Glasgow

The statue of the Duke of Wellington outside the Gallery of Modern Art almost always wears an orange traffic cone on its head – and the city council's attempts to remove it have failed in the face of residents' protests. Humor is as much a part of Glasgow as its red sandstone architecture, and a city break in Glasgow rewards you with first-rate museums that charge no admission, legendary concert halls and a creative scene.

From Trading Port to Cultural Capital

In the 18th century, Glasgow grew rich on the tobacco and sugar trade, and in the 19th century on shipbuilding along the Clyde and heavy industry; at times it was the second-largest city in the British Empire. The merchants left behind the Merchant City district with its magnificent buildings, now full of restaurants and bars. After the decline of the shipyards, the city reinvented itself: in 1990 it was European Capital of Culture, and in 2008 it became a UNESCO City of Music. Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, with a character all its own and a pronounced rivalry with Edinburgh.

Sights in Glasgow

The Gothic cathedral from the 12th century is one of the few Scottish churches to have come through the Reformation almost unscathed; behind it rises the Necropolis, a Victorian cemetery on a hill with views over the city. In the West End you'll find the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, a red sandstone palace with Salvador Dalí's "Christ of Saint John of the Cross," Scottish painting and a large organ that is played daily. On the river, the Riverside Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid, displays trams, locomotives and a tall ship. The Burrell Collection in Pollok Country Park reopened in 2022 after a major renovation. To follow in the footsteps of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, visit the Willow Tea Rooms, The Lighthouse and the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park.

Going Out and Music

In the evening, many people head to the cobbled Ashton Lane in the West End or to the Merchant City. Glasgow is known for its live music: major bands have played the Barrowland Ballroom, and Oasis were discovered at the small club King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in 1993. On weekends, the flea market The Barras in the East End is worth a visit. The local cuisine includes haggis, fish and chips and the national soft drink Irn-Bru; chicken tikka masala is also said to have been invented in Glasgow.

Neighborhoods and Green Spaces

The West End around the university, whose neo-Gothic tower rises above Kelvingrove Park, is the student district, with bookstores, cafés and vintage shops on Byres Road. South of the Clyde lie the Southside, with the huge Pollok Country Park, where Highland cattle graze, and Queens Park, with views over the city. In recent decades, new cultural landmarks have sprung up along the river, such as the SEC Armadillo concert hall and the Glasgow Science Centre. Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street are the major shopping streets in the center.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Glasgow Airport is west of the city, and buses run to the center. The Subway, one of the oldest underground railways in the world, dating from 1896, runs on a loop and is nicknamed Clockwork Orange because of its orange trains. Suburbs such as Bearsden, Giffnock and Rutherglen can be reached by train or bus. The best time to visit is from May to September; rain is possible in any season. Excursions lead to Loch Lomond, which is only an hour away.