Of Scotland’s two major cities, most tourists probably choose Edinburgh. But it’s not such a foregone conclusion; in many ways, Glasgow is a better place to visit. It’s cheaper, more laid-back and feels more like a big city, with all the opportunities and attractions that entails. So what is there to do there?
Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city (and the third largest in the whole of the UK), has suffered from a poor reputation ever since most of the shipyards closed fifty years ago and a hundred thousand workers lost their jobs. The city previously had a large and bustling port, which is now considerably quieter. However, over the last 20 years, Glasgow has recovered, with new jobs in sectors such as finance, tourism and services. Today, it is a modern and welcoming city with a population of 1.8 million, including the suburbs.
Unfortunately, nothing remains of Glasgow’s medieval settlement; instead, it is the imposing Victorian stone mansions from the 19th century that dominate the cityscape. They often have red sandstone façades that have darkened over the years due to all the coal burned in the city’s furnaces and boilers.
Early summer is the best time to visit Glasgow; that’s when you’ll get the most out of your trip. May is considered the sunniest month of the whole year. The vast and popular Queens Park is in full bloom, and people from all over the city flock here on their days off. From the highest point in the park, you can enjoy a wonderful view and see the Scottish mountains rising up to the north.
The river that flows through the city is called the Clyde. And, it is fair to say, it has been the city’s benefactor. A transport route and a prerequisite for trade and the construction of a port. And with the port came the shipyards and, later, the mechanical engineering that needed to be developed for the ever-larger ocean-going vessels. And so Glasgow also became a hub for technology and inventions. Geniuses such as James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine, and the physicist Lord Kelvin worked at the city’s old university.
Glasgow’s city centre is located around Buchanan Street, a modern, bustling shopping area with cafés, restaurants and art galleries. And in the summer, there are street musicians.
In a building at Queen’s Dock, one of the old quays, there is now a relatively new whisky distillery, the Clydeside Distillery. They welcome visitors and regularly organise whisky tastings. And if you like the taste, their products are available to buy in a shop.
The building they are housed in has a tall tower and was once a pumping station that ensured a swing bridge was operated by an ingenious water-powered system.
Whisky is, of course, Scotland’s national drink, and Glasgow is home to a Mecca for whisky lovers: ‘The Pot Still’. It’s a small, often packed pub with over a thousand different brands of whisky to choose from. Here, people enjoy sitting with a cheerful group of friends or on their own, sipping a whisky. And when that one’s finished, they have another. Yet you rarely see anyone who is obviously drunk.
Finally, here are two tips on places that are otherwise easy to miss. Glasgow Botanic Gardens are located just north of the city centre. The most interesting plants can be found in the ‘Kibble Palace’, the huge, beautiful old glasshouses with an impressive dome at their centre.
The second tip is perhaps a little more unusual, but Glasgow has a large “Necropolis”, a cemetery with some spectacularly designed graves. It is situated on a hill with a beautiful view of the city, and it is here that many of the city’s prominent citizens have found their final resting place.
Glasgow is definitely worth a visit!
