I love Glasgow. And I’ll be returning later this year, so I’m already looking ahead to how I’ll spend every minute. Details, of course, which I’ll share with you. But first, I need to explain why I love Glasgow so much. I suppose it has to do with familiarity. My daughter got a degree at the University of Glasgow which took five short years to accomplish. Her resident-status was all I needed to hop across the pond every chance I could – both to visit her and add on additional excursions. I got to visit Glasgow frequently, not just as an outsider-tourist, but as someone who had a link there. I felt a part of a city that feels real – not just a university town, or an old historic landmark, but all of the above – and economically viable, too. And I had a reason to be there. Now, I’ll be returning as a tourist – but I’m still just as excited to go. I know I’ll find new treasures there, but in the meantime, I can reminisce about my old haunts – and that’s what I’ll share with you.
Hotel Recommendations
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and also its most populated; these basic facts mean that any kind of accommodation can be found there – from Victorian mansions to Art Deco flats and refurbished Edwardian hotels.
- Hotel du Vin, One Devonshire Gardens (in the West End), Glasgow G12 OUX, Scotland, United Kingdom, +44 141 0 1413 780385, reception.glasgow@hotelduvin.com, https://www.hotelduvin.com/locations/glasgow/
This hotel is actually five adjacent Victorian townhouses – connected together, complete with stained glass windows, very high ceilings, wide staircases, molding everywhere, and a few AA Rosette awards-winning restaurant.
Not surprisingly, each room is architecturally unique and furnished accordingly; think corner nooks by dormer windows with a perfectly sized club chair/settee/pair of club chairs that share an ottoman to fill the space. Glasgow may have once been known for its tenement housing but the townhomes at One Devonshire Gardens are anything but. Their restaurant is excellent for breakfast and dinner, and afternoon tea – served in the lounge area – is also similarly pleasing.
Maybe the best thing about One Deveonshire Gardens is its nearness to the West End, it’s a 12-minute leisurely stroll to Byres Road past beautiful, grand townhouses, 7 minutes if you walk fast. And I do love the West End! (More on that below!)
2. Hotel Grand Central, 99 Gordon Street (in Glasgow Central Station), Glasgow G1 3SF, Scotland, UK, +44 141 221 3388, https://grandcentral.vocohotels.com/
Another great find in Glasgow – and an excellent location. If you want to use Glasgow as a hub and plan day trips from there, then Grand Central is an excellent choice -its back door opens onto the train station. Can you imagine anything more convenient? And if you aren’t planning any rail travel, then you are a five-minute walk from the shops, department stores, Royal Concert Hall, and restaurants on Buchanan Street – that fantastic pedestrian mall that calls to me every time I visit Glasgow. Oh, and the hotel rooms and en-suite bathrooms are modern, very comfortable and spacious – and some even have a view of the train station.
One more point in favor of Grand Central – it’s right next door to Gordon Street Coffee.
3. Arthouse Hotel, 129 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 2SZ, Scotland, UK, +44 0141 221 6789,
reception@arthousehotelglasgow.com, https://arthousehotelglasgow.com/
I’ve stayed at this hotel twice – both times when it was an aBode Hotel (it has recently been acquired by the Oberland/RealVantage real estate/hotel conglomerate). I recommend it because its architectural pedigree is as impressive as One Devonshire Gardens and Grand Central. It was originally built in 1829 for Sir James Campbell, the father of the first offically-titled Prime Minister of the UK, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (who lived there between 1845-1847, before attending the University of Glasgow and before he was PM, of course) at the tail end of the Georgian era; it became the home of the Department of Education in 1911, was listed as Category B by Historic Scotland in 1970, and then became a hotel in 1999. It has a still-functioning gated cage lift, beautiful stained glass windows, and bas-relief lion etchings in the common hallways. The rooms, however, were designed for modern comforts, with mini kitchens including microwaves, fridges, and electric hot plates, cozy nooks for dining, and big screen TVs.
The online research I’ve done indicates that the hotel is still a very nice place to stay; I can certainly vouch for its location. It is only a few short blocks away from the “top” of Buchanan Street, near the Royal Concert Hall.
Restaurant Recommendations
- Gordon Street Coffee (at Glasgow Central Station), 71 Gordon Street, Glasgow, G1 3SQ, Scotland, UK, +44 0141 221 1367, roaster@gordonstcoffee.co.uk, https://www.gordonstcoffee.co.uk/ (Hours Monday – Saturday 7am – 6pm, Sunday 8am – 5pm)
Don’t get me wrong, I love my afternoon tea. Actually, I love my tea anytime. But Gordon Street Coffee roasts their own beans and makes coffee that gives tea a run for my money. They also have lovely pastries, so if you want to grab something quickly before getting on your train, then Gordon Street Coffee is the place.
