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GLASGOW CITY

Glasgow with its interesting architecture makes an ideal starting or finishing point for a holiday in Scotland as it is very near Loch Lomond and the West Coast.

Although it is a city, it is not far from the country or mountains and its people are very friendly and helpful. Glasgow Airport is 13 kilometres from the city centre, with a bus shuttle service into

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the city and Prestwick Airport (called Glasgow Prestwick Airport by Ryanair) is 48 kilometres from the centre which can be reached by train in approx 44 minutes.

There is a tourist information centre at Glasgow Airport (in the Domestic Arrivals Hall), as well as one at 170 Buchanan Street in the centre of the city (not far from Glasgow Queen Street Station). Edinburgh is not very far away by motorway or by frequent trains, and this takes about 1 hour in the car (depending on the traffic so may well be longer) or 50 minutes in the train into Glasgow Queen Street Station. The best way to see the city is to take the Glasgow City Sightseeing Tour bus which is a “hop on & off bus” and will take you to lots of the major attractions. Glasgow is a cultural and heritage centre with a variety of interesting museums and art galleries. This fascinating and very informative website will help you if you want to look up heritage or history of the Glasgow area. www.theglasgowstory.com The People’s Palace is a social history museum and a great place to find out all about the stories of the people and the city of Glasgow from 1750 to present day. It’s a fascinating insight with interesting displays, film and photos as well as paintings. You can really see the way people lived and is worth visiting. Currently and for the next few years this museum is undergoing a phased refurbishment. During this time the museum will still be open, but some exhibits will be temporarily closed.

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Attached to the People’s Palace is the lovely Victorian glasshouse which houses the Winter Gardens. You can enjoy a relaxing time amongst the exotic plants and there is also a café here. Both the People’s Palace and the Winter Gardens are in the city’s oldest park called Glasgow Green which dates from 1450 when it was common grazing land. It is situated close to the historic centre of Glasgow and is bordered by the River Clyde which was once used by the women of the East End of the city, including the local wash-house and drying green, for washing and bleaching linen. The nearest subway station is St Enoch Station which is a 15 minute walk away. For more information about the People’s Palace see the following website, which also gives information on many of Glasgow’s other museums too. www.glasgowmuseums.com The Tenement House at 145 Buccleuch Street shows how ordinary people lived in one of the traditional red sandstone tenement buildings. It’s a real gem taking you back to a different era during late Victorian and early Edwardian times. Miss Agnes Toward lived in this house for over half a century and her items have been preserved in a unique time capsule. The house gives a glimpse of what life was like in the early 20th century and the rooms have been carefully restored and its unique features preserved. They have reinstated gas lighting for a more authentic feel too. The nearest underground station is Cowcaddens and it’s not far from Charing Cross Station. http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Tenement-House/ Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum is situated on Argyle Street in Kelvingrove Park and is a massive and truly magnificent and distinctive Victorian red sandstone building which houses an extensive and impressive art collection, but also natural history collections, furniture, including those of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow style, interesting arms and armour, as well as a Spitfire which hangs suspended from one of the ceilings. It is definitely worth a visit and it’s free! Kelvingrove is five minutes’ walk from Kelvinhall subway station and ten minutes’ walk from Kelvinbridge subway station.

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The Gallery of Modern Art at Royal Exchange Square in the centre of Glasgow is housed in a beautiful neo-classical style building which it shares with the City Centre Library. The Riverside Museum: Museum of Transport at 100 Pointhouse Place (Tel: 0141 287 2720) - this new building and location for the museum houses a huge collection of different types of transport and their history and is very interesting. You can climb over some of the exhibits of vintage public transport. There is a reconstructed street from 1895-1930s as well as other areas showing shops which give a real insight into Glasgow’s past. There are guided tours lasting 1 ½ hours, but not at set times so you just have to listen out for announcements of when the next one will be. By the Riverside Museum you can board the Tall Ship ‘Glenlee’ a restored ship which was built on the Clyde and first launched in 1898. This area of Kelvin Harbour now offers a variety of activities on the water and there is a ferry service across the river. There is also a Riverside Trail which takes you past points of interest outside the Riverside Museum as you walk along. If you are interested in vintage boats, much further out of Glasgow city you can take a trip on the Paddle Steamer Waverley – this website will give you details of timetables and news about the paddle steamer. www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk Much further west along the River Clyde from the Riverside Museum is the magnificent Titan Crane situated at Clydebank. Clydebank was once a great ship-building centre and the crane is one of the last remnants of this aspect of the city’s heritage. The crane stands 150 foot high and there is a lift to the top, giving fantastic panoramic views. It is open at weekends only from May until end September. Check their website for all details. http://www.titanclydebank.com/ The Lighthouse at 11 Mitchell Lane in the heart of Glasgow is the city’s Centre for Design and Architecture. It opened in 1999 when Glasgow was the UK City of Architecture and Design and

