Glasgow
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City Overview
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Maritime Connection |
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Artistic, brash, chic, dynamic, exuberant – it’s difficult to define the city of Glasgow today. Think Manhattan with a rasping Scottish accent, brimming with great architecture, a lively cultural scene and the best shopping and restaurants outside London. Urban regeneration, with a little help from Lottery money, has restored Victorian buildings, and tobacco warehouses have been transformed into a modern-day Merchant City of designer shops, bars, and bistros. Where the shipyards used to line the majestic River Clyde, the sterns of ocean-going leviathans jutting out over the water, there are now space-age exhibition, conference, concert, and science centres. The people too, have more sense of style than most outside London, and it could be said that Glasgow does not simply follow fashion, it creates its own.
Glasgow has certainly moved with the times, but has lost none
of the grit and humour forged in the long years of
industrialisation, where what you got was hard labour if you were
lucky, and the dole if you weren’t. The Glaswegian response has
always been to smile and swagger, and the razor-sharp retort is
still common currency here. The Glaswegian’s natural friendliness
will ensure that it is seldom directed at the tourist (unless
from England or, worse still, Edinburgh), as long as you don’t
criticise his city. Or forget to buy your round.
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Key places to Visit
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Waverley - Glasgow’s Gateway to the Lochs & Isles
of Scotland.
Sail away on a day to remember - visit an Island or soak up the
atmosphere of days gone by as you relax on deck and let the
spectacular Scottish scenery slip by.
Sailings start June 23 at 10am Fri/Sat/Sun & Mon in July
& August. (Call+ 44 141 243 2224) or visit
www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk
The Lighthouse - Scotland's Centre for Architecture,
Design, and The City.
For those interested in architecture, particularly the works of
the Glasgow architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, this is the
first stop. Housed in the Glasgow Herald Building, to the
design of which Mackintosh contributed in 1893-95, it has a
permanent Mackintosh exhibition (+44 (0)141 221 6362).
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What's on?
Coming Soon...............
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Getting to the city
By car: Explore the city and the countryside in comfort and style at great prices! Get the best deal by checking Flybe's partner Avis for the best available car hire rates at www.flybe.com/avis
By road: Glasgow International Airport is located 13 km (8 miles) west of the city at Junction 28 on the M8. Contact Flybe’s partner Avis for the best available car hire rates (www.flybe.com).
By bus: Airport link bus every 10-15 minutes to Buchanan Street bus station from outside Arrivals. This is a 30-minute journey.
By taxi: Airport to city centre approximately £24.
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Getting Around
Glasgow has one of the most advanced, fully integrated public transport systems in Europe. Glaswegians are very reliant on buses, the underground, and the local railway network that cross the city and link it to the suburbs. The Travel Centre at St Enoch Square (+44 (0)141 226 4826) is a good starting-point for general Glasgow-wide travel information.
Glasgow’s local bus network is a great way of getting around the city. For more information contact Traveline Scotland, www.travelinescotland.com
The Glasgow Underground has twin tunnels providing a circular service linking 15 stations. Trains are frequent (approximately one every five minutes), and tickets are cheap, but must be bought in advance of the journey either from a machine or from the ticket office at the station.
An extensive network of regular and frequent local rail services operates in Glasgow, its suburbs and the West of Scotland. Most suburbs and towns within this area are accessible by train. If you are staying outside Glasgow and do not want to drive into the city, you can use the 'Park-and-Ride' system, which allows free parking at suburban rail stations, where you then continue your journey by train. CCTV protects most of the parking facilities - the Park-and-Ride also operates at four Glasgow Underground stations.
Glasgow Central station is the terminus for trains to the south, including London. Queen Street station is for trains to the northern Scottish towns, the Highlands, and Edinburgh.
For all your timetables and fares UK wide:
National Rail Enquiries +44 (0)345 48 49 50
For all your rail travel requirements:
Traveline +44 (0)870 608 2 608
Scottish Citylink runs a daily coach service between Buchanan Street Bus station and London’s Victoria Coach station (+44 (0)8705 505050 www.citylink.co.uk).
Stagecoach runs a service between Buchanan Street and King’s Cross station in London
(www.stagecoach-westernbuses.co.uk).
