Standing in the west lowlands and on the banks of the river Clyde is the city of Glasgow - meaning 'dear green place' in gaelic. Glasgow grew from the medieval Bishopric of Glasgow and the later establishment of the University of Glasgow, which contributed to the Scottish Enlightenment. Glasgow was known as the "Second City of the British Empire" in the Victorian era. Today it is one of Europe's top twenty financial centres and is home to many of Scotland's leading businesses.
Very little of medieval Glasgow remains, the two main landmarks from this period being the 14th century Provand's Lordship and St. Mungo's Cathedral. The vast majority of the city as seen today dates from the 19th century. As a result, Glasgow has an impressive heritage of Victorian architecture - the Glasgow City Chambers, the main building of the University of Glasgow, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and the Glasgow School of Art, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh are outstanding examples.
Shoppers will find themselves spoilt for choice when in Glasgow. The main shopping centres are Buchanan Galleries and the St. Enoch Centre, with the up-market Princes Square and the Italian Centre specialising in designer labels.
For the culturally minded Glasgow will be the answer to their dreams. The city centre is home to most of Glasgow's main cultural venues: The Theatre Royal (home of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet), The Pavilion, The King's Theatre, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Film Theatre, Gallery of Modern Art, Mitchell Library, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, McLellan Galleries and The Lighthouse Museum of Architecture, Design and the City. The city has many amenities for a wide range of cultural activities, from curling to opera, ballet and from football to art appreciation; it also has a large selection of museums that include those devoted to transport, religion, and modern art.
Glasgow's West End refers to the bohemian district of cafés, tea rooms, bars, boutiques, upmarket hotels, clubs and restaurants. The East End extends from Glasgow Cross in the City Centre to the boundary with North and South Lanarkshire. It is home to the famous Glasgow Barrowland Market, popularly known as 'The Barras', and Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow Green, and Celtic Park, home of Celtic F.C..
East of Glasgow Cross is the magnificent Saint Andrew's Church, built in 1746 and displaying a Presbyterian grandeur befitting the church of the city's wealthy tobacco merchants. Also close by is the more modest Episcopalian Saint Andrew's-by-the-Green, the oldest post-Reformation church in Scotland.
Getting there by Air :
Glasgow International Airport located just eight miles (13 kilometres) west of Glasgow City Centre and combined with Edinburgh airport (less than one hour away) services direct flights from many European cities, including the key hubs of Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt and Paris.
Glasgow Prestwick International Airport located thirty miles (48 kilometres) south of Glasgow. A railway station is adjacent to the Airport with regular direct trains to the city centre.
RyanAir use Prestwick airport 30 miles from Glasgow.
By Rail:
Glasgow Queen Street Station is the second main line station situated in the city centre. As well as providing excellent links to areas in and around Greater Glasgow. Its Express service to Edinburgh takes under 50 minutes and runs every 15 mins.
Great Norther Eastern Railway and Virgin trains operate direct routes to Glasgow Central Station from London’s Kings Cross and Euston stations respectively.
By car:
The main M74 north/south motorway allows quick, easy access to the entire region.
Photo courtesy of Glasgow Tourism
