Glasgow is Scotland's largest city located on the Clyde River. In its place was originally a small fishing village, but by the eighth century it had transformed into a full-fledged port center. Translated from the local language, the name of the city sounds like a “green place”.
From an economic and cultural point of view, Glasgow ranks second in Scotland after its capital, Edinburgh. The city surprisingly combines the past and the present. In it, imperial mansions border on modern buildings, and rich estates on poor neighborhoods. Locals speak the Glasgow Patter dialect, which is a mixture of English and Scottish. The city with a population of approximately 640 thousand people is very highly regarded by lovers of architecture and art. Along with the diversity of cultural life, there is a wide range of entertainment for the most sophisticated travelers. Today we will learn about Glasgow everything that a tourist needs to know.
Climatic conditions
Due to the temperate maritime climate, the weather patterns in the city often change. The bright sun can be replaced by heavy rain, and a cloudy day can suddenly become warm and clear. The weather of the largest city in Scotland - Glasgow - is formed by the flow of the Gulf Stream and the air currents of the Atlantic Ocean. Summer here is sunny, with occasional rains and an average air temperature of 18 ° C. Winter in the city is humid and rather warm, with an average air temperature of 3 ° C. The summer months are best for exploring the city. In principle, to take along the most suitable clothes, it is enough to look at the weather in Glasgow and Scotland for a week or two before leaving.
Nature
Like many other cities in Scotland, Glasgow can be called a cozy corner of the wild among industrial Europe. The city is really buried in the shade of trees, and its surroundings are full of endless flower fields. Glasgow has over 70 gardens and national parks. Especially popular is Loch Lomond. The city is located on the Lowlands, near the Highlands, which determines its unusual landscapes. Obviously, he got his name precisely due to the abundance of vegetation. Seeing the picturesque landscapes in the photo of Glasgow (Scotland), many are determined to definitely come here.
sights
Of course, to Glasgow and Scotland as a whole they go not only for the sake of nature. A special atmosphere here is created by the contrast of modernity and echoes of the past industrialization. Glasgow's historic center has more of its attractions: the Tron Steeple Tower, St. Mungo Church, a 19th-century cemetery, and more.
Among the museums of the city are worth noting the following:
- Barell Museum. It houses a large collection of antique furniture, pottery, art and other exhibits. Public access to these exhibits was opened only in 1943.
- Mungo Museum. In this institution you can find extensive collections of artifacts, one way or another related to religion.
- Museum of transport. Here tourists will find a huge number (more than a hundred) of cars produced in various parts of our planet in different years. In the same museum you can see the layout of the central part of the city.
- University of Glasgow Museum. Scotland is famous for its high level of higher education, and the country's largest city, of course, was no exception. Among other things, the University of Glasgow has a museum in which rooms are dedicated to various topics: from the collection of coins to the famous inventions of local scientists.
Theater lovers are advised to visit the Royal Theater. This is a typical stiff establishment in the UK, which is very popular among tourists. It hosts opera concerts and performances of modern ballet.
The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall hosts various musical events. On different days, you can meet representatives of a wide variety of musical trends: from classical to club music.
The following sights are also recommended for visiting: the intersection of five Glazko-Cross streets, the Clyde Arc bridge, the Mitchell library, the Glasgow Necropolis, the Kelvingrove park, the University of Glasgow-Caledonia. This is just a short list of interesting places in the city that are recommended for a mandatory visit. In general, as in other cities in Scotland, in Glasgow attractions are represented mainly by buildings and institutions with a rich history. However, there are enough modern interesting places here.
Nutrition
Most of the city's gastronomic institutions serve national cuisine. The restaurant Black Sheep Bistro is very popular among tourists. This colorful establishment is perfect for both family vacations and leisure in a fun company.
Inexpensive, but very tasty and hearty dinners are served at Fanny Trollope's National Restaurant. In the evenings, there is great excitement in this establishment, created mainly by tourists.
At Charcoals Restaurant travelers are treated to Indian cuisine unusual for these latitudes. Once a week, theme nights are organized here, during which guests are offered rare exotic dishes.
Seafood lovers will love the Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery restaurant. Impressions of a delicious dinner will be complemented by live music played here every evening. This place will appeal to even the most sophisticated gourmets.
Business meetings and important conversations are recommended at the Shandon Belles English Restaurant. The facility attracts guests with an atmosphere of privacy and excellent cuisine.
Those who like Italian cuisine will certainly enjoy the restaurant Roma Mia. It is calm and quiet throughout the day, and in the evening you can get acquainted with the work of local musicians.
