financial district, and a further in the Merchant City on the corner of George Street and Montrose Street. There are also several dotted around the periphery of the city, usually near main roads.
Glasgow's area code (for landline numbers) is 0141. When calling from outside the UK, drop the leading 0 and use the UK international dial code +44.
If you are travelling with a laptop then you will find broadband internet access in the rooms of most, but not all, medium to high end hotels. If this is important to you check before booking. Alternatively there are many wi-fi hot spots in and around Glasgow and provides a register.
There are also several places that offer web and other internet access if you are travelling without a laptop. These include:
-- St Vincent Street (just west of Buchanan Street, five minutes' walk from Central or Queen Street stations). Every day, 08:00-21:00.
Despite the city's reputation for being a violent place, in practice Glasgow is not much more dangerous than any other Western European city, however commonsense rules still apply. The City Centre of Glasgow is safe, however do watch out at night time at the closing time of clubs, especially in Queen Street, Hope Street, Renfield Street and Sauchiehall Street, as it can get a bit rowdy at times. It is best if possible to avoid the main streets of the city centre (Sauchiehall St, Buchanan St, Argyle St, Queen St) very late at night or after about 10-11 PM on a Friday or Saturday, though conversely it is also inadvisable to travel down the darkest, quietest sidestreets. The Western non-pedestrianised end of Sauchiehall St (after it ceases to be pedestrianised) is generally considerably safer than the pedestrianised section late at night (which should be avoided if at all possible after about 10 PM, and avoided at all costs at club closing times). However, all of the city centre and tourist areas are well policed. The City Centre also has many 'information officers' in red hats and jackets who should be able to assist you if needed. Unlike many cities where tourist havens and dangerous slums can be seamlessly separated by a single block, due to Glasgow's layout it is near impossible to accidentally wander into one of the "less desirable" parts of town unless you were making a conscious effort to do so. If you are exploring the city you will almost certainly become very aware you are leaving a tourist-friendly area long before you would be in an area which is actually dangerous.
It is not uncommon (particularly if male, approximately under 35, and alone or in a couple or small group) to be approached by beggars or drug addicts for money or cigarettes when walking through the city centre. These are almost always harmless and (at least superficially) friendly and will rarely harass you to any great degree. Saying that (in the case of money) you don't have any cash on you at the moment or (in the case of cigarettes) that you don't smoke will usually get rid of them, and even the most determined will rarely be looking for anything more than £1 anyway (though if you do plan to give them money, use common sense and do not take out and put on full display a wallet full of cash or a pocketful of change, which will almost certainly have them demanding more than whatever you give them).
Avoid football shirts, a Rangers or Celtic shirt worn in the wrong place has led to assault or murder, especially on an Old Firm match day. Many bars ban all football colours.
Although prostitution is illegal in the UK it is a fact of life in all major cities, Glasgow being no exception. The "Red Light" areas are as follows:
Around Anderston station and the Finnieston St area, the Calton area of the east end (East of the "Barras") especially around the Tennents brewery, the eastern end of Glasgow Green from the Peoples Palace to Bridgeton Cross area. Although quiet during the day, there is a lot of business at night and especially at the weekends. Women walking by themselves have been known to be approached by men looking for prostitutes and people in vehicles have been known to be approached by prostitutes looking for business.
Strathclyde Police, the local police force, has a .
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikitravel article "Glasgow". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 license.
"Wain" - child.
"Wee" - small.
"Aye" - yes.
"Ken" - another word for know.
"dinae" or don't.
"Bam" or "bampot" - an impolite term for a silly or annoying person.
"Eejit" - another impolite term for a silly or annoying person.
"Tumshie" - a silly person.
"Pished" - drunk or intoxicated.
"Steamin" (sometimes "Steamboats")- drunk or intoxicated.
"Pure (brilliant)" - Very.
"Minging" - bad smelling or bad tasting; similarly a "minger" refers to an ugly woman. Can also be used to denote drunkeness; "Ah wis well mingin' on Friday."
