Glasgow is a globally recognised destination in Scotland, known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and bustling food scene. As Scotland’s largest city, it offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern attractions, making it a must-visit for travellers. From the stunning architecture of the Glasgow Cathedral to the contemporary art galleries and museums like the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the city has something for everyone.
Glasgow’s cultural scene is unmatched, with a wealth of music venues, theatre performances, and festivals that draw visitors from all over the world. It’s also a UNESCO City of Music, famous for its live gigs that range from intimate venues to large arenas. The city’s nightlife is lively, offering a wide variety of pubs, clubs, and bars to suit all tastes.
Additionally, Glasgow’s food scene has gained significant attention, with everything from fine dining to quirky cafés and street food markets. The city’s culinary offerings highlight both local Scottish delicacies and global cuisine, making it a foodie’s paradise. Whether you’re exploring the West End’s trendy eateries or the Merchant City’s stylish restaurants, Glasgow’s dining options are sure to impress.
While Edinburgh has all the charm (and the tourists), Glasgow is a league above when it comes to a UK city break. Don’t believe it? Well, here are four reasons to make Glasgow your next staycation spot.
4 Reasons To Make Glasgow Your Next Staycation
No 1: It’s a Secret Food Haven
Go ahead and look up #glasgowfood on Instagram. Seriously. I’ll be here waiting for you to come back after drooling on your phone screen. Glasgow is low-key one of the best food cities in the UK. It has the variety of somewhere like Birmingham or Brighton but without the hefty price tag.
People here love their food, especially if you’re a veggie or Vegan who is looking to eat out in places that don’t just do basic pasta or a beany burger as the only non-meat option. You can easily explore a host of culinary delights going through town in one day by sticking to local/independent shops, cafes and restaurants.
Some of the most notable to jot down and save on your phone include:
- Tantrum doughnuts – imagine Krispy Kreme but tastier, more natural, and cheaper
- Baked pizza at taglio – Roman-style pizza by the slice (square) and insanely cheap to boot
- Ottoman Coffee House – A Turkish style coffee house where you sip away the day in a large fancy lounge
- Bloc+ – a trendy bar known for some utterly unique dishes (anyone for Buckfast ice cream?)
It’s the kind of city that will at least have one spot specialising in your favourite food, without ever needing to look at a chain restaurant.
No 2: So, So, So, So Much History
Ever find yourself in a new city and at a loss for some interesting sights to visit? Honestly not the case in Glasgow. The city centre is like one big museum. Whether you’re slowly climbing up the Necropolis, visiting Kelvingrove Museum, or exploring hidden gems like The Lighthouse, Kibble Palace, or the vintage shops of Ruthven Lane (not to be confused with Ashton Lane or the aptly named Hidden Lane).
No 3: Did Somebody Say beer?
If you’re lost in Glasgow and manage to find yourself in front of a wall of big T’s, you may have just stumbled into the best tour in town. Glasgow is a beer city, and there’s no better way to experience it than with a visit to Tennent’s Training Academy.
A unique cooking school within the iconic Tennent’s brewery, you’ll be able to go on a tour of the brewery before donning an apron to cook everything from curries and BBQ to cocktails and whisky. It is ideal if you’re one to find unique activities when visiting a new city.
I suppose it helps as well that two of the city’s other notable breweries are just nearby. Drygate is located on the opposite side of the factory from the training academy and is where Tennent’s makes a broad range of craft beers. And just down the road in Glasgow Green is West Brewery. It’s a German-style brewhouse that makes a core range of beers as authentically as possible. I think it’s a great place to grab a pint and a giant pretzel after you’ve been walking all morning.
Oh, and besides these places are pubs like St. Lukes, The Gate, Van Winkle’s and 226 Gallowgate – all within 50m of each other. Honestly, you could go on the pub crawl of Glasgow’s Barrowlands area and get a more authentic Glasgow experience than you’ll ever get just a mile closer into town.
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No 4: It’s So Well Connected
Even if you’re not inclined to use a ride-share app, Glasgow is well connected. Bus routes are set up to run from one end of town to the other, with the city centre as the halfway point. There’s a subway system (the third oldest in the world) which connects the city centre to the student filled west-end and sprawling southside.
And with two main train stations connecting the east and west of town, you’re never more than half an hour away from any one place. This makes it great if you book a hotel or Airbnb further out of town to save money. Although, if you want to enjoy the city from the top, you can also have a helicopter ride over the city.
And a Little Bonus Tip: It’s Cheap
I know it’s hard to equate a day or Glasgow with something similar in London, but with rent in the Scottish city 151% cheaper than London, and an all-day subway ticket just £4.20 (£5.30 for the equivalent in Newcastle), you can have a cheap staycation quite easily.
You should seriously consider making a trip when planning future trips for yourself.
Want some more UK based travel tips?
You might want to read about some of the other cities we love in the UK here;
- The Ultimate Newcastle Food Guide
- 3 Reasons To Put Liverpool On Your Travel Bucketlist
- The Best Way To Spend 24 Hours In York
- 3 Cities You Must Visit In The Midlands