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shows the work of modern designers as well as housing a Charles Rennie Mackintosh Interpretation Centre which explains his life and work. There are also stunning views from the Lighthouse over the Glaswegian Victorian skyline. http://www.thelighthouse.co.uk/ If you are interested in Charles Rennie Mackintosh and would like to see examples of his art nouveau work then visit the Glasgow School of Art in Renfrew Street which he designed. Sadly there was a devastating fire at the School of Art in May 2014 which completely destroyed the library and so it is currently being restored. You can take their very interesting and recommended ‘Mackintosh at the GSA’ guided tour, which explains the features and details of the exterior of the building, as well as touring nearby streets to see architectural gems in the local area and find out more about the man, his art and his inspiration. Newly included in this tour from February 2015 is the Art School’s Mackintosh Furniture Gallery which features their own collection of original Mackintosh pieces of furniture which you can view. It is a highly recommended 1 hour tour which starts from their new Window on Mackintosh Visitor Centre in the Reid Building at 164 Renfrew Street. For all information and to book tickets see their website http://www.gsa.ac.uk/visit-gsa/ You can also enjoy afternoon tea at the Willow Tea Rooms in Sauchiehall Street dating from 1904. Mackintosh designed the exterior, interior, furniture and nothing has been changed.

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The room above the restaurant actually houses his chairs, and original mirrors and windows and it is well worth while going up to the top floor to see these! At The Mackintosh House you can visit reconstructed interiors from Mackintosh’s own home with his original furniture. This is located by Glasgow University’s Huntarian Museum and Art Gallery which is Scotland’s oldest public museum – a magnificent building. Remember when visiting the Hunterian Museum to go to the viewpoint by the flagpole. The view from here is wonderful. (Museum closed Mondays.)

http://www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian/ If you have time we would definitely recommend going to see Mackintosh’s gorgeous ‘House for an Art Lover’ which is situated in a lovely location in Bellahouston Park. The house was built from 1989-96 to a 1901 Mackintosh design. There is a nice café here and a really great shop where you can buy stylish and unique items such as cards, locally designed jewellery, as well as traditional Mackintosh objects amongst many other interesting gifts etc. It is a real hidden gem which sells some unusual and lovely good quality gifts. Another example of Mackintosh design is Hill House, out at Helensburgh on the way to Loch Lomond. The Charles Rennie Mackintosh website is at www.crmsociety.com For architecture of a very different kind you can visit magnificent Glasgow Cathedral which is also known as the High Kirk of Glasgow. It is the only medieval cathedral on mainland Scotland that survived the ravages of the Protestant Reformation in 1560 and is said to be the finest 13th century building in Scotland – the first stone was consecrated in 1197. In fact there was an older church on this site much earlier when St Kentigern also known as St Mungo founded a religious community and is thought to have been buried on the site in 612. The Cathedral is an awe-inspiring place and definitely worth visiting. Unusually the cathedral the care of the building is by Historic Scotland who may start

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charging an entry fee for visitors and there is also visitor centre. The Cathedral is situated at Cathedral Square by Castle Street. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertyabout.htm?PropID=PL_140&PropName=Glasgow%20Cathedral The fabulous and unique Burrell Collection, at Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road is a private collection of over 8,000 objects that was gifted to the city of Glasgow by shipping magnate Sir William Burrell in 1944. The collection was so large that the city had a building specially constructed for it in the wooded Pollock Country Park on the south side of Glasgow. Here you will see a vast and eclectic range of all types of art and artifacts from all over the world including works by famous artists such as “the Thinker” by Rodin, work by Degas, as well as medieval stained glass, sculptures, paintings and ceramics. http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/burrell-collection/Pages/default.aspx The Glasgow Science Centre at 50 Pacific Quay is a very interesting place to visit with its Science Mall. http://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/ Across the river from the Science Centre you’ll see the buildings of the SECC (Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre) which incorporates the Clyde Auditorium, which is more commonly known as ‘The Armadillo’ because of its iconic shape. The SECC is a large complex that hosts events, concerts, conferences and exhibitions. In 2013 another building in the complex opened called ‘The Hydro’ and it is now a very popular place for modern music and entertainment events. http://www.thessehydro.com/ If you are looking for traditional folk music, whisky and a warm welcome Glasgow has some of the best places. The Ben Nevis at 1147 Argyle Street and the Park Bar at 1202 Argyle Street are particular favourites. The Ben Nevis serves 180 different whiskies and the Park Bar hosts a monthly Gaelic pub

