Next stop: Glasgow!
Six reasons why you need to visit Glasgow
Evergreen
The name Glasgow comes from Gaelic and means ‘dear green place’ – more than 90 parks and gardens, such as Pollock Country Park and Kelvingrove Park, are open to the public and are perfect for taking a walk or simply relaxing.
Active
There’s something on offer every day of the year here, from festivals to football matches, art-house cinema to comedy clubs. The music scene in particular is second to none, no matter whether you’re into jazz, hip hop, electro or classical. Designated by UNESCO as a City of Music, it’s not for nothing that Glasgow is home to one of the world’s most sold-out concert locations (The OVO Hydro), which hosts a constant stream of superstars. You can also discover up-and-coming musicians in bars such as King Tut’s or Nice ‘n’ Sleazy. And you can find the Scottish Opera, the National Ballet and the National Theatre here – not to mention the World Pipe Band Championships,which involve nothing less than the world championship title for bagpipes!
Wonderful(ly cheap)
The city has more than 20 museums and galleries, as well as numerous other sights, many of which have free admission – such as the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which contains one of Europe’s largest art collections, the Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow’s St Mungo’s Cathedral and the Botanic Gardens.
Varied
From climbing in a Gothic church to wakeboarding or winter sports in summer – Glasgow has much more than simply sightseeing to offer. Loch Lomond is also only around 40 minutes out of the city; you can explore the national park on foot, by boat or on horseback. Gourmands can examine the production of Scotland’s national drink by visiting one of the many whisky distilleries, such as the Clydeside Distillery in the middle of the city or the Glengoyne Distillery during a day trip out into the Highlands.
Spruced up
You might see an oversized panda just outside the front door, or an astronaut along the street: Glasgow has transformed into a real mecca for street art. You can discover some of the best artworks by taking a walk along the Mural Trail.
Appetising
Finnieston, in the west of the city, is Glasgow’s designated foodie district. There’s something to suit every taste, from young and cool locations to award-winning gourmet restaurants. By the way, Glasgow is also the UK’s most vegan-friendly city! It’s also got a thriving bar scene: things are no longer simply all about the (still delicious) whisky. Independent breweries have helped to establish craft beers, while juniper fans can look forward to specialised gin bars such as Gin71.