Cheap flights to Glasgow
If you want to shop till you drop, gawp at some of Britain’s best architecture and experience some of its most stunning countryside then Scotland’s biggest city is definitely for you. Straddling the River Clyde, Glasgow used to be the second city of the British Empire and the centre of global industry.
Today it may not be the world city it once was, but it can still pack a punch in the tourism stakes. Its former position has left it an architectural legacy that includes Britain’s largest collection of Victorian buildings. Let’s just say Glasgow ranks pretty highly on the list of beautiful places to see in the British Isles. Well, where else has been named a UK City of Architecture and Design, as well as a European City of Culture?
And if that hasn’t convinced you to pay it a visit maybe you should also know that Glasgow is home to Britain’s second largest shopping district. From flea markets, independent boutiques and glass covered malls to designer shops, high street chains and, of course, a huge array of cafes and restaurants, Glasgow is a shopper’s paradise.
January 2013
The Barras, Glasgow's famous indoor covered market, just east of Glasgow Cross, is where you can buy almost anything from fresh fruit and veg to kilts, boots, antiques, records, books and collectables. Open every Saturday and Sunday.
April 2013
Glasgow's Aye Write! book festival returns to the Mitchell Library from 12-20 April. The festival is now in its eight year and will feature local talent alongside national and international authors for a celebration of books and poetry (North Street, tel: 0141 287 2999, ayewrite.com).
March 2013
The Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), Royal Exchange Square, is housed in an iconic building in the heart of Glasgow. It is the most-visited modern art gallery in Scotland. The library at GoMA houses a cafe, free internet access terminals and an extensive collection of art and design books alongside general books for loan (tel: 0141 287 3005).
April 2013
Falkirk, just a 20-minute train ride from Glasgow's Queen Street Station, is home to The Falkirk Wheel, the world's first rotating lift boat. The centerpiece of the Millennium Link engineering project, it is well worth a visit. Visitors can explore the visitor centre, cafe, gift shops, Ronald Rae Sculpture trail and play park (thefalkirkwheel.co.uk).