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quiz, and both are famed as being among the friendliest in the city. http://thebennevis.co.uk/ There is a strong connection to Scotland’s musical heritage in Glasgow and if you are interested in finding out more about the Scottish bagpipes there is the National Piping Centre at 30-34 McPhater Street. Here there is the piping school with classes and workshops, a bagpipe shop and an interesting museum where you can find out all about the history of the Great Highland Bagpipe. http://www.thepipingcentre.co.uk/ Over part of January and beginning of February, Glasgow is host to the Celtic Connections Festival – which is the largest Celtic musical festival in the UK with concerts being played at various venues throughout the city. Musicians come from all over the world and there is a fantastic atmosphere throughout the city often with musicians taking part in impromptu music sessions and jamming late into the night in bars and hotels. http://www.celticconnections.com/Pages/default.aspx Oran Mor, (Gaelic for Big Song) which was the derelict Kelvinside Parish Church, founded in 1862, has now been restored and made into an arts centre with theatre, music, restaurant and brasserie and is recommended. This is an interesting place and well worth a visit. It is located at 731 - 735 Great Western Road (top of Byres Road). Telephone: 0141 357 6200 http://oran-mor.co.uk/ Glasgow is a good shopping centre with lots of interesting little shops with designer names, and now has an Italian Centre with designer shops too. If you are interested in gardens then you can visit Glasgow Botanic Gardens located at the West End of Glasgow by the River Kelvin which has a public park and lovely glasshouses, the most impressive one being Kibble Palace. There is a tearoom here too. http://www.glasgowbotanicgardens.com/ You can visit the hotel in central Glasgow to where John Logie Baird sent his very first television transmission. This is the

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Grand Central Hotel by Central Station and you can see the plaque on the wall in the lobby. Perhaps have Champagne in the Champagne Bar?

In September 2009, a plaque has been unveiled to commemorate William Miller who wrote the famous children’s nursery rhyme “Wee Willie Winkie” – this is on the wall of the Tennent’s Brewery on the site of his house at Dennistoun (north of the Clyde in the East End of Glasgow). He was born in Parkhead and died in 1872, penniless and was buried in the family plot in Tollcross Cemetery in sadly, an unmarked grave near the main entrance. If you want to take a trip out of Glasgow, then one of the most renowned waterfalls in Northern Europe, are the dramatic Falls of Clyde in New Lanark set in a nature reserve SE of Glasgow by junction 10 on the M74. These falls have influenced many writers, poets and artists including Wordsworth, who described the Corra Linn Falls, the largest of the four waterfalls, as "the Clyde's most majestic daughter".

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EATING OUT IN GLASGOW We try to make sure our restaurant list is up-to-date, but of course restaurants can close down without prior warning, so please check to make sure they are still operating before you go. Glasgow has many good restaurants, and it would be advisable to book a table if possible in the restaurant you would like to visit, as many places are popular. There are many little interesting restaurants all over Glasgow. There are several good Italian restaurants and an excellent small chain is Sarti run by the Sarti family. Marie has eaten there in the little one at 121 Bath Street which is down stairs from the street and is full of atmosphere. Their other restaurants are in Renfrew Steet and Wellington Street and in this one they have jazz nights at times. Their website for full details is at http://fratelli-sarti.co.uk/ If you want traditional fish and chips, try The Ubiquitous Chip - A FAMOUS Glasgow restaurant which has been named one of the best in the UK and received several awards including ‘The Good Food Guide Readers’ Restaurant of The Year for Scotland 2013 and Condé Nast Traveller Gold Standard 2014. The Ubiquitous Chip, in the west end, has also been singled out by culinary experts in the upmarket dining magazine Saveur. The address is at 12 Ashton Lane Glasgow 12, behind the Hillhead underground station, in a secluded lane, in a cobbled mews, off Byres Road in the heart of the West End. It has a spectacular courtyard with trickling pool and more traditional dining room. This restaurant is well known and comes well recommended. Former ‘Late Late Show’ talk show host Craig Ferguson used to work as a waiter here in his student days! Telephone: 0141 334 5007 http://www.ubiquitouschip.co.uk/ Another Glasgow institution is Café Gondolfi at 64 Albion Street. It has a café and bar with quirky wooden tables and chairs and is open for breakfast too.