They have an upstairs space in which you can hide away if you want a secluded but not too isolated place to study (which is how my daughter was able to refer me to this place). My favorite brew? Black Forest Roast, with notes of cherry, red berries, and dark chocolate. I always bring a bag home.
2. The Bothy, 11 Ruthven Lane (Hillhead), Glasgow West End, G12 9BG, Scotland, UK, +44 0141 334 4040, info@bothyglasgow.co.uk, https://bothyglasgow.co.uk/ (Hours Monday – Thursday 12 noon – 9pm, Friday & Saturday 12 noon – 10pm, Sunday 12 noon – 8pm)
The first thing I loved about this place was the plaid upholstery. The next thing I loved was that all the waiters wore kilts. But what has stayed with me the most is the food. It’s better than reading a Scottish cookbook – when I wanted a “typical,” “real” Scottish dinner that would make me feel like I was really in Scotland, The Bothy delivered.
(That said, this restaurant is a far cry from an actual bothy – a rural, usually remote, very basic, rustic shelter that hikers/”hillers” can stay in for free.) It’s also where we always went to celebrate bithdays and graduations. I still look forward to dining here.
3. Ubiquitous Chip, 12 Ashton Lane, Glasgow, G12 8SJ, Scotland, UK, +44 141 334 5007, reservations@ubiquitouschip.co.uk, https://ubiquitouschip.co.uk/ (Hours Wednesday – Thursday 5pm – 12am, Friday – Sunday 12pm – 12am)
Our very first dinner in Glasgow on our very first visit was at Ubiquitous Chip. It’s located in the West End on Ashton Lane, which supposedly inspired JK Rowling’s description of Diagon Alley.
I’m not sure if that’s entirely true, but you can imagine our anticipation building as we walked in the possible footsteps of Harry Potter’s spirit. Ashton Lane never fails to charm, and every return to Glasgow requires a meal at Ubiquitous Chip again. (So, you know where I’ll be eating when I return this fall.) Actually, Ubiquitous Chip is not just one restaurant; there are several attached venues – like the upstairs Brasserie, or the Wee Whisky Bar (which has to be the smallest bar in all the UK but it’s packed with the most whiskys you’ll ever find), to name a few.
It’s an outstanding restaurant with an unpretentious atmosphere but sophisticated dishes that represent the very best of Scottish food purveyors.
The restaurant itself looks like a pleasant, if slightly overgrown, hothouse (but without the heat). The last time I ate there, in 2023, it was still owned by the Clydesdale family who started the restaurant in 1971. It has since been sold but the reviews I’ve read assure me that the new owner is upholding the original standards, so I’m hopeful about the meal I’ll have when I go again.
4. Caffè Parma, 30A Hyndland Road, Glasgow G12 9UP, Scotland, UK (adjacent to the Western Health and Racquets Club), +44 141 334 3811, hellocaffeparma@gmail.com, https://www.caffeparma.co.uk/ (Hours 8am – 10:30pm)
We also found this restaurant on one of our early visits to Glasgow. We had spent the whole day getting our daughter moved into her dorm room on the U of G vet campus – that included getting her provisioned with a few items unique to UK standards, unpacked and all set up with her WiFi-tech stuff. (And anything requiring tech stuff takes three times the amount of time/patience you’d imagine you’d need.) By the end of the day, we were going to starve, we had not made reservations anywhere, and it was Saturday! Gads. So, we did what any desperate traveler does when faced with these dire circumstances – we called a black cab (always the most friendly drivers in the UK) and asked our driver where he’d go for dinner if he suddenly had the night off; he responded by asking if we liked Italian food (yes, of course), and drove us straightaway to Caffè Parma, whilst (British word alert!) calling the restaurant ahead to get us a reservation. By the time we got there, we only had a 5-10 minute wait, and then we sat down to the best Italian food (Venetian, to be exact) we’d ever had in Scotland.
Admittedly, it was the first time we had Italian food in Scotland, but it was still excellent. And we have returned many times since then, always happy with our choices there. I really wish I could take Caffè Parma home with me – it’s just the kind of restaurant you want locally when you want good food, but don’t want to dress up too much, and just want good food. (I know, I said that twice, but that’s what Caffè Parma is all about for me.)
