Glasgow City

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city and one of Europe's great Victorian metropolises, built on the wealth of shipbuilding, trade and heavy engineering that flowed up the River Clyde. Today it is a confident cultural capital, known for its bold architecture, vibrant music scene, sprawling parks and famously warm welcome. The city centre's grid of sandstone streets is anchored by George Square, surrounded by the City Chambers, civic statues and the busy thoroughfares of Buchanan Street, Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street.

Glasgow's heritage runs from the medieval cathedral and Necropolis in the east to the elegant townhouses of the West End around the University of Glasgow and Kelvingrove. The city is the spiritual home of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose work can be seen at the Mackintosh at the Willow tearooms, the House for an Art Lover and the recently rebuilt Glasgow School of Art. Museums and galleries are almost all free, including Kelvingrove, the Riverside Museum, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Burrell Collection in Pollok Country Park.

Down by the Clyde, the modern waterfront features the SEC Armadillo, the OVO Hydro arena and the Science Centre. Add a thriving food and drink scene, lively pubs and venues such as King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, and Glasgow rewards anything from a long weekend to a full week's exploration.