The best things to do in Glasgow
It always amazes me that while you sit by the lake at Lochend, you’re actually less than an hour from the centre of Scotland’s biggest city, or just over an hour if you drive to Milngavie and get the train from there.
Generally considered Scotland’s second city, Glasgow is without doubt number one when it comes to the sheer energy of its arts, with a really buzzing music scene and some of the most exciting – and largely free – museums and galleries in Britain. These include the Burrell Collection, the magnificent Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and the cutting-edge Glasgow Science Centre, full of wonderfully interactive exhibits, workshops and shows that kids absolutely adore.
And while Edinburgh is undoubtedly beautiful, Glasgow is a beguiling mix of grit and glitz, with long rows of sandstone terraces, fantastical spires and Georgian crescents overlooking shipyards along the Clye. It’s also much easier to get around than Edinburgh, with a wonderfully simple underground train system – aka The Clockwork Orange – whisking you from the centre (the converted 18th century warehouses of Merchant City are a must) out to the quirky West End shops in minutes.
This Is Glasgow is a really useful guide to things to do in Glasgow, as is Time Out.