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Accommodation
Glasgow offers a good range of accommodation from simple
B&Bs to high-quality four-star hotels in the city centre with
CD-players in every room. In the three-star or budget category,
there are lots of new hotels in and around the city centre. These
often quote prices on a per-room basis, whereas the more
traditional hotels usually quote on a per-person basis, so check
before confirming your reservation. The four-star Fraser
Suites Hotel is an imposing Victorian building with a
sophisticated 21st century interior located in the
heart of the Merchant City. Langs is a stylish and
comfortable award-winning hotel in the heart of the city and
voted Sexiest Scottish hotel 2005. The three-star Normandy
Hotel is located one mile from the airport and just 10
minutes from Glasgow city center. Book with Flybe on +44
(0)871 900 8297 or www.flybehotels.com
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Eating out
A new cuisine recently invented to take advantage of the wealth of Scotland’s natural produce, from grouse to venison, steaks to salmon, but with a lighter, often oriental twist, is called ‘Modern Scottish’. You can find this throughout Glasgow, not only in the large restaurants but also in some of the smaller bistros and cafÈs. There is also some good ethnic cuisine, including Indian, Chinese, Italian, and Mexican. Try Rogano (+44 (0)141 248 4055) for its romantic 1930s art deco, speciality seafood, and pre-theatre champagne and oysters. Scottish cuisine in the central area is also at Rococo (+44 (0)141 221 5004), Sutherlands (+44 (0)141 357 4711), and the City Merchant (+44 (0)141 553 1577).
Might chose to replace Quigleys & Lowdown (which is now closed) with The Living Room, - fantastic food and even better cocktails along with live music four nights a week. http://www.thelivingroom.co.uk
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Nightlife
Try Tiger Tiger, a fun, multi-themed eight-bar extravaganza
(+44 (0)141 553 4888); Spy Bar, a pre-club venue, cool DJ
music-mix; Babbity Bowster, a buzzing Merchant City pub; and
Corinthian, an elegant 18>th-century grandeur
backdrop with cocktail bar, piano bar, and fine restaurant. Or
try the best of the city’s stand-up, plus international acts at
Jongleurs Comedy Club (+44 (0)141 332 2815) on Renfrew Street. If
gambling’s your thing, Gala Casinos operates four casinos in
Glasgow.
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Around the city
Glasgow is surrounded by stunning countryside. Forty minutes north of the city travellers can experience the tranquil beauty that is Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Take a cruise on Loch Lomond or a guided walking tour off the beaten track. (www.walkwildlochlomond.co.uk). Or head south and visit the 18th-century cotton mill at New Lanark World Heritage Site (+44 (0)1555 661 345 www.newlanark.org). The picturesque village overlooks the Falls of Clyde and welcomes 400,000 visitors per year. Attractions include a magical dark ride, 3D theatre show entitled ‘Annie McLeod's Story’, the restored Millworkers' House, and Robert Owen's School.
Art historians and enthusiasts will want to visit the Burrell Collection, now permanently sited on the outskirts of Glasgow in Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road (+44 (0)141 353 9108). This is a huge and important collection of medieval art, tapestries, alabasters, stained glass, and English oak furniture. There are also European paintings, including works by Degas and CÈzanne, a collection of Islamic art, and modern sculpture with works by Epstein and Rodin.
Golfers will be encouraged by the statistics: there are 150
golf courses within 50km of Glasgow’s city centre. Many of these
are private, however, and your best chance of a game is one of
the eight municipal courses within the city limits. Littlehill
and Linn Park are the pick of the bunch. Golf pilgrims will make
their way south to the Ayrshire coast and Turnberry, which has
hosted the Open Championship, and has two links (seaside)
courses. Purists will tell you that links courses are what golf
is all about, and you’re spoilt for choice here. A little further
north is Prestwick, where the first Open was played in 1860.
Close by is Royal Troon, which has three municipal or public
courses, including the Old Course, another venue for the
Open.
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The facts you need
Climate: The weather in the UK is changeable throughout the year, so it is advisable to pack waterproofs and warm clothes whatever the season. Scotland is not renowned for warm weather but summer can surprise with long, sunny days. It can be cool with showers in spring, chilly in autumn, but prepare for rain all year especially in the winter months.
Currency: The pound sterling (£). For current rate, check with your bank.
Dialling Code: (0)141. From outside the UK +44, and drop the ‘0’ of the area code.
Information: VisitScotland - Glasgow Tourist Information Centre, 11 George Square, Glasgow G2 1DY. Tel: +44 (0)141 204 4400.
Website: www.seeglasgow.com
Public holidays 2007:
August 6, December
25,26
Time difference: The UK shares the same time throughout
the country, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter, and British
Summer Time (BST), which is GMT plus 1 hour, in the summer.
