Glasgow City Guide

The Scottish City that Never Sleeps

In the last 30 years, Glasgow has undergone a renaissance to become one of the most dynamic cities in Europe, reinventing itself as a forward-looking creative powerhouse.

Modern architecture has jazzed up the city’s well preserved Victorian foundations; a revived waterfront district complements Glasgow’s leafy parks, bohemian West End and a shopping quarter – the Style Mile – to rival London’s retail delights. The King’s Theatre, Hunterian Museum and Gallery and the Burrell art collection are some of the cultural highlights of a city that is also honoured as a Unesco City of Music.

Scotland’s cuisine has earned itself a whole new reputation in Glasgow, where fine dining establishments focused on traditional local food sit alongside some of the UK’s most admired Indian restaurants and top-notch comfort dishes.

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Glasgow's Top Attractions

If you’re wondering what to do in Glasgow with the kids, the Glasgow Science Centre is perfect, and just as intriguing for curious-minded adults too. Its titanium-clad Science Mall has more than 300 exhibits with lots of interactivity, a planetarium, a Cineworld IMAX – Scotland’s largest – and live science demos. A tunnel from the centre leads to the Glasgow Tower, offering peerless views of the city. The tallest freestanding building in Scotland – and the tallest structure on the planet that can completely turn 360 degrees – it’s a literal highlight of Glasgow sightseeing.

Glasgow’s imposing 13th-century cathedral is one of the best-preserved Gothic buildings in the country and a reminder of Glasgow’s much-heralded beauty in medieval times. Beneath the wooden roof (which includes bits of the 800-year-old original timber) there are figures depicting the seven deadly sins. With its strikingly bold and colourful modern stained-glass windows, the cathedral makes for one of the most memorable things to see in Glasgow, and tours here are free of charge.

Behind the Cathedral, the Necropolis is modelled partly on Paris’s Père Lachaise cemetery. Built in the 19th century, it houses many of the era’s more famous departed – who were rich enough to commission trophy tombs from the trendiest architects. Come here for a secluded stroll and superb views of the cathedral and the city.