"Haw" - roughly equivalent to "Hey" and used to attract someone's attention.
"(to give) pelters" - to humiliate someone.
"Ned" - Allegedly, this stands for "non-educated delinquent", which sums it up nicely. Neds can be spotted often sporting tracksuits, drinking cheap alchohol and wearing "bling" jewellery, as well as bright white trainers or sneakers and a baseball cap, usually from the brand Burberry. Most neds are harmless but some are aggressive, particularly after drinking some "Buckie".
"Buckie" - Real name is Buckfast, a "tonic wine" (this indicates its fortified alcohol content and not any medicinal value.) It is relatively cheap and purple in colour.
"Glaikit" - If someone is glaikit, they look (or are) oblivious, stupid and out of it.
"Gallus" - notably brave, or even cocky.
"Besom" - a cheeky or 'bold' woman.
"Manky" - unclean, filthy.
Glasgow slang is also peppered with various more or less meaningless phrases such as 'by the way', 'man' or 'dead' (very, as an adjective) that can give the answers to simple questions an almost baroque complexity. So "Did you enjoy the concert last night?" might be answered "Aye it was pure dead brilliant man" which means, essentially, "Yes, it was good".City Centre Layout
Heading south on Buchanan Street you encounter Nelson Mandela Place with a small Church sitting in the centre of the square.
Turning south onto the A8 Saltmarket leads to the City Mortuary, High Court and the eastern entrance of Glasgow Green park before crossing the Crown Street bridge into the Gorbals.Get in
By plane
By train
By car
from Edinburgh (east) or Glasgow Airport (west) on the M8 motorway
from Stirling and all points north and east on the M80 motorway
from the West Highlands on the A82 dual carriageway.By bus
By boat
Get around
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See
Architecture
The , affectionately known by Glaswegians as the Armadillo, is a stunning building which forms part of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (train: Exhibition Centre).
Glasgow Cathedral is a fine example of Gothic architecture dating from medieval times and built on a site first consecrated in 397 AD.
, Renfrew Street (subway: Cowcaddens) is seen as one of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's finest buildings and is one of Britain's pre-eminent schools of art, design and architecture. Guided tours of the building are available (you must book in advance), or if you want to create your own art in the building, you can enrol for evening classes or the summer school.
, University Avenue (subway: Hillhead) contains the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, including a reconstruction of Mackintosh's house. The exterior is fine in its own right; the current main University building is of the neo-gothic and dates from 1870, although the University as an institution is much older, being founded in 1451. The front of the building commands views over Kelvingrove Park and the western fringes of the city.
The , Bellahouston Park (train: Dumbreck or subway: Ibrox), was built in the 1990s to Mackintosh's original 1901 entry for a design competition. Opening times vary. £3.50.
, 225 Scotland Street (subway: Shields Road). Charles Rennie Mackintosh's last major building - thoughtfully designed, with an excellent museum covering both Mackintosh and the changing faces of schools. Open daily. Free.Museums and art galleries
, Pollok Country Park (train: Pollokshaws West, then walk through Pollok Park), tel 287-2550. This is a collection of over 9000 artworks gifted to the city of Glasgow by Sir William Burrell and housed in a purpose-built museum in the Pollok Estate in the south of the city. Open M-Th,Sa 10am-5pm; F,Su 11am-5pm. Free.
On Queen Street in the City Centre, this gallery houses a terrific collection of recent paintings and sculptures, with space for new exhibitions. In the basement is in of Glasgow's many public libraries, with free internet access and cafe.
, Pacific Quay (train: Exhibition Centre or subway: Cessnock) has hundreds of interactive science exhibits for children, an IMAX cinema, and the 125-meter Glasgow Tower (re-opened summer 2004), the only tower in the world which can rotate through 360 degrees from its base. Every day, 10AM-6PM. £10 adults, £8 children for any two of the main attractions.