5. Six by Nico, (3 locations) 358 Byres Road, Glasgow G12 8AW, +44 0141 473 6666, glasgow.byresroad@sixbynico.co.uk; 86 Albion Street, Glasgow G1 1NY, +44 0141 334 5661, glasgow.merchantcity@sixbynico.co.uk; 142 Nithsdale Road, Glasgow G41 5RB, +44 0141 348 2801, glasgow.southside@sixbynico.co.uk; https://www.sixbynico.co.uk/glasgow/ (All in Scotland, UK; hours vary by location)
This is a restaurateur after my own heart: every six-course set-menu is based on a location or theme, and the menus change every six weeks. So, if you don’t like what’s on the menu, then just wait six weeks and there will be a new experence to try. I’ve been three times now (once in each location); the menus I had were Catalonia, Ancient Rome, and Alice in Wonderland. Each experience was delicious; wine pairing could be included with each course; and there were often little extras that expanded the meal beyond six courses. We had to make reservations early (thank you to my daughter for tracking the menu changes, and managing the bookings!), so it’s important to plan ahead by at least six weeks if you think you’d like to try this experience. I’ve never found a restaurant like this in the States; it’s unique in the way that Glasgow is unique. To me, it reflects the “why not?” attitude that is characteristic of Glasgow.
6. Cail Bruich, 725 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 8QX, Scotland, UK +44 0141 334 6265,info@cailbruich.co.uk, https://www.cailbruich.co.uk/ (Hours Tuesday – Thursday 6:30pm – 12am, Friday – Saturday 12pm – 4:30pm and 7pm – 12am)
So conveniently located very near the intersection of Great Western Road and Byres Road – hard to believe that a Michelin-starred restaurant (since 2021, and one of only two in Glasgow) would be located in such unassuming digs. But don’t be fooled. The food, service, and ambiance is simple – simply delicious, simply gracious, and simply comfortable. “Cail Bruich” is Gaelic for “to eat well” and eat well, you do. It’s one of those restaurants where you might be excused for accidentally dropping your bread in the dish to scoop up the last remaining smear of whatever-you-were-eating.
7. Ardnamurchen, 325 Hope Street (just opposite the Theatre Royal), Glasgow G2 3PT, Scotland, UK, +44 0141 353 1500, reservations@ardnamurchan.biz, https://ardnamurchan.biz/ (Hours generally 12pm – 12am, open at 10am on Saturday and Sunday)
Ardnamurchan is named for a region of Scotland in the Highlands that is espcially unspoiled and undisturbed (its main access is a single-track road for the most part), so their menu reflects that wild exclusivity. Venison from the estate of Ardnamurchan, Speyside steak, Loch Fyne oysters, and Isle of Skye langoustines are frequently featured on their menu. Their other great strength? They have dog-friendly tables for booking (if you travel with your canine bestie). And all this right across the street from the Theatre Royal, so convenient for pre- and late/post- theatre dining.
8. Stravaigin, 28 Gibson Street, Glasgow G12 8NX, Scotland, UK, +44 0141 334 2665,https://stravaigin.co.uk/ (Hours Café Bar: Monday – Sunday, The Cellar: Wednesday – Sunday, Sunday – Thursday 12pm – 12am, Friday – Saturday 12pm – 1am)
We discovered Stravaigin one night when Ubiquitous Chip was completely booked; it turns out that the owners of Ubiquitous Chip (and the also renowned Hanoi Bike Shop) also owned Stravaigin. While Ubiquitous Chip focuses on Scottish fare-sort of, Stravaigin focuses more on international dishes but with very locally sourced Scottish ingredients.
It’s a very good restaurant, also dog-friendly, and if Ubiquitous Chip wasn’t available again, I’d gladly go back to Stravaigin.
9. Hotel Chocolat (there are actaully three locations in Glasgow, but Buchanan Street was always most convenient), 42 Buchanan Street, Glasgow G1 3JX, Scotland, UK, +44 (0) 0141 221 7401, https://www.hotelchocolat.com (Hours 9am – 7pm everyday except Sunday 10am – 6pm)
Technically, this is a sweets shop, so I should really only go here for dessert, right? But if you consider milk a breakfast food, and really there is a bit of milk in their hot chocolate, then I can include Hotel Chocolat in my breakfast options. Trust me, it’s a lovely way to start a shopping day. I love their Dark Hot Chocolate with cocoa whip.
What makes their chocolate so special? Well, to start, they typically have more cacao than sugar in their concoctions. And their candies reflect classic British puddings – like trifle, “trillionaire’s shortbread”, and Eton Mess, to name just a few. And because of that, I usually do a little souvenir/snack shopping, too.
10. Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel, 11 Blythswood Square, Glasgow G2 4AD, UK, +44 (0)141 248 8888, https://www.kimptonblythswoodsquare.com/afternoon-tea/ (Hours Monday – Sunday 12pm – 5pm)
I’ve never stayed at this hotel, nor have I ever eaten a usual meal at this hotel, but I have taken afternoon tea here in their hotel-restaurant, iasg, several times. If you’re looking for a formal afternoon tea in Glasgow, this is the place. Their always-changing afternoon tea menu is always Scottish and always seasonal, so there’s always a reason to return.
11. Elia, 24 George Square, Glasgow G2 1EG, Scotland, UK, +44 0141 221 9988, eliagreekrestaurant@hotmail.com, https://www.eliagreekrestaurant.com/ (Hours Monday – Sunday 12pm – 10pm)
Of course, I had to include a Greek restaurant in Glasgow! When asked in my hometown, I have to confess that the only Greek food I’d recommend would be my own home cooking – there are no decent Greek restaurants! But in Glasgow, Elia does very well. The food is good, and the ambiance is very welcoming, too.
12. Beefcake, 808 Crow Road, Glasgow G13 1LY, Scotland, UK, +44 7949 564025, https://www.facebook.com/beefcakecafe/, https://www.beefcakecafe.com (Hours Thursday – Sun, 10am – 2pm)
Conveniently located in Anniesland near the University of Glasgow veterinary school campus, and not surprisingly, often frequented by U of G vet students, this place is an absolute gem. It’s a tiny café that we found only because our daughter (also a U of G vet student) had found it, and yet they have just been recognized as one of Britain’s Best 50 Bakeries 2025 by @goodfoodguidebook – for a little café, that is a big deal! It’s possible to eat in if they are open (note the hours above!), but most of their sales seem to be ordered on their Facebook page and then picked up for takeaway. Anything on their menu is delicious but I can personally vouch for the dishes pictures below:
And, of course, the café latte(!). If you’re planning any sort of road or rail trip, stopping off at Beefcake first is a very good idea. Delicious, too!
13. Curlers Rest, 256-260 Byres Road, Glasgow G12 8SH, Scotland, UK, +44 0141 341 0737, https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/scotlandandnorthernireland/thecurlersrestglasgow#/ (Hours 12pm – 12am, except Sunday 11pm)
Yes, Curlers Rest is part of the Nicholson’s Pubs chain scattered all over the UK, but! It’s housed in a two-story public house that has been standing on Byres Road since the mid-1700’s. (It’s called Curlers Rest because there used to be a pond used for the sport of winter curling very near the site, when what’s now known as Byres Road was really countryside – named for the Byres of Partick – outside of Glasgow-proper.) Old buildings are one of the reasons I love Glasgow, so naturally, I had reason to patronize Curlers Rest. That, and the fact that it was raining hard that Sunday evening, and I needed shelter and food. We found a pub that catered to all ages (including whole families), a few dogs, and where you could still stand at the bar and order. Which we did. I felt like I was part of a big, noisy family. So, yes, I recommend Curlers Rest.
14. Café Swiss, 311 Byres Road, glasgow G12 9UQ, Scotland, UK +44 141 357 2525, cafeswiss1@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/cafeswissglasgow/ (Hours 9am – 6pm)
We found this place one morning when we decided against breakfast in our hotel and thought we’d look for a café instead. Café Swiss was one of the few places open, so in we went. And now, we try to return at least once every visit to Glasgow. It’s just a simple, little café, but the prices are very reasonable, and the food is simple and hearty. And for some reason, even though I usually only go for breakfast, I always order their tomato soup and cheese scone (and latte) because it’s delicious.
Things To Do
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8AG, Scotland, UK, +44 141 276 9599, museums@glasgowlife.org.uk, https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum (Hours 10am – 5pm, except Sundays and Fridays 11am – 5pm)
Kelvingrove has everything: fine art, decorative arts, natural history, history, organ recitals, science exhibits – all housed within a beautiful example of Victorian architecture (built in 1901). There’s a gallery for everyone: Scottish Colourists, French Impressionists, the Glasgow Boys, Dutch Masters, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, costumes, wild animals, Egyptology, a Spitfire suspended overhead, environmental studies, and a daily organ recital at 1 pm (3 pm on Sundays) – all for free.
2. Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow G43 1AT, Scotland, UK, +44 0141 287 2550, museums@glasgowlife.org.uk, https://burrellcollection.com/ (Hours 10am – 5pm, except Sundays and Fridays 11am – 5pm)
This is an absolutely beautiful museum located on the grounds of Pollok Estate, in a beautiful Country Park. The Burrell Collection was donated to the City of Glasgow in 1944 by Sir William Burrell and his wife; the grandson of a shipping magnate, Sir William began collecting art in 1876 when he was 15. He eventually amassed a collection of over 9,000 pieces, including Chinese porcelain, French Impressionists (especially Edgar Degas, with examples from every period of his career), European medieval art and history (stained glass, tapestries, and armory), Egyptian and Roman antiquities, and Dutch Masters, just to name a few!
These significant pieces were kept in six secret hiding places in Glasgow until the property on the Pollok Estate was developed to house them. It was a 22-year-long wait, but in my mind, well worth it – the museum housing the Burrell Collection is simply stunning. It is inviting and open but not overwhelming.
If I were planning to visit the Burrell Collection, I would get a taxi to drop me off at the Pollok House (also located within Pollok Country Park) to wander through these rooms, then walk 10 minutes through the parklands – past the Highland cows (wee coos to me) on the way – to the museum.
3. West End shopping, Byres Road, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, http://www.byres-road.co.uk/
What makes the West End special… The shopping, the eateries, and the proximity to the Main Campus of the University of Glasgow. It’s easy to spend hours on Byres Road, as though you are taking a break from all that studying at uni.
Wandering in and out of charity shops (Oxfam, British Heart Foundation, Save The Children, Shelter, Cancer Research UK, to name most of them), looking for finds – whether clothing, tea sets, serving pieces, used books, vinyl records, stationery, Christmas cards, even chocolates (often labeled fairtrade, organic, and/or ethical) – retail therapy never felt so good. There are also new merchandise stores, like Papyrus for stationery and cooking tools, Oliver Bonas for lifestyle items like clothing and decorative accessories, and office supply stores (you’d be surprised how many usable souvenirs you can find here). Then there are the eateries – I already mentioned Café Swiss, but there’s also a fishmonger, George Mewes for the most incredible array of cheeses (Allan and Adam were knowledgeable and generous with samples, thank you very much), patisseries, coffee shops, and Bird & Blend Tea for unique teas.
From Great Western Road to Dumbarton Road, Byres Road is all-satisfying. To misquote Samuel Johnson, “when a man is tired of Byres Road, he is tired of life, for there is on Byres Road all that life can afford.” If you do get tired of Byres Road, it’s easy to take a diversion to Ashton Lane to find some delectable restuarant or pub, or wander up University Road to the Main Campus of the University of Glasgow.
Finally, Hillhead station on the Circle line (Glasgow’s subway) make Byres Road very easy to reach from almost any part of Glasgow.
4. Buchanan Street shopping, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, UK, https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featuremap6407.html
Another shopping mecca, but this one has more recognizable stores than Byres Road, and it’s all pedestrianized. From the northern end of Sauchihall Street (where Buchanan Galleries and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall are situated) down to Argyle Street at the southern end (just past the Buchanan Street Subway station, facing another mall – St. Enoch Shopping Centre) there is almost one-half mile of shops and restaurants, including two major department stores (John Lewis and House of Fraser).
Normally, I avoid department stores, but these two are so worth visiting. And when you need a break, Hotel Chocolat and their superlative hot choclate with chocolate whip is waiting. In addition to the shopping and hot chocolate, there are street entertainers, street artists, lovely old Victorian buildings, charming topiaries, and possibly Doctor Who’s Tardis (just kidding, that’s a blue Police Box). Even if you don’t shop, there’s something to see.
5. Riverside Museum, 100 Poinhouse Place, Glasgow G3 8RS, Scotland, UK, +0141 287 2720, RiversideBookings@glasgowlife.org.uk, https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/riverside-museum (Hours 10am – 5pm, except Fridays and Saturdays 11am – 5pm)
Riverside Museum is all about transportation and technology, but what I remember most was the life-sized, reconstructed turn of the 20th-century Main Street through which you could wander in and out of furnished shops and around old cars and trams. I also liked the wall of cars which is, literally, an entire wall of cars displayed on “shelves” covering a whole wall, from the earliest Model T’s to the latest sports cars. It’s a very nice museum that is a departure from the usual art galleries; if I were a kid, I would love this place. (You’re only as old as you feel – or act, right?)