Aromatic coffee and European desserts are served at Trans-Europe Cafe. The institution is famous not only for its cuisine, but also for its spacious terrace, which is surrounded by beautiful greenery.
Housing
Among the budget three-star hotels in Glasgow, Devoncove is popular, with rooms ranging from 30 to 110 euros per day. In second place in this segment is the Premier Inn Glasgow City Charing Cross. Here the price per room varies between 37-99 euros. Another popular budget hotel - Alexander Thomson, accommodates its guests for 30-120 euros.
Apartments with all the amenities and additional services of the 4-star hotels The Grand Primary Hotel and Hot-el-apartment can be obtained at prices ranging from 50 to 450 euros.
Recreation and entertainment
Glasgow has more than seventy parks for recreation and entertainment. They attract tourists with their original design, exotic plants and cozy relaxation areas. Let's get acquainted with the main ones:
- Glasgow Green . This is the oldest park in the city, founded in the 15th century. It hosts many celebrations and major cultural events. This park is a favorite vacation spot for both young people and the elderly. There are equipped with everything you need sports grounds and cozy areas for a picnic.
- Botanical Garden . This place will be interesting for those who love exotic plants. The garden, founded in the 19th century, is famous for its rich collections of orchids and begonias. An additional decoration to plants are interesting sculptural compositions.
- Kelvingrove Park . This place is best suited for outdoor activities and spending time with children. Here you can ride on diverse rides for the whole family.
Among the youth who love bright parties, the The Corinthian night bar is popular. For representatives of the older generation, Bon Accord Club, located near the city center, is perfect.
For sports enthusiasts, a visit to the home matches of the Glasgow Rangers football club can be a great entertainment. In Glasgow and Scotland, this team is recognized as the most titled.
Purchases
Fans of shopping in Scotland and Glasgow will not be bored. It is noteworthy that the quality of goods here is at the level of London, and the price is much lower than in Edinburgh. A large assortment and reasonable prices have made the city a popular destination among buyers. In the fall and after the New Year in Glasgow season discounts.
The largest shopping center of the city is Buchanan Galleries. Here you can find any products from leading world companies. Also popular is the St Enoch Center supermarket, which is the first glass-roofed building in the city. In this store you can find goods on any wallet.
Transport
Like other cities in Scotland, Glasgow has a developed transport system. Public transport here is represented by buses, trams, trains and the subway. Of particular note is the metro, which has 15 lines connecting the southern and western parts of the city. A single bus ride here costs about 1.3 euros. For 3.7 euros you can buy a ticket that allows you to ride buses and trams all day. A similar metro ticket costs 2.4 euros.
Business climate
Glasgow is the engine of the economy in its region. In terms of financial development, it is on par with the capital of Scotland. Glasgow replenishes its budget mainly due to the services sector and tourism business. The industry of the city is represented by such industries as energy, shipbuilding and engineering. Here are the headquarters of many of the world's most important corporations, in particular the major energy company Scottish Power. This place is so famous that many people ask themselves: “Which city is the capital of Scotland - Glasgow or Edinburgh?”
Since Glasgow is the fourth UK city in terms of popularity among foreign tourists, the most profitable investment here is the opening of tourist infrastructure facilities. At the same time, one should not forget about the high level of competition.
The property
Residential apartments are concentrated mainly in the southern and northern areas of the city. The southern region is distinguished by silence, which can not be said about the north. Living conditions are worse and crime rates are much higher. Real estate in the north is cheaper than in the south - about 1,500 euros per square meter.
The city has a rather large and varied offer for both commercial and residential real estate. When buying rented space, the tenant has an advantage over other comers.
Travel Tips
When visiting restaurants in Glasgow, it is customary to leave a full tip. Tips for taxi drivers and maids may be smaller. If you are late for an important event, it is not recommended to choose a taxi as a transport, as the streets of the city are often busy. Riding a rented car is all the more not worth it, because due to ignorance of the streets, the trip will drag on even more. By the way, the fines for violating traffic rules are quite large. The most suitable transport in this case is the metro.
Walking along the streets of Glasgow, you should pay attention to prohibition signs. In a city with exemplary frequency, there is a ban on smoking in public places and large fines for throwing garbage past the ballot box.
If you want to have a picnic in a specially designated for this park zone, be sure to read its rules.
In crowded places, you should carefully monitor your things, since the fight against pocket criminals, unfortunately, does not belong to the huge list of advantages of this city.