, a gallery set up in '83 by ex-students of the Glasgow School of Art as a hub for the local art community and to provide exhibition space
, an alternative art gallery/installation space
, Argyle Street (subway: Kelvinhall), tel 287-2699. One of the finest civic collections in Europe is housed within this Glasgow Victorian landmark museum. The collections include everything from fine and decorative arts to archaeology and the natural world. Open M-Th,Sa 10am-5pm; F,Su 11am-5pm. Free.
, Sauchiehall Street, tel 565-4137. Normally used as a temporary space for visiting exhibitions, this grade II listed building in the center of Glasgow will, until Kelvingrove reopens, host the 'Art Treasures of Kelvingrove', an exhibition of the city's best-loved art works. Open M-Th,Sa 10am-5pm; F,Su 11am-5pm. Free while hosting the 'Art Treasures of Kelvingrove' exhibition.
, Kelvin Hall, Bunhouse Road (subway: Kelvinhall), tel 287-2720 . The museum uses its collections of vehicles and models to tell the story of transport by land and sea, with a unique Glasgow flavour. Besides the usual rail locomotives, buses, trams, cars and planes, the museum also includes a recreated subway station, and a street scene of old Glasgow. Open M-Th,Sa 10am-5pm; F,Su 11am-5pm. Free.
, Castle Street (opposite Glasgow Cathedral), tel 552-8819. Glasgow's oldest remaining house, built in 1471, has been renovated to give visitors and idea what the inside of a Glasgow house was like circa 1700. Open M-Th,Sa 10am-5pm; F,Su 11am-5pm. Free.
, 14 King Street. Sharmanka is a Kinetic Gallery / Theatre. It consists of a number of strange machines created by the Russian artists Eduard Bersudsky. The machines perform stories and the light and sound during the performance adds to a really unique and amazing experience. Performances Thu, Sun 7pm or by individual appointment. £4, children under 16 free.
on Glasgow Green. The People's Palace is a great folk museum, telling the history of Glasgow and its people, from various perspectives. Free. The Winter Garden, adjacent, has a reasonable cafe.
, 145 Buccleuch Street, Garnethill. A National Trust for Scotland site, a middle class Glasgow tenement house preserved in pretty much the way it was in the early 20th Century.
, 2 Castle Street. Next to Glasgow Cathedral, the museum features exhibits relating not only to Glasgow's patron saint and the growth of Christianity in the city, but numerous exhibits pertaining to many faiths practised locally and worldwide. Free entry.Do
Music
Glasgow's been famous for its music scene(s) for at least 20 years. There's plenty of venues where you're likely to see a good band (and lots of bad bands too); on any day of the week there should be at least several shows to choose from throughout the city, with the number increasing to a even greater variety on Thursday, Friday & Saturday. In no particular order, here follows some pop/indie/rock-orientated venues:
Nice 'n' Sleazy on Sauchiehall St
on St Vincent St
on Sauchiehall Street
13th Note on King St
The Cathouse on Union Street (around the corner from Central railway station)
on Clyde St
Restaurant and record shop
The Barrowland Ballroom in the East End
on Eglinton St (south of the Clyde near Bridge St Subway)
on Argyle Street (beneath Central Station)
The Vale on Dundas Street (next to Buchanan Street Subway station)
at University Gardens, in the west end of the city
( provides schedules for almost all of Glasgow's main venues)Comedy
There are three main venues for stand-up comedy in Glasgow.
The Stand on Woodlands Road (West End)
The Vault on Pollokshaws Road (Southside)
Jongleurs in the City Centre.Cinema
The most interesting films in Glasgow are shown at:
(GFT), 12 Rose Street (tel: 332 8128)
, Ashton Lane (just off Byres Road in the West End)
on Sauchiehall St shows films, though it's primarily an art gallery
Mainstream films can be seen at the on Renfrew St, which is the tallest cinema in the World.Football
Glasgow also has the 3 biggest football stadia in Scotland. The major events in the football season are the clashes between the two Premier league clubs, Rangers and Celtic. Known as the "Old firm" matches, these 90 minute competitions produce a profound effect on the city, occasionally resulting in violent clashes during or after the game. Cup ties between these two giants are quite frequent, raising the tensions further. Be aware that getting tickets for "Old Firm " games can be difficult and cup ties near impossible. If you must go to one of these matches be sure not to wear team colours after the match.