6. A Play, A Pie & A Pint at Òran Mór, Top of Byres Road, Glasgow, G12 8QX, Scotland, UK, +44 (0)141 3576200, info@oran-mor.co.uk, https://oran-mor.co.uk/, https://playpiepint.com/ (Pub hours 11am – 2 am Monday – Wednesday, and 11am – 3am Thursday – Sunday; Theatre doors open at 12pm, the play starts at 1pm, and lasts about one hour)
Kitty-corner to the Botanic Gardens, Òran Mór began life as the Kelvinside Parish Church in 1862, but when attendance began dropping, it was converted to an arts and leisure center/pub in 2004. Òran Mór means “big song.”
The Neo-Gothic style of the church makes it a spectacular pub – it has beautiful stained-glass windows, carved columns, and a campanile in the Italian Gothic pyramid style; you can still hear the eight bells ring at 11am every 11th November. A Play, A Pie & A Pint is just that – a pint and a pie offered during lunchtime theatre; the theatre offers about 30 new plays each year, each running about one week. I haven’t been yet, but this is on my official bucket list (or my to-do list, whichever comes first).
7. University of Glasgow Main Campus/Hunterian Museum, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK, +44(0)141 330 2000, https://www.gla.ac.uk/, https://www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian/, https://www.universityofglasgowshops.com/ (Hours 9am – 6pm Monday – Friday, Museum hours 10am – 5pm Tuesday – Sunday, except Zoology Museum 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday, Gift Shop 10am – 5pm Monday – Sunday)
The University of Glasgow was established in 1451 (making it the second oldest university in Scotland), but the Gothic-revival style campus that is now so iconic was actually built in 1870; the original campus moved from its old High Street location to the West End-Gilmorehill location because of urban crowding.
To wander among the Hogwarts-like buildings, the cloisters, the Hunterian Museum (great for medical-surgical/anthropological oddities), or the Hunterian Zoological Museum (filled with animals and birds from the world over), the Hunterian Art Gallery, or the Mackintosh House (a reconstrucion of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s home) – you enter a world that awes and inspires.
Just remembeer to visit the Gift Shop!
8. City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off double-decker-red-bus tour, St Georges Bldg, 153 Queen Street, Glasgow G1 3BJ, Scotland, UK, info@citysightseeingglasgow.co.uk, https://citysightseeingglasgow.co.uk/tours/the-glasgow-tour/ (Hours 9:30am – 4:30pm, every day except 25, 26 December and 1, 2 January)
I love double-decker buses – sitting on the top level gives the best views of the city you’re touring (think of the photo ops!). And the flexibility of hopping on and off at will is so convenient. I’ve used the City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour in Glasgow several times because it was the easiest way to give my first-time-to-Glasgow travel companions a comprehensive overview of the city. We make sure to board at George Square promptly at 9:30am when the buses start running; we’d stay for the full Red Tour circuit of the city (about 1½ hours), then we’d hop off at the first stop that looked interesting. It was easy to get back on the tour because the buses typically run every 30 minutes, until 4:30pm the same day. I always find the commentary informative and often laugh-out-loud funny, and the elevated views of the street art on the buildings in Glasgow not just unobstructed but captivating.
9. Tenement House, 145 Buccleuch Street, Glasgow G3 6QN, Scotland, UK, +44 141 333 0183, tenementhouse@nts.org.uk, https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/the-tenement-house (Hours 3 Jan – 22 Dec, open daily, 11am – 5pm, last entry 4:40pm)
The Industrial Revolution had a profound effect on Glasgow – the industries that developed made Glasgow the successful industrial center that it was. Textile (cotton) manufacturing, shipbuilding, engineering, iron production and steel manufacturing required manpower – and housing for workers. And so, the tenement flat became standard housing. Wandering through the cramped rooms of the Tenement House is a reality check; for every outstanding, remarkable artist or engineer, industrialist, or philanthropist, there were thousands of working class individuals making those achievements possible. It’s fascinating to see how the common man lived.
10. Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0UE, Scotland, UK, +0141 276 1416, LESevents@glasgow.gov.uk, https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/botanicgardens (Hours 7am – dusk, year round; Kibble Palace and Main Range glasshouses 10am – 6 pm during the summer, 10am – 4pm during the winter)
A garden always spells respite to me, and the Glasgow Botanic Gardens are no exception. They are a lovely, calming, gracious refuge when travel time constraints become overwhelming. I wish every city had a Glasgow Botanic Gardens. Slow down, smell the flowers (or the trees), and remember that you can always plan a return trip to Glasgow.
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