Glasgow Overview
Glasgow is known for its Art Nouveau and Victorian architecture, it is a city that had flourished due to it being right next to the River Clyde which made it a great place to build ships and for trade to come into the country. Glasgow is home to the National theatre of Scotland and the Scottish Ballet as well as several acclaimed museums and an enthralling music scene. Glasgow is home to Europe’s largest civic art collections valued at a whopping £1.4 Billion which is spread across 10 venues and is visited by over 3 million people per year. Most of the museums in Glasgow are free to enter which makes for a great day out learning about the city you will be living in. If you are a foodie, then make sure you head over to Finnieston and find a brilliant mix of great food and venues at affordable prices. The reason behind Finnieston’s success is said to be because local chefs are able to source some of the best produce from both local sources and through the ever so active port. If you enjoy modern architecture, then take a stroll down the riverside and feast your eyes on the cutting-edge designs that stand there. If you are living in Glasgow, then you will be aware of the importance of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and be familiar with his works. There are several venues that display his work, the one a lot of people go to visit is the Mackintosh house which is a replica design of his house in Glasgow filled with his actual works. The Firth and Clyde Canal runs through the heart of the city and then to the north of Glasgow making it a really interesting walk with lots of history having moved through the tight canals. There are 70 parks in and around the city making it the green city and a great place to find some peace and quiet or even play some sports and have a picnic.
Things to do in Glasgow
A must when living in Glasgow is to go to the SSE Hydro which is a purpose built to be the only UK venue built specifically for live entertainment. They have held many large events here such as, 2014 BBC sports personality of the year, Ryder cup gala concert, 2014 MTV Europe music awards and it was even a venue for the 2014 Commonwealth games. If whisky is more your thing, then make sure you visit Glengoyne distillery which is just a short 40 minutes away from Glasgow city centre. They cater to all audiences and provide tours depending on what you want to see, their tours range from £10.50 for the most basic tour all the way to £155 for a masterclass that includes a detailed tour of both the distillery and the warehouse with the chance to create your own 200ml bottle of Glengoyne single malt whisky. If you prefer beer to whisky, then head over to Tennents Wellpark Brewery where you can join a 1 hour and 15-minute tour to find out how Scotland’s favourite beer is made and the history behind it. For those of you who like to shop, then head down to the ‘style mile’ where you will find all the designer shops and outlets that you can think of. Glasgow has been voted the best place to shop in the UK outside of London and this is no surprise. Not only will you find shops along the ‘style mile’ but you will also find shopping centres and premier department stores which can fit all styles and budgets. If you enjoy riding bikes, then Glasgow bike tours may be the thing for you to do. Jump on a bike and see parts of Glasgow that the busses can’t and visit more of this great city in one morning or afternoon than any other tour.
Nightlife in Glasgow
Glasgow is the UK’s first UNESCO city of music which means they host more than 120 music events every week ranging from superstars at the SSE Hydro all the way to homegrown indie music bands trying to break through. There are more than 700 bars, pubs and clubs in the city meaning you won’t struggle to find somewhere you like with the perfect vibe for you and your friends. Sub Club is the longest running weekly underground club which is voted one of the best clubs in Scotland with huge DJ’s playing here every week.
Sport in Glasgow
Football is the most iconic sport of Glasgow with three teams playing in the city, these clubs are Partick Thistle (which is the closest to the university), Celtic or Rangers. When Rangers play Celtic, it is known as the ‘old firm derby’ which is a football rivalry that has dated back as far as they can remember. For the adventurous students, Glasgow has two dry-ski slopes which is a great day out for you and your friends. There are several golf courses in and around the city with most being public but there are a few private ones. If you like the smell of petrol and bikes going fast, then get yourself down to watch Glasgow Tigers at the Ashfield stadium.
Escape Glasgow
Just 5 miles from Lochwinnoch with 3 of which is on the very scenic Calderglen road is Muirshiel Country Park, this park was once an impressive Victorian shooting estate which has now been transformed into a great place to spend the day. You can go walking, cycling, volunteer, watch wildlife and many more. Head north to Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park where you will be able to jump on a boat and have a cruise of the beautifully calm loch and find out loads of information.
Transport in Glasgow
The subway is a great way to travel around the city with 15 stations on the circuit which only takes at peak times 24 minutes to travel the whole loop which means you will never have to worry about being late for university. Glasgow is surrounded by motorways and A roads meaning you will never struggle when travelling to different parts of the UK. Glasgow Airport is a short car journey to the east of Glasgow.