(5 star) The national stadium, Hampden hosts many large sporting events and concerts and also houses the Scottish Football Museum. The Scottish national football team plays its home games here.(unless Robbie Williams is in town)
(5 star) Home of Celtic Football Club, Britains First and Scotlands only European Cup Champions, Biggest football stadium in Scotland, Capacity 60,000,
(5 star) Home of Rangers Football Club Scotlands most successful club domestically, also known as "the Gers", Capacity 51,000,
Home of Partick Thistle Football Club, also known as "the Jags", Capacity 14,538, the closest stadium to the City Centre.Parks
For a large city Glasgow has a surprising number of parks and green spaces. The most famous of these is . Founded by Royal grant in 1450, Glasgow Green has slowly been enclosed by the city and evolved from grazing land into a modern public park. The highlights are
Nelsons memorial (an obelisk or needle)
The Peoples Palace Museum displaying details of Glasgow life (including one of Billy Connolly's banana boots)
The Templeton carpet factory (now a business center) with its ornate brick work.
The Doulton fountain (recently renovated, it's the largest terracotta fountain in the world).
Glasgow Green is also the home of the Glasgow Humane Society. The Society was founded in 1790 and is the world's oldest practical life-saving body. Until June 2005 the society volunteers were responsible for rescuing those unfortunate to fall into the River Clyde. Unfortunately modern heath and safety regulations require two life boat men on duty and a lack of volunteers has forced the sole lifeboat man, George Parsonage, to stand down the service after 215 years. The rescue service is now performed by the Strathclyde Fire Brigade.
"The Green" as its know to the locals is also one of the major venues for concerts and open air events in Glasgow. The best way to get there is on foot from either Bridgeton or Argle st railway stations or from the bus routes along London road. There is limited official parking in or around the green and the area is notorious for car crime. Be aware the council will tow away illegally parked vehicles and charge you up to 250 pounds to get them back !Other sites
hosts many events in Glasgow. http://www.secctickets.com/ sells tickets for these.
lists what is on in Glasgow.
lists events and ticket availability for Scotland, primarily Edinburgh and Glasgow.Gay & Lesbian
Out & About
- 80-90 Glassford Street, Glasgow G1 1UR. Tel. +44 (0)141 552 5761. Opening Hours: W-Su 11.30PM-3.30AM. Entry Fee: £3-W,Th,Su £5-F&Sa. This venue is situated over two levels with all you could want from a gay club, dance tunes, lighting and sweaty boys.
- 84 Wilson Street, Glasgow G1 1UZ. Tel. +44 (0)141 553 1221. Opening Hours: M-Th 5PM-1AM, F-Su 5PM-3AM. Entry Fee on Fri & Sat Night. The upstairs bar is tastefully decorated in a Victorian style and is a great place to relax with friends. Downstairs boasts two dance areas, one playing all your pop favourites, the other chart and dance tunes. The crowd here is very mixed.
- 58 Virginia Street, Glasgow G1 1TX. Tel. +44 (0)141 553 2553. Opening Hours: M-Su 5PM-LATE! Speciality - Cocktails & Funky DJs!
- 6a John Street, Glasgow G1 1JQ (Opposite the Italian Centre and downstairs next door to the 'Gay Chippie' ). Tel. +44 (0)141 5532456. Opening Hours: M-Su 11AM-1AM! Mixed and relaxed crowd. Small and friendly bar with a great Pub Quiz on a Sunday afternoon.
Health & Support
- Free and Confidential Telephone Counselling in the West of Scotland. Gay & Lesbian Line - Tel. +44 (0)141 847 0447, M-Su 7PM-10PM. Lesbian Line - Tel. +44 (0)141 847 0647, Wed 7.30PM-10PM (Staffed only by women). Homophobic Crime Reporting Line - Tel. +44 (0)141 847 0647, M-Su 7PM-10PM.