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Telephone: 0141 552 6813 http://www.cafegandolfi.com/cafe-gandolfi/ The Chardon D’Or is very highly recommended as one of the best French restaurants in Glasgow. Marie has eaten there and the food is very French and excellent! It is owned and run by award-winning chef Brian Maule at 176 West Regent Street. Telephone 0141 248 3801 however you will need to book in advance to get a table! Brian trained as a chef in Lyon (which is the capital of French gastronomy) and he was spotted by Michel and Albert Roux, the famous Michelin star chefs, and worked for them as head chef at their London restaurant, the Gavroche. http://www.brianmaule.com/ Stravaigin at 38 Gibson Street is a culinary delight and well-known in the city, offering good quality creative food – we have enjoyed the food when we have eaten here. There is a bar on the ground floor which also serves food and the restaurant is downstairs and popular. Telephone: 0141 334 2665 http://www.stravaigin.co.uk/ Rogano at 11 Exchange Place is the oldest restaurant in Glasgow and the most unique. Dating from the 1930s when it was decorated in the same style as the Cunard Liner ‘The Queen Mary’ which was being built at that time on the Clyde, it serves good fish dishes, but it is expensive. This is recommended by the chef, Nick Nairn and he likes to eat here when he is not working. Nick’s favourite pub is Stravaigin in Gibson Street. Telephone: 0141 248 4055 http://www.roganoglasgow.com/ 2 Fat Ladies at the Buttery (a wonderful name!) at 652-654 Argyle Street is another highly recommended old established Glasgow central restaurant with oak panelling and stained glass inside. It has a well-earned reputation for serving good traditional food. Telephone: 0141 221 8188 http://twofatladiesrestaurant.com/buttery

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Shandon Belles is downstairs from the 2 Fat Ladies and is less expensive but has a good reputation and serves lovely bistro food. Telephone: 0141 221 8188 (same number as for the 2 Fat Ladies, but make sure they know your booking is for Shandon Belles http://twofatladiesrestaurant.com/shandonbelles Cail Bruich at 725 Great Western Road at Glasgow’s West End is also highly recommended and has earned itself a good reputation for modern Scottish cuisine. It has 2 AA rosettes and been awarded Best Restaurant 2014 by Entertainment Awards Scotland Telephone: 0141 334 6265 http://www.cailbruich.co.uk/ Gamba at 225a West George Street is highly recommended and awarding-winning seafood restaurant. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, with excellent food. Telephone 0141 572 0899 http://www.gamba.co.uk/ The Drum and Monkey at 91 St Vincent St Glasgow 2, on the corner of St Vincent and Renfield Street, about 100 yards from Central Station. This is a bar/bistro with a warm and comfortable atmosphere & is very central. Telephone: 0141 221 6636 Hotel du Vin & Bistro at 1 Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow G12 0UX, is well known and recommended. Booking is advisable. Telephone: 0141 339 2001 The City Merchant Restaurant, at 97-99 Candleriggs Road, is a great seafood restaurant and they’re also members of the Scottish Beef Club so you get good quality meat here too. Telephone: 0141 553 1577 http://www.citymerchant.co.uk/ For Indian cuisine we definitely recommend Mother India a great Indian restaurant that is well-known throughout Glasgow. It is at 23 Westminster Terrace. Telephone: 0141 221 1663 http://www.motherindia.co.uk/

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If you want to taste “Fish and Chips”, you will find lots of chip shops in Glasgow, some even serving deep fried haggis or “Haggis Suppers” (If it’s called a supper it means it comes with chips, so you have Fish Suppers etc). All this work is copyright and may not be copied or reproduced

in any form. Copyright © to Marie Cruickshank

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