Edinburgh may be the capital of Scotland but in terms of size, it comes firmly in second place to Glasgow.
Glasgow is the third most populous city in the whole United Kingdom and the way it is often overlooked for the 'historic' Edinburgh does it a great disservice. In truth, Glasgow's position at the heart of the industrial revolution has made it arguably just as significant as the medieval legacy of the Scottish capital. If you're looking to take a stay in the city once known as "the second city of the British Empire", then here are a few tips to make the most of it:
Accommodation:
First things first is to arrange where you're going to stay. A hotel may be the first word that comes to mind when planning this fundamental holiday step but it's worth considering alternatives. They're fine for a weekend break - but if you're staying for a week, then it could be both cheaper and more enjoyable to stay in
serviced apartments. Glasgow has some great ones
Now you've got somewhere to stay, what to do though? Well, there's two things that Glasgow does particularly well - History and Entertainment.
History:
Settlements have existed at this point on the River Clyde for thousands and thousands of years and the current city of Glasgow has been around since the medieval era. In terms of the distant history, Glasgow can trace its origins back to the 6th century and a religious site established by its patron saint, St. Mungo. Centuries later it would become one of Britain's oldest university towns with the opening of the University of Glasgow in 1451.
Still the real meat of Glasgow's heritage can be found much later in the 19th century and the growth of industrialisation. In the 18th century the city had become a central trading hub for the vast markets of the British Empire and at one point over half of the entire British tobacco trade was centred in the city. With industrialisation, it became even more significant to the empire.
Producing textiles, chemicals, engineered goods and steel for export to the rest of the country and the wider world, Glasgow was at the heart of the industrial era. The thriving River Clyde inspired many artists of the modern era and by 1821, Glasgow had surpassed Edinburgh in terms of both industry and population. The history of modern Britain can be found throughout Glasgow's streets, waterways and historic buildings and will be certain to attract any history buff.
Entertainment:
If you're a fan of music or the arts, you'll have come to the right place. Edinburgh's fringe festival may be more famous but in Glasgow, the cultural calendar is fully booked all year round. Aside from regular performances of opera, ballet and orchestra, the city has a huge variety of theatres. Music and the arts are celebrated almost incessantly, from the Glasgow International Comedy Festival to the International Jazz Festival to the Film Festival and the Celtic heritage of events - there's always something taking place in Scotland's second city.
For music, the city has many live music venues ranging from dozens of smaller pubs and clubs to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the SECC. You can see Kurt Cobain's footprint at the Queen Margaret Union and see where Oasis first entered music history at "King Tut's Wah Wah Hut". Then there's the ABC and O2 Academy for regular commercial gigs - it's pretty clear why Glasgow was named the UK's fourth "most musical" city in 2010 by PRS for music.