- Support, Advocacy, Welfare and Learning. 11 Dixon Street, Glasgow G1 4AL. Tel. +44 (0)141 221 7203. Open: M-Su 11AM-MIDNIGHT. The centre is fully wheelchair accessible with a chairlift.
- Reading, Writing, Groups and Events. 109 Trongate Glasgow, G1 5HD. Tel. +44 (0)141 552 8345. Open: Tu,W&Fr 1PM-6PM, Th 1PM-9PM. The library is fully wheelchair accessible with a lift to all floors.
- A sexual health service for gay men in Glasgow. Tu&W 5.30PM-8.30PM - The Sandyford Centre, 6 Sandyford Place, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. Tel. +44 (0)141 211 8628. Also Th 5.30PM-8.30PM - The Glasgow LGBT Centre, 11 Dixon Street Glasgow, G1 4AL. Tel. +44 (0)141 211 8628.
- Promoting Health and Challenging Exclusion. Top Floor, Rothesay House, 134 Douglas Street, Glasgow G2 4HF. Tel. +44 (0)141 332 3838.Learn
Work
Buy
Glasgow has positioned itself as an upmarket retail destination, the shopping is the some of the best in Scotland, and generally accepted as the No.2 shopping experience in Britain after London. Buchanan Street is the 7th most expensive place for retail space in the world, this means that there's an increasing number of designer clothes shops in areas like the Merchant City. Alongside this, the Council is putting pressure on more traditional shopping centres like the Barras where you can get remarkably similar-looking clothes for a more sensible price.
Also Paddy's Market under cover near Saltmarket.
The Buchanan Galleries, Buchanan Street, is a large shopping mall in the heart of the city centre which has all the usual British high street stores.
The St Enoch Centre is a large shopping centre facing onto Argyle Street in the centre of the city. It is claimed to be the largest glass-enclosed structure in Europe.
Princes Square is an upmarket mall just off Buchanan Street in the city centre. Specialises in designer clothes shops, jewellery and audio equipment.
The Argyle Arcade is a covered street housing Scotland's largest collection of jewellery shops. The arcade connects Argyle Street and Buchanan Street.
De Courcy's Arcade is an unusual little shopping arcade with lots of second hand music and book shops and independent gift shops and a good import/retro games store, . Located just off Byres Road in the west end (subway: Hillhead)Eat
Takeaway
Glasgow has taken many different cultural foods and combined them into a unique dining experience. Most takeaways offer Indian dishes (pakora), pizzas and kebabs as well as the more traditional fish and chips or burgers. This has resulted in some takeaways offering a blend of dishes like chips with curry sauce, the donner kebab pizza, the battered and deep fried pizza to name but a few.British
European
Brel, Ashton Lane, Glasgow G12 8SJ (In the West End off Byres Road - nearest Subway: Hillhead), Tel. +44 (0)141 342 4966, . M-Su 12PM-Late. Located in the dynamic Ashton Lane in the West End of Glasgow, this restaurant is well known for its Belgian fare particularly their Moules (Mussel) Pots in a variety of flavours. This Bar/Restaurant is set over 3 levels and sells a range of Belgian beers, including Banana and Raspberry, along with a few of the local Scottish favourites. During the warmer weather there is a large Beer Garden at the rear. It can't be denied this bar has a VIBE and is ideal for a delicious meal or just for a drink. There is often free live entertainment. Prices: à la carte menu, starters: £2.95-£4.95 and mains: £8.95-£15.50. Also great deals at Food Happy Hour M-Su 5PM-7PM!Indian
Most of the good Indian restaurants are clustered together between Charing Cross & Berkeley Street. Take your pick from Panjea, Ashoka Flame, Mr Singh's India, Mother India's Cafe and more. There are also literally dozens of takeaway Indian restaurants around the city, although the quality of these can be very variable.Italian
Esca near the Tron Theatre is good and inexpensive but often busy.Mexican
Pancho Villas, 26 Bell Street, Glasgow G1 1LG (in the Merchant City area opposite Merchant Square), Tel. +44 (0)141 552 7737, . M-Sa 12PM to Late, Su 5PM - Late. A variety of high quality and generous Mexican style dishes, including vegetarian meals. The restaurant which is split over two floors offers a welcoming and ambient environment, whether it be for a work related function, romantic meal or birthday party. It is often very busy of an evening especially towards the end of the week, so it is best to make a reservation. Prices: Set Meals are available Mo-Th between 12PM-5PM for 2Courses - £6.95 and 3Courses - £8.50. A-la-carte Menu, Starters: £2.50-£7.95 and Mains: £8.50-£12.95.Russian
Cafe Cossachok on King Street.Veggie
For fab veggie food try...