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A perfect day
Devote the morning to being inspired by a feast of art and culture. Begin with coffee
at the Willow Tea Room, a recreation of Charles Rennie Mackintosh`s elegant art nouveau design. Then browse around the Lighthouse, the Centre for Architecture and Design, featuring diverse international exhibitions. Have a beer in the Horse Shoe Bar at 17 Drury Street, either because you’re thirsty, or because it has the second longest pub bar in Britain. Nearby is the cutting-edge Gallery of Modern Art with a collection of leading Scottish artists and sculptors.
Relax over a classy lunch around the corner at Rogano before an afternoon of serious designer shopping around the Merchant City, the Italian Centre, and Cruise (fabulously unique fashion), and along Buchanan Street. Alternatively head down to the Clyde to the Science Centre where technology is interactively brought to life. Back into the city centre for a couple of cocktails, before it’s time to get back to your hotel to shower and dress up for dinner, drinks, and a stylish night out on the town.
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Flybe services
Flybe operates from Belfast, Birmingham, Exeter, Jersey, Manchester, Norwich and Southampton. www.flybe.com
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An insider's perspective
The city has changed so much over the past 10 years and is now, without doubt, one of Europe's most interesting and vibrant places. No matter how often you visit, there is always a new bar, restaurant, or club to try out. The city is buzzing, and as for the Glaswegians, nowhere in the world will you find such friendly people.
Glasgow is a great year-round city. Whether it's the celebrations, Christmas lights and shopping in the winter, or the parks, pubs, and festivals in the summer, you're bound to enjoy yourself. This city has personality and presence, and will leave you with lasting memories of great times.
After a hard week, try this antidote to stress and depression.
Start your Friday night with a first-class meal at a very
reasonable price from a menu that incorporates Scotland's finest
ingredients at the CafÈ Source (+44 (0)141 548 6020 - under St
Andrew's Church in St Andrew’s Square). Then take a short stroll
to the Clutha Vaults pub to ensure an unparalleled evening's
entertainment. On Fridays, the energy and passion of the live
music raises the rafters, while the eclectic mix of customers
guarantees a rich blend of humour and culture that must be the
envy of any city in the world.
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Shopping
Glasgow is famous for its shopping, which in the city centre is defined by the ‘Golden Z’, the shape described by Argyle, Buchanan, and Sauchiehall streets. Argyle Arcade is an L-shaped Aladdin’s cave of jeweller’s shops; Princes Square has all the big designer names and pavement cafÈs; Buchanan Galleries has all the chain stores. Other highlights include the refurbished St Enoch Centre and the Designer Exchange off the elegant Royal Exchange Square. The Merchant City area and the West End have a wealth of bookshops, antique shops (including De Courcy's Antique Craft Arcade), and second-hand clothing stores. Art and antiques you’ll find particularly in West Regent Street and Bath Street.
The Barras - the open-air street market between Gallowgate and
London Road in the East End - is open at the weekend, selling
antiques, clothing, and food. This is a good place to buy woollen
goods, tartan kilts and scarves, and Celtic-style jewellery.
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Commercial
As one of the cities that drove the industrial engine that created the British Empire, Glasgow has seen some ups and downs. From a simple cotton-weaving town of 50,000 people in 1800, it had exploded to half a million by 1870. Cotton had been replaced by heavy industry and shipbuilding, and Glasgow was becoming the ‘Second City of the Empire’.
With prosperity, however, came a heavy legacy of overcrowding, slum housing, and disease. The end of the First World War brought decline and unemployment, and a long struggle in the 20th century to replace the heavy industry with new ways of keeping the city’s population working. North Sea oil helped in the 1970s, and the housing regeneration policy of that decade gave the East End a facelift that was to boost the city’s morale. The tenements were refurbished rather than being demolished, and soot-stained buildings were cleaned. This paved the way for the renovation of the old Merchant City and docks areas. With the award in 1990 of the title of European City of Culture, many felt that the city had finally turned the corner.
Tourism has flourished since then, helped by high-profile
events such as the 1996 Festival of Visual Arts and the 1999
award of UK City of Architecture and Design. The prosperous
merchants who built the great houses and elegant squares have
given way to a new breed of entrepreneurs, and the shipyard
workers have been replaced by call-centre operators and
salespeople. While there is still a question mark over the
economic foundations of the city, it’s got the all-important
reputation of being a cool place to visit, to shop, and to
party.
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What's new?
The first-ever Scottish exhibition for American artist
Barbara Kruger is at the Gallery of Modern Art, finishing on
September 25. Kruger is renowned for startling artworks of text
on image highlighting issues of power and control. The Glasgow
exhibition focuses on the theme of domestic violence in her work
(www.glasgowmuseums.com).
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