Vibrant and historic, Glasgow is a culturally rich city that is home to some of the best preserved Victorian architecture in the UK, as well as incredible shops, restaurants and nightlife. From the leafy west end to the bold and beautiful east end, there are plenty of areas to explore in this bohemian city. The north of the city combines urban adventure with the tranquility of green spaces, while the city center is a place worth exploring. The Merchant City is brimming with culture and architecture, while the south side offers a peaceful atmosphere.
Discover all that Glasgow has to offer with this guide to its different areas.
Central Glasgow
Central Glasgow is a culturally rich neighborhood that is home to some of the best preserved Victorian architecture in the UK, as well as incredible shops, restaurants and nightlife. Take George Square as an example; from ice skating at Christmas and at various concerts to statues of the great Scotsmen Sir Walter Scott, James Watt and Thomas Graham, this glorious nerve center, which has existed since 1787, is the perfect focal point. Other highlights of the city center include the City Chambers (an impressive architectural work with marble stripes worth visiting), the Willow tea rooms (designed by Glasgow wonder Charles Rennie Mackintosh), the Royal Concert Hall and, of course, the Theatre Royal (the epicenter of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet).The Lighthouse, Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture, was Rennie Mackintosh's first public commission, and is both supernatural and impressive.
The West End
Irrevocably modern and brimming with jewels, The West End is the place where all cool cats gravitate. Among the best options are the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (thanks to its coveted art collections and attractive exhibitions) and the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery (and don't leave without seeing The Mackintosh House). Oran Mor, a converted church and now a whiskey bar, restaurant and event venue, is a delight and a half. Also worth visiting is the up-and-coming downtown Finnieston (located between the city center and the West End), with its charming restaurants and shops.The contagious and fresh atmosphere found in the swanky, bohemian West End is only intensified by the West End Festival, an annual art festival. Oh, and when you feel like walking in a healthy way, make way for the Botanic Garden or Kelvingrove Park.
Merchant City
Brimming with culture and architecture, Merchant City is a privileged place in the city center with a splendid variety of buildings to marvel at and historic attractions worth discovering. The Zen garden that accompanies the St. Mungo Museum, a museum dedicated to all religions, is a piece of Eden on Earth, just like Glasgow Cathedral and the Britannia Panopticon (the oldest preserved auditorium in the world) are worth a visit.The East End
Although not as popular as elsewhere, the East End deserves recognition as a place to venture out.Those in the know will heap praise on Shawlands. Within this part of the city is Queen's Park, a park dedicated to Mary, Queen of Scots. Cessnock, a place for architecture lovers located on the south bank of the River Clyde, is home to some notable buildings.
The North
Wooded, creative and community-led, Glasgow's north side is the perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon. If you stay in Glasgow up here you're about to see some of the most amazing sights known to man because it's the gateway to Scotland's highlands.Bearsden
Homes in Bearsden can fetch some of highest prices in any area of Glasgow but for those on a budget few neighborhoods can match it when it comes to quality of life.Fashion
Glasgow is famous for having some of best retail therapy venues in UK after London.Located amidst Glasgow Botanic Garden and expansive Kelvingrove Park it offers variety of museums art galleries and independent shops.