Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland having around 980.000 inhabitants. It is placed on the banks of the River Clyde, at the west end of Scotland's Central Belt.

In recent times the city was listed as a UNESCO City of Music. The city has made a conversion from being the powerful centre of the industrial Britain to a tourist, commercial and cultural centre.

Glasgow has turned into one of the most visited cities in the British Isles, and tourist will find a revitalised city centre, the best shopping after London, outstanding parks and museums and straightforward entrance to the Highlands and Islands.

REASONS TO GO

The Victorian splendour and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, one of the "Glasgow Four," a group of important proponents of art nouveau architecture

The Clyde Auditorium

The strong artistic panorama of this city big rival of London

ORIENTATION

Glasgow is located in West Central Scotland. Ather the River Clyde, the second most important river is the Kelvin.

Even though the metropolitan are extends for nearly 80 square miles, the city centre is compact and easy to visit walking. The city is divided into two main areas - the City Centre, the city´s shopping, commercial and entertainment district, and the West End  the bohemian area of restaurants, bars and cafÉs contiguous to the University of Glasgow and Kelvingrove Museum.

BEST TIME TO GO

In Glasgow, the spring months are usually gentle. The plants begin to flower at this time of the year and parks and gardens are full of spring colours. From May to September the weather gets better and warmer. During summer, some days have sunlight for 15 hours.

Except for some unusual days, winters in Glasgow are humid and chilly. In winter there are many festivities going on, like the New Years Eve - Hogmanay and the Burns Night on the 25^th January, celebrating the great poet Robert Burns.

HOW TO GET THERE

Glasgow has two airports close to the city: 

- Glasgow International Airport, situated 14km west of the city centre, near the towns of Paisley and Renfrew. There's a shuttle bus Arriva 500 to the city centre (near the railway stations) that takes around 20 minutes. There are also 2 buses: First 747 and 757 (GBP 4 single,  GBP 5 return) that run every 15 minutes.

 - Glasgow Prestwick International Airport is base for many low cost companies and is located 50 km south west of Glasgow. The airport has its own railway station and trains leave every 30 minutes to the city centre (the trips take around 45 minutes). The X77 bus also leaves from Buchanan Bus Station to the airport along the day, and covers the times when the trains are not running.

A taxi run costs at least GBP 30.

If you are coming to Glasgow by car it is a good idea to check traffic conditions on Frixo website. The road conditions data is updated every 5 minutes using sensors placed on motorways and common A / B roads.  

TRAVELLING AROUND

Glasgow's as a small underground metro system network with 15v stations, connecting the city centre with south side and west end. Tickets cost  GBP 1.20 and it doesn´t work overnight.

The bus central station (www.spt.co.uk/bus) is located in Buchanan Street. Tickets cost around 90 cents. In some buses companies they do not give you change; therefore take with you the correct amount. An all day ticket should cost around GBP 3.50.

The centre of Glasgow is easy to visit walking. The principal shopping streets are mostly foot traffic. The River Clyde has also quite a few foot bridge crossings. For moving out of the city a good option is to take a taxi.

INFO

www.seeglasgow.com

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