Out & About in Glasgow

Situated on the picturesque River Clyde, Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland with a population of more than 580,000 people. With prehistoric settlements and a diverse cultural heritage, Glasgow's history is vast and interesting.

Notable landmarks in the city include the University of Glasgow, which was founded in 1451 and has around 24,000 students, Glasgow Cathedral, which has splendid gothic architecture, and the Clyde Auditorium, which is otherwise known as 'The Armadillo'.

Glasgow is also Scotland's largest city economy, sustaining more than 400,000 jobs in the area and amongst Europe's top twenty largest financial centres. Although the economic makeup of the city is considerably diverse, it is especially strong in engineering, shipbuilding, retail, software development and food and drink industries.

Shopping

Glasgow is full of great places to shop. Being the largest city in Scotland and a retail powerhouse of the UK, consumers are somewhat spoilt for choice. Buchanan Galleries, for instance, is a new shopping centre that houses more than 80 leading department stores. These include Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Debenhams, H & M, Next, Mango and many more. Buchanan Galleries is easily accessed via nearby train and bus services, however, its advantage over other shopping centres in Glasgow is its award-winning 2000 space car park, which is located conveniently just off the M8 motorway.

Prince's Square is something of an attraction in itself, with interesting architecture and an imposing glass roof supporting a host of chic designer outlets, fashionable boutiques and a number of cafés and bars. The Argyll Arcade, which was built in 1827, is another fantastic place to shop in Glasgow and is home to no less than 32 jewellers, making it the perfect destination to be when buying a gift for that special someone.

Nevertheless, the largest shopping centre in Glasgow is the St. Enoch Centre, which remains Europe's largest glass structure! St. Enoch Centre is ideal for mainstream shopping, with popular names such as Boots, Bhs and Tk Maxx residing under its sunlit roof. Kids can also be treated to a McDonalds at the end of a hard day's shopping with mum!

Food and Drink

Glasgow is awash with fine places to wine and dine. Aside from mainstream establishments such as Burger King, McDonalds and Pizza Hut, there are a host of top quality restaurants to enjoy in the city. Starting with Brian Maule at Chardon D'Or, this gastronomic restaurant has a reputation for excellent service and delicious food - from chump of lamb with asparagus to pan fried cod fillets with morels. Head chef, Brian Maule, certainly has a penchant for continental cuisine.

The superbly modern Rococo on West George Street is another excellent restaurant in Glasgow. The menu is something of a blend between traditional Scottish dishes and modern European cuisine - including Scottish salmon with guacamole and French blanquette of veal. The desserts at the Rococo are exceptional and guests are guaranteed to have a relaxed and comfortable meal.

The Bon Accord on North Street must be one of Glasgow's finest public houses, with a broad and high quality selection of ales available in addition to enjoyable food and friendly service.

Arts and Entertainment

There are plenty of museums, theatres and art galleries in Glasgow for visitors to enjoy. Museums include the Burrell Collection, which showcases over 9,000 pieces of fine art from across the ages, the Scotland Street School Museum, which presents a history of education in the country, the Open Museum, which comprises exhibits such as a hippo's skull and various Egyptian artefacts, and the Kevingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which is currently supporting a Doctor Who exhibition!

Top theatres in Glasgow include The King's Theatre, Theatre Royal and the Citizen's Theatre. The Theatre Royal is the oldest running theatre in Scotland, having opened in 1867. In addition to museums and theatres, Mitchell Library, which comprises truly stunning architecture, is amongst Europe's largest public reference libraries with more than 1.3 million books available on its vast shelves.

Hotel and Travel

Glasgow is surrounded by beautiful Scottish scenery, so visitors to the city may be inclined to venture into the wilderness and go camping at the same time. Nevertheless, there are plenty of other places to stay in Glasgow, from hotels and bed & breakfasts to caravan parks. Generally regarded as the most luxurious hotel in the city, the Hilton Hotel Glasgow features several fine quality restaurants, a bar, gym, 24/7 reception and conference room facilities. The bedrooms are, as to be expected, of an exceptional standard.

Glasgow International Airport is a major mode of transport in the city and is frequented by more than 8 million passengers each year who travel to and from destinations across the globe. Glasgow Central is the largest railway station in the city and caters to some 21 million passengers annually, whilst the major road arteries in the area include the M77 and M80.