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Glasgow is one of Europe’s most important cultural centres, a heady mix of grand Victorian and sensuous art nouveau, and wonderful museums, galleries and concert halls.

House for an Art Lover, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Voted UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999, and European City of Culture in 1990, the city has a concentration of art nouveau masterpieces by design genius Charles Rennie Mackintosh, such as the House for an Art Lover, with a permanent exhibition of decorative rooms; the Glasgow School of Art and the Lighthouse, housing varied exhibitions and featuring the award winning Mackintosh Centre.

There is also a medieval cathedral, many stunning contemporary buildings, including the Clyde Auditorium, affectionately known as the Armadillo, and a plethora of fine Victorian edifices. Visitors can take in much of all this by sampling the panoramic view of the city afforded from the top of the Lighthouse.

Glasgow is home to Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and popular entertainment is equally well served, from stand-up comedy and rock music, to pantomime.

The city’s public art collections are among the best in Europe – most offer free admission -- and include the Burrell, housed in an award-winning building in Pollok Country Park, and the Gallery of Modern Art, set in the neo-classical elegance of the former Royal Exchange.

The Art Gallery and Museum at Kelvingrove reopened following refurbishment in 2006. During the renovations, the best of the collection was on show at McLellan Galleries, including works by Botticelli, Turner, Rembrandt, Reubens, Mackintosh and Whistler. Until the end of 2003, there was a city-wide range of events to mark the centenary of Whistler's death with highlights including a loan from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris to the Hunterian Art Gallery of the artist’s famous portrait of his mother.

Glasgow's compact city centre, underground railway and grid-like street layout make it easy to navigate.

Large malls such as the Buchanan Galleries and the St Enoch Centre are just a short stroll 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 city’s bohemian West-End are a treasure-trove for anyone hunting antiques, rare books and individual pieces of jewellery and crafts.

With its own international airport and direct rail and motorway links with the rest of Britain, Glasgow is easy to reach. It is also an excellent gateway to the rest of Scotland by rail and road: along the ‘bonnie’ banks of the River Clyde; to Loch Lomond, the country’s first national park; or deeper into the heather-clad Highlands.

Other Web Sites of Interest

www.seeglasgow.com

Glasgow Museums

also see in Travel -> Scotland Tourist Attractions | Loch Ness