Scotland
Travel Guide
Glasgow
Travel Guide by Direct Line Travel Insurance
Glasgow
Featured Hotels
There is so much to see and
do in Glasgow; you are literally spoilt for choice. By day, you can soak
up the Victorian architecture (Glasgow has the best-preserved Victorian
city centre in the UK) and visit a number of impressive architectural wonders,
museums, art galleries, theatres, parks and river walkways. Glasgow also
has a reputation for the best shopping outside London. By night, you can
eat, drink and enjoy a variety of live entertainment.
| Glasgow's treasures
Glasgow is a treasure trove
of art and architecture. Home to contemporary artists like Jim Lambie and
David Shrigley, Glasgow has made a name for itself in the international
art world.
The Glasgow School of Art
is famous for its prestigious alumni and its Charles Rennie Mackintosh
architecture - a powerful influence for Art Nouveau and for the Modernist
movement. If you are a fan of Mackintosh's style, visit The Hill House,
The Willow Tearooms, the House for an Art Lover and Kelvingrove Art Gallery
and Museum - this houses one of the greatest civic art collections in Europe,
including works by Botticelli, Rembrandt and Dali and many Scottish artists. |
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Retail therapy
Glasgow is a shopper's paradise.
It is the second-largest shopping centre in the UK with arcades, open-air
markets and shopping precincts. The main shopping area is in the heart
of Glasgow and is for foot traffic only. Browse the shops at your own leisurely
pace in Buchanan Street, Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street. If you are
looking for the perfect piece of jewellery to add the finishing touch to
your outfit, head to the Argyll Arcade. It has over 30 jewellery stores
and is one of Britain's oldest covered arcades. If you prefer to do your
shopping all under one roof, the Buchanan Galleries is your best option.
For the latest fashion trends
visit Exchange Square, Ingram Street and Princes Square. If you are shopping
for antiques, visit the Barras open-air street market in the East End and
De Courcy's Antique Craft Arcade in the West End.
Where to go for a good
time
You will never be short of
entertainment options in Glasgow. A number of musicians, bands, comedians
and entertainers have graced the city's nightspots including Primal Scream,
Franz Ferdinand and Billy Connolly. If you fancy going to a gig or concert,
the Barrowlands, Arches, Bartly and Glasgow Academy and any number of pubs
and bars offer live entertainment.
Festivals are also popular
in Glasgow. You can visit the Glasgow Film Festival, Glasgow River Festival,
West End Festival, Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival or Aye
Write Book Festival.
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A weekend escape
If you only have a long weekend
to discover Glasgow's magic, here is an itinerary to make the most of your
time.
Day 1
If you go in mid-July head
for the Glasgow River Festival. The festival celebrates the River Clyde
and you can enjoy boat trips, dingy rides and tall ship displays. If your
trip does not coincide with the festival you can explore the riverside
history of Glasgow on foot or by bicycle. Just follow the Clyde from the
centre of town to Glasgow Green, stop off for a look at the People's Palace
social history museum and finish the day off with a fish supper at Roganos
- a renowned Art Deco restaurant. |
Day 2
Hit the shops on Saturday
or Sunday with an early morning visit to Barras Market. It has been selling
a variety of bric-a-brac since the turn of last century. Some of the market
stalls are set up under the Barrowlands - a famous music venue. After your
visit to the market head into the city centre to trendy Ingram Street in
the Merchant City. Take time out for a cultural experience at the Gallery
of Modern Art. Round off Day 2 with a trip to the Uisge Beatha (meaning
'water of life') whisky specialist.
Day 3
Time to visit the park but
not just any park, Kelvingrove. Designed by Sir Joseph Paxton, Kelvingrove
consists of 34 manicured hectares of pristine Victorian gardens. You can
also visit the recently refurbished Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
It houses a Rennie Mackintosh gallery, a collection of Egyptian treasures
and over 8,000 works of art.
Getting there
Travelling by road
If you plan to drive, the
road links to Scotland are first rate, traffic permitting of course. If
you are driving from Edinburgh the trip should take about one hour, from
Manchester - three hours 50 minutes and London - seven hours.
If you do not mind sitting
for about 10 hours, you could travel by coach. It is probably the cheapest
option although it does take the longest.
| Travelling by train
If you have the time, take
the scenic route to Glasgow by train. Glasgow's two main train stations,
Central and Queen Street, connect you with Strathclyde, Ayrshire and Lanarkshire
regions with First ScotRail, and London and other major UK cities via west
and east coast routes with National Express and Virgin.
Travelling by plane
You can catch a direct flight
to Glasgow from London airports, provincial UK airports and Ireland. Glasgow
International is 10 minutes away from the city and Prestwick is 30 minutes
away. Prestwick also has its own dedicated train station. |
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You can fly with BA, easyJet,
BMIbaby, FlyBe, Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Loganair. For more flight options,
visit http://www.flightmapping.com/UK/Glasgow/.
Guidebooks are another
useful source for ideas, suggestions and travel tips. Try:
-
The Glasgow Footprint Pocket
Guide
-
The Rough Guide to Scotland
-
Scotland Lonely Planet Country
Guide
Travel insurance
Unfortunately, Glasgow does
have a reputation as a crime capital. However, the city is as safe as any
other city in Western Europe so long as you are careful. Take care when
visiting markets, tourist attractions and shopping precincts as pickpockets
and thieves may be on the lookout for an easy target. Take extra care at
night. For complete peace of mind, get travel insurance cover for all your
valuables and personal possessions before you go. Whether you are planning
a weekend break or a longer holiday, there are short and long-term travel
insurance policies available to suit your needs. Most travel insurance
companies offer quick and easy travel insurance quotes online. For a travel
insurance quote and more information about the types of travel insurance
available visit Direct Line Travel Insurance.
Top
- Glasgow Featured Hotels
About the Author: Cheap quotes
can be found online at www.directline.com, so visit the site today if you
need travel insurance. |
