A Quick Guide for a Weekend’s Break in Glasgow
Whether you’re visiting Glasgow for some serious shopping, a stopover to the highlands or an enjoyable weekend getaway, the charming city is not short of things to do and see for the perfect weekend visit. Compiled below is a quick guide to experiencing the best of what Glasgow has to offer, fitting in all the best places to shop, eat and visit so you make the most of your short stay in Scotland’s shopping capital and the UK’s friendliest city.
Places to Shop
Glasgow may have its roots as an industrial city, but like many other places it seen an impressive amount of development and renovation in recent decades. Today it has swapped the cranes for clothes shops and now holds the crown as the second largest retail centre outside of London. Glasgow’s Style Mile offers plenty of malls, boutiques and one-off stores to appease any kind of shopping needs, so make sure to pop into one of Glasgow’s exclusive shopping centres Buchanan Galleries, St. Enoch Centre, Princes Square and House of Fraser to find all your favorite clothing brands. Embrace your bohemian side in the West End marketplace, or if luxury is more your thing, admire the elegance of the watches and jewelry on display in the A-listed Argyle Arcade. For those interested in the latest gadgets, the Apple Store provides shoppers with some of the latest and greatest gadgets, and kids and adults alike will be sure to enjoy the Lego store in Buchanan Galleries. If you’re looking for souvenirs, there is no shortage of traditional tourist shops and whisky stores such as The Good Spirits Co and The Whisky Shop provide plenty of boozy gifts to choose from.
Places to Eat
If there is one thing to rival Glasgow’s vast multitude of shops, it has to be the city’s endless collection of bars, cafés and restaurants. Every street in Glasgow is full to the brim with a variety of cuisines, giving you an endless choice when it comes to where to eat, drink and unwind with your mates. To get the most out of your Glasgow visit, it is worth sampling the local cuisine at a Scottish eatery such as Cail Bruich, Wee Lochan or Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery, where you can enjoy traditional delights such as Haggis, smoked duck and Scottish salmon. While you enjoying Scotland’s greatest delicacies, why not pop into Pizza Crolla to try Glasgow’s infamously brilliant deep fried mars bar.
If you’d rather forgo the traditional Scottish pallet for something more contemporary, there are still many other options out there. If you’re a big fan of steak, restaurants such as The Butchershop Bar and Grill and Bo’Vine Meats and Wines have you covered. For those who can’t go a week without an Italian, you can enjoy many delicious options such as Viva, Sarti’s and fan favorite Paesano – recently voted the UK’s number one place to enjoy a pizza.
Places to See
Glasgow is well known for its reputation as a historically rainy city, so it’s just as well there is plenty going on indoors to keep you entertained throughout your visit. The city centre offers a great variety of things to see and do, with museums such as the Gallery of Modern Art, venues such as the SSE Hyro and historic spots such as Glasgow Cathedral. Once you’ve travelled around, return to the city centre and spend your evening in the world’s tallest cinema, watching the latest blockbusters at Glasgow’s wonderful 10 story Cineworld.
If you were lucky enough to visit Glasgow on one of its few sunny days of the year, it’s well worth venturing a bit out of the centre for a trip to the West End, where the Botanic Gardens and Kelvingrove Park provide a great place to get an ice cream, chill out and soak in the sun. Once you are done, you’ll only be a short walk away from an abundance of hip bars like The Oran Mor and Brew Dog where you can enjoy fine craft beers and friendly atmosphere for a fantastic evening’s entertainment.
If you’re travelling to Glasgow for a weekend, be sure to cross as many of these places off the list as you can to get the most out of your stay and experience the wonderful life and character that Glasgow has to offer. If you aren’t planning a trip to Glasgow any time soon, well then maybe it’s about time you did.
