New York City Tourism in a Blink

By: Niall Buchanan
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and the third largest in the UK, it is also the top shopping destination outside of London.  The city is known to be Scotland’s best place for live music and it is home to the national side and the two biggest football clubs in Scotland.

Transport

There is no shortage of transport options available in Glasgow with Scotland’s only subway system in operation in the city centre.  The international airport is the largest in Scotland and operates direct services to many destinations such as Dubai, New York and Vancouver.  There is another airport close by at Prestwick which operates many low cost flight to multiple European destinations via Ryanair.

There are two railway stations which are only a few hundred meters away from each other in the city centre.  There are direct services to other Scottish cities such as Inverness and Edinburgh and also to various locations in England.  You can but tickets at the station or book them in advance on Scotrail’s website.

Buchanan Bus Station is the main bus depot in Glasgow and the busiest in Scotland, you can get direct services to all of the other cities in Scotland from here.  There is an efficient bus service that runs throughout the city centre and it offers a cheap and effective way to get around the city centre, with buses running every few minutes.



Shopping

There is a mixture of indoor shopping malls, outdoor markets and high street stores to choose from in Glasgow.  Everything from bargain stores to designer clothes can be bought here.  A couple of the main indoor shopping centres are the St Enoch Centre and Buchanan Galleries offer hundred of stores.

The main outdoor shopping areas are Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street and Argyle Street which are all pedestrianised and run parallel to each other in the city centre. The most popular market is the Barras Market which operates at the weekend and offers a unique shopping experience.

Attractions

A football match is a must if you are in Glasgow, this is the city where the first ever official international football match was held in 1872 between Scotland and England.  Hampden Park has is where Queens Park and the national team play, but you can also watch either Celtic or Rangers at Celtic Park or Ibrox.

If you are looking for live music then the S.E.C.C hosts many of the latest music acts with tickets available from their website.  There are other smaller music venues throughout Glasgow and Hampden park hosts larger music acts such as Oasis and U2 when they perform in Glasgow.

If you are looking for a cultural experience then the Gallery of Modern Art houses a temporary exhibitions and workshops and it is the most visited art gallery in Scotland.  There is also Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum which recently underwent a £28 Million pound refurbishment program.  There are many exhibitions on display changing on a monthly basis, check their website for the latest additions.

Accommodation

There is no shortage of luxury accommodation in Glasgow, two of the top hotels are the Hilton and Radisson hotels both of which are in the city centre of Glasgow.  The price for a room at either hotel starts from around £100 per night.

There are mid range hotels which offer good value accommodation at a more moderate price with the Jury Inn and Thistle Glasgow Hotel.  Both have rooms for under £65 per night and have excellent city centre locations.

The lowest cost accommodation is a hostel and there are dozens around the city centre of Glasgow.  This is the most basic accommodation but ideal for those on a tight budget just looking for a bed for the night.  The cost per night starts from as low as £12 and you usually have access to self catering facilities, internet and washing machines.