Grassroots, on St George's Road, near Woodlands Road (subway: St George's Cross). Great veggie breakfasts from 10am, and other meals from midday till late. Lots of vegan options, too. Grassroots also has one of the two best wholefood/organic shops in Glasgow, round the corner in Woodlands Road; the other is Roots and Fruits in Great Western Road (subway: Kelvinbridge).
The Fast Food Shop, pakora place on Woodlands Road is ideal for guilt-free snacking on the way home from the pub.
, on King Street, looks like an anarchist squat when you walk in, and has a full bar, and serves very good veggie (mainly vegan) food. Try the vegan haggis, neeps and tatties, served with a pink-peppercorn cream sauce - fab.
Mono, over the road in King's Court, is run by the people who established the Note. It has a lighter, airier feel but with an exclusively vegan menu, beers prepared on-site and two shops (food and records).Drink
Other bars with a good selection of whisky are Uisghe Beatha (pronounced "ie.-chee-vah", with a soft "ch" sound like "loch" - pretend you're trying to hawk a loogie) on Woodlands Road and there's one on Argyle St towards the West End.
Enjoyable place to visit with friends.Sleep
Budget
The Scottish Youth Hostel Association, 8 Park Terrace, Phone: 0870 1 55 32 55, . has a dorm beds and limited family/private rooms- available for around £14 per person per night at its 4 star hostel.
EuroHostel, 318 Clyde St., Phone: +44 (0)141 222 2828, . Former student halls that has dorm beds for £10-20.
Blue Sky, Berkley Street, . Hostel with dorm accommodation from £10 to £15. Dorm beds and double rooms available.Moderate
Camping
Craigendmuir Caravan Park, Phone: 0141 779 4159, . Stepps, to the east of the city, is probably the nearest camp site and charges about £12.50/night for a two people in a tent. A train journey from Stepps to Glasgow Queen Street takes about 20 minutes.Splurge
Radisson SAS, 301 Argyle St., Phone: + 44 (0) 141 204 3333, . Four Star Hotel. Double rooms from £140/night.Contact
Phone
Internet
The Hub (formerly "th:at") -- 8 Regent Street (one minute from Central station). Forty PCs. Wi-fi access. Every day, 08:00-21:00.
Mortons Coffee Co. -- Byres Road (subway: Hillhead). Offers free wi-fi internet access and two PCs.
The Goat is a nicely appointed bar which also offers free & unlimited wi-fi access & has a laptop available for loan. Excellent bar food also available. Argyll St. Near Kelvingrove Gallery & the Museum of Transport.
Offshore Coffee Shop -- Gibson Street, beside the River Kelvin in the west end. Offers free wireless access and has good coffee. It has been 'no smoking' since January '06, ahead of the public smoking ban which starts on March 26th 2006.Stay safe
Get out
Visit Loch Lomond and climb the nearby Ben Lomond (the most southerly Munro) for great views.
Walk the West Highland Way from Milngavie (a suburb of Glasgow) all the way to Fort William.
Take a day-trip to Isle of Arran. There are train and ferry combo tickets. Isle of Arran is a minature Scotland. There is a castle with beautiful gardens. Take one of the circle island buses to see it all, watch your time though- know the last bus and ferry of the day. There is a beautiful bay with a castle in the middle on the Northeast in a village called Lochranza.