The Excitement Builds
Glasgow
is an architectural dream: Victorian red & honey sandstone,
Italianate steeples and medieval spires sit harmoniously with
neo-gothic towers, the sensuous Art Nouveau of Charles Rennie
Mackintosh and the titanium, glass and steel of the contemporary city. Artful Attractions
Glasgow
has an amazing portfolio of more than twenty museums and galleries –
many of them free – including the unique Burrell Collection, stunning
Mackintosh House and cool and contemporary Gallery of Modern Art.
Anyone
interested in cutting-edge design should head to The Lighthouse, while
the Glasgow Science Centre’s futuristic complex comprising IMAX,
Science Mall, Glasgow Tower, Planetarium and Virtual Science Theatre
will appeal to anyone interested in learning about technology and its
applications in a fun and interesting environment.
Heritage
seekers will enjoy the Museum of Transport, Museum of Scottish Country
Life at Kittochside and Clydebuilt, which tells the story of Glasgow
and the River Clyde from tobacco to shipbuilding. Lovers of the
beautiful game meanwhile, should head for the ground-breaking Scottish
Football Museum at Hampden. An Eventful Experience
Whether
you’re a clubber, concert-goer, opera aficionado, theatre lover or
dance fan, visiting Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley is always an
eventful experience. No matter when you arrive you’ll find live
performances, festivals and entertainment fifty-two weeks of the year.
Productions
by Scottish Opera, the RSNO Summer Proms and the West End Festival as
well as the smooth sounds of Glasgow International Jazz Festival, the
rousing Hogmanay Celebrations and Celtic Connections are just some of
the vibrant annual events, which reinforce its reputation as one of
Europe’s leading cultural capitals.
Around the area’s parks,
towns and villages, events like the colourful World Pipe Band
Championships on Glasgow Green, the ancient Lanimer Day festivities in
Lanark, and The Shot in Paisley also provide celebration, fun and
spectacle.
Night owls meanwhile can groove until the small
hours at a host of club venues covering the entire dance spectrum from
garage and techno to house and retro. | | | Retail Therapy
Shopping
is an absolute delight in Glasgow. Not only is it tops for shops but
its compact city centre and grid system makes it easy to navigate
during serious retail therapy! Giant high street malls such as the
ultra modern Buchanan Galleries and the St Enoch Centre are just a
mocha-powered meander from the elegance of the Italian Centre and
Princes Square as well as the speciality shops of the Merchant City.
The
mews and lanes of the city’s bohemian West-End are a treasure trove for
anyone hunting antiques and rare books while contemporary works by both
up-and-coming and established artists can be found in the art galleries
of West Regent Street.
It is also worth taking time out from
the hustle and bustle to explore the antique shops, craft workshops and
garden centres tucked away in the area’s market towns and villages. | | | A Taste of the Good Life
You
can quite literally eat your way round the world in Glasgow as the
city’s café culture espouses the very latest trends in global cuisine,
from the style & sushi bars of the Merchant City to the restaurants
and brasseries in the hip West-End.
So whether you prefer
traditional fayre, ethnic cuisine or the very latest in fusion and
Pacific-Rim, you’ll find something to savour in Greater Glasgow &
Clyde Valley.
| | | Out & About
Just
beyond the city of Glasgow lies some of Scotland’s most beautiful
scenery. The local area is rich in history and heritage and each of its
delightful country towns and villages has its own fascinating tale to
tell.
A short drive south of the city is the Clyde Valley
Tourist Route, which makes its picturesque way to the upper reaches of
the River Clyde and the World Heritage Site of New Lanark.
To
the west is Renfrewshire and the town of Paisley with its medieval
Abbey and Museum and Art Galleries, which features the world’s largest
collection of the famous ‘Paisley Pattern’ shawls.
Inverclyde’s
coastal towns enjoy spectacular panoramas across the Clyde Estuary to
the Argyll Hills while Milngavie’s Mugdock Country Park to the north of
Glasgow includes a stretch of the long distance footpath, the West
Highland Way.
| | | | See also Fascinating Facts, Glasgow's Coat of Arms, History Time Line |
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