Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and is situated on the banks of the River Clyde. It was once a very important industrial centre but is now one of the nation’s key economic centres outside of London. Glasgow has successfully transformed itself from a major industrial city to a centre for commerce, culture and tourism. In recent years, Glasgow has been awarded the European titles of City of Culture (1990), City of Architecture and Design (1999) and Capital of Sport (2003). In 2014 the city was the host of the Commonwealth Games. So do include it on your Scotland vacations.

The city is best known for its excellent shopping, parks, museums and architecture. It also offers vibrant nightlife as well as an exceptional selection of restaurants and bars. Glasgow was named the UK's City of Architecture and Design in 1999. This was well deserved as its architecture is an attraction in itself. The city centre has countless impressive Victorian structures plus there are the unique masterpieces of one of the city's most celebrated architects and designers, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

For the visitor on trips to Scotland, Glasgow can be divided into two main areas. There is the City Centre, which contains the majority of the tourist sights such as Glasgow Cathedral and City Chamber plus much of the city's shopping and entertainment as well as its commercial centre. The West End is a neighbourhood area of cafés, restaurants and bars surrounding the University of Glasgow and the Kelvingrove Museum. 

The city Centre offers outstanding Victorian and Edwardian buildings and civic squares which give the area much of its character. The main arteries of the City Centre are Argyle Street, Sauchiehall Street and Buchanan Street. These three streets form the main shopping thoroughfares. Running parallel to Sauchiehall Street, Bath Street is the main link to a neighbourhood which has a mix of independent shops and bars as well as distinctive Georgian townhouse-style architecture. Another area of interest s situated along the banks of the River Clyde west of the City Centre. It is an old industrial area which is in the process of regeneration and contains many new and impressive structures such as the Clyde Auditorium, the Science Centre and the Riverside Museum. 

In the West End, the heart of the area is undoubtedly around the neo-Gothic University of Glasgow with its lovely architecture, tree-lined streets and quaint shopping areas. The main streets of interest are Argyle Street, Dumbarton Road and Byres Road. The latter contains a number of independent shops, bars and restaurants. Ashton Road is a cobbled backstreet with distinctive whitewashed buildings offering an eclectic mix of bars and eateries that make it a tourist hotspot. To the east of the university campus is Kelvingrove Park, with the tree-lined Kelvin Way as the main avenue through the park. It is a classic Victorian park by the River Kelvin and has a range of sporting facilities as well as being next to the renowned Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.

Culturally, Glasgow has a large number of venues to satisfy everyone on Scotland tours. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum houses one of Europe's great art collections. It is among the top three free-to-enter visitor attractions in Scotland and one of the most visited museums in the United Kingdom outside of London. The Burrell Collection is one of the greatest art collections ever amassed by one person and consists of more than 8,000 objects. It is housed in an award-winning building in Pollok Country Park. The displays range from works by major artists including Rodin, Degas and Cézanne to important examples of late medieval art, Chinese and Islamic art, ancient civilizations and more.  Situated in the heart of the City Centre, the Gallery of Modern Art is Scotland's most visited modern art gallery displaying work that highlights the interests, influences and working methods of artists from around the world. The University of Glasgow's Hunterian, the oldest museum in Scotland, includes the Hunterian Museum, the Hunterian Art Gallery, the Mackintosh House, the Zoology Museum and the Anatomy Museum all of which are located in various buildings on the main campus of the university. The Riverside Museum is home to some of the world’s finest cars, bicycles, ship models, streetcars and locomotives. Interactive displays and the hugely popular historic Glasgow street scene bring the objects and stories to life.

Extend your Stay

Consider an additional stopover to your United Kingdom vacation on one of Goway's other European tours. You can also choose from a  Paris vacation or an Amsterdam vacation. This can be done stopping over en route to or from the United kingdom.