GLASGOW

Glasgow is an architectural dream: Victorian red & honey sandstone, Italianate steeples and medieval spires sit harmoniously with neo-gothic towers, the sensuous Art Nouveau of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the titanium, glass and steel of the contemporary city. Artful Attractions

Glasgow has an amazing portfolio of more than twenty museums and galleries many of them free including the unique Burrell Collection, stunning Mackintosh House and cool and contemporary Gallery of Modern Art.

Anyone interested in cutting-edge design should head to The Lighthouse, while the Glasgow Science Centres futuristic complex comprising IMAX, Science Mall, Glasgow Tower, Planetarium and Virtual Science Theatre will appeal to anyone interested in learning about technology and its applications in a fun and interesting environment.

Heritage seekers will enjoy the Museum of Transport, Museum of Scottish Country Life at Kittochside and Clydebuilt, which tells the story of Glasgow and the River Clyde from tobacco to shipbuilding. Lovers of the beautiful game meanwhile, should head for the ground-breaking Scottish Football Museum at Hampden.

An Eventful Experience

Whether youre a clubber, concert-goer, opera aficionado, theatre lover or dance fan, visiting Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley is always an eventful experience. No matter when you arrive youll find live performances, festivals and entertainment fifty-two weeks of the year.

Productions by Scottish Opera, the RSNO Summer Proms and the West End Festival as well as the smooth sounds of Glasgow International Jazz Festival, the rousing Hogmanay Celebrations and Celtic Connections are just some of the vibrant annual events, which reinforce its reputation as one of Europes leading cultural capitals.

Around the areas parks, towns and villages, events like the colourful World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green, the ancient Lanimer Day festivities in Lanark, and The Shot in Paisley also provide celebration, fun and spectacle.

Night owls meanwhile can groove until the small hours at a host of club venues covering the entire dance spectrum from garage and techno to house and retro.

Retail Therapy

Shopping is an absolute delight in Glasgow. Not only is it tops for shops but its compact city centre and grid system makes it easy to navigate during serious retail therapy! Giant high street malls such as the ultra modern Buchanan Galleries and the St Enoch Centre are just a mocha-powered meander from the elegance of the Italian Centre and Princes Square as well as the speciality shops of the Merchant City.

The mews and lanes of the citys bohemian West-End are a treasure trove for anyone hunting antiques and rare books while contemporary works by both up-and-coming and established artists can be found in the art galleries of West Regent Street.

It is also worth taking time out from the hustle and bustle to explore the antique shops, craft workshops and garden centres tucked away in the areas market towns and villages.

A Taste Of The Good Life

You can quite literally eat your way round the world in Glasgow as the citys café culture espouses the very latest trends in global cuisine, from the style & sushi bars of the Merchant City to the restaurants and brasseries in the hip West-End.

So whether you prefer traditional fayre, ethnic cuisine or the very latest in fusion and Pacific-Rim, youll find something to savour in Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley.

Out & About

Just beyond the city of Glasgow lies some of Scotlands most beautiful scenery. The local area is rich in history and heritage and each of its delightful country towns and villages has its own fascinating tale to tell.

A short drive south of the city is the Clyde Valley Tourist Route, which makes its picturesque way to the upper reaches of the River Clyde and the World Heritage Site of New Lanark.

To the west is Renfrewshire and the town of Paisley with its medieval Abbey and Museum and Art Galleries, which features the worlds largest collection of the famous Paisley Pattern shawls.

Inverclydes coastal towns enjoy spectacular panoramas across the Clyde Estuary to the Argyll Hills while Milngavies Mugdock Country Park to the north of Glasgow includes a stretch of the long distance footpath, the West Highland Way.