Glasgow

State

United Kingdom

Country

Scotland

Continent

Europe

Size

4,023 KM²

Population

985,290

Spending Budget

$1,385 - $4,663

Famous For

Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow School of Art
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, George Square and the Merchant District

Best Time to Visit

January
February
July
August
November
December

History

Glasgow’s Gaelic name, Glaschu, means “Green Glen.” There is evidence of a fortified prehistoric village on the site, but Glasgow did not begin to develop until about 550 CE with the arrival of St. Kentigern (Mungo), who established a religious community there. The present cathedral, dedicated to St. Mungo and begun in the 12th century, was built on the site of the chapel. About 1180 William I designated Glasgow a burgh of barony, and about 1189 it was granted the right to hold an annual fair. The first stone bridge over the Clyde was built in 1350. Glasgow was created a royal burgh in 1450, and its university was founded in 1451. Glasgow prospered as a market centre because it was well situated between Highland and Lowland Scotland and also between Edinburgh—the capital, 45 miles (72 km) east—and the west. Yet it was not until after the union of the Scottish and English crowns (1603) that Glasgow grew significantly. With the Industrial Revolution came coal mining, iron founding, chemical manufacturing, and, especially, shipbuilding, which developed in Glasgow early in the 19th century. The prosperity of Glasgow’s shipbuilding and heavy industry was badly shaken after World War I, and its industry has since tended toward greater variety.

Present Day

Glasgow’s economy in the 21st century includes traditional heavy engineering, advanced engineering and manufacturing, aerospace technology and development (notably the production of satellites), information and communication technology, software engineering, and renewable energy and low-carbon innovations. The city’s Bio-Corridor brings the public sector, business, and academia together in the research, development, and production of pharmaceuticals, bioinformatics, and medical technology. Glasgow also has a huge retail sector, is a centre of film and television production, and is an important global financial and business services hub. Modern business and industrial estates house many small firms, and others have moved to Glasgow’s new towns. Tourism has increased in importance, aided by the Scottish Event Campus (known as Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre when it opened in 1985), which includes the 12,000-seat SSE Hydro entertainment arena (2013), the 3,000-seat SEC Armadillo auditorium (1997), and the SEC Centre, a complex of interconnected exhibition and meeting rooms.

Future

Future Glasgow is a vision of what we the council, our partners, stakeholders and the people of Glasgow would like the city to be like in 2061, 50 years from now. And, how we will make this vision a reality. It’s a vision of a leading European city where our citizens’ creativity, enterprise and cultures will flourish. Everyone will have the chance to enjoy an active, healthy and fulfilling life. And neighbourhoods will be rid of the problems caused by the industrial decline during the twentieth century. Above all, it’s Glasgow’s statement about how the people of Glasgow, the government and businesses will work together to make this vision a reality – for the greater good of the city that we love.

Must Visit Places ------------

Glasgow Cathedral

The city's most significant historic building is the 12th-century Glasgow Cathedral, also known as St. Mungo Cathedral or the High Kirk of Glasgow. Seen from both inside and out, it looks as if it dropped out of a giant mold: the lines are clear, and there's no superfluous ornamentation.

Glasgow School of Art

Mackintosh's Art Academy is essential viewing for lovers of fine architecture. Completed in 1909, this Art Nouveau building confirmed the reputation of 28-year-old designer Charles Mackintosh, not just as a master of the exterior-the grand west facade is dominated by three 65-foot-high oriel windows, and the smaller windows on the east front are reminiscent of Scottish castles-but also as a superb interior designer.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

The bustling entertainment and shopping mecca of Sauchiehall Street, now almost entirely given over to pedestrians, is more than 1.5 miles long and offers the largest range of shops in the city. Sauchiehall Street ends at Argyle Street in the city's West End, a trendy area of cafés, restaurants, high-end shops, posh hotels, and, perhaps most importantly, the wonderful Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

George Square and the Merchant District

At the heart of Glasgow's historic Victorian city center stands the flower-bedecked George Square with its 12 statues of famous people associated with the city, including Robbie Burns, Walter Scott, and Queen Victoria. The east end of the square is dominated by the Town Hall and its 230-foot tower completed in 1890, while the Merchants' House is the headquarters of Britain's oldest Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1605.

A Walk through the Necropolis

Neighboring Glasgow Cathedral is the Necropolis, a Victorian Gothic garden cemetery that covers 37 acres that has famously been described as a "city of the dead." It is filled with not only beautiful memorial stones-all told, some 3,500 of them-but also sculptures and buildings designed by Glasgow artists, including Charles Rennie Macintosh.

The University of Glasgow: The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery

The University of Glasgow dates from 1451 and is the second-oldest school of higher education in Scotland. The university has employed many illustrious teachers over the centuries, including James Watt; Adam Smith; and the "father of antiseptic surgery," Joseph Lister. A permanent exhibition at the Visitor Centre in University Avenue goes into more detail about the important discoveries made by these and other scientists who taught here.

Riverside Museum and Tall Ship

Glasgow's ultra-modern, award-winning Riverside Museum includes many of the exhibits from the city's former Transport Museum, including model ships, locomotives, trams, vintage cars, and horse-drawn carriages. The majority are Glasgow-built. A superb reconstruction of a 1938 Glasgow street has been added to the displays, as well as exhibits on immigration and disasters, featuring the sinking of the Lusitania.

Glasgow Science Centre

A must-visit sightseeing opportunity for families, the Glasgow Science Centre is a great way to spend time together. Located in the waterfront area near the Riverside Museum, this popular attraction is housed in a suitably striking titanium-clad building shaped like a ship's hull and offers no-end of hands-on fun and exploration.

Pollok House and Pollok Country Park

Close to four miles southwest of Glasgow's city center, the grounds of Pollok House cover an area of 355 acres. The home of the Maxwell family, this Edwardian mansion was built in 1752 by William Adam and his sons. The majority of the expansive building is now open for visitors to explore, from the grand entrance hall to the extensive servants' quarters. Sir William Stirling Maxwell's collection of Spanish paintings by El Greco, Goya, Murillo, and Velázquez hangs on display, as well as several significant works by William Blake. Guided and self-guided tours are available.

Kibble Palace and Glasgow Botanic Gardens

Built in 1873, Kibble Palace is one of the largest glasshouses in Britain and contains a collection of rare orchids; tree ferns from Australia and New Zealand; and plants from Africa, the Americas, and the Far East. It is located at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens, where you can explore more greenhouses and admire the Victorian sculptures located throughout the grounds. For an added treat, pay a visit to the gardens' tearoom, notable for its lovely patio.