Awarded UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999 Glasgow certainly meets the criteria with architecture from the Victorian and Regency era as well as art nouveau and ultra-modern styles designed by the likes of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Alexander 'Greek’ Thomson.

The majority of Glasgow’s highlights are to be found on the on the north bank of the River Clyde, most of the nightlife happens here as well as the shopping district and theatres, The Lighthouse, Glasgow School of Art and Gallery of Modern Art. Kelvingrove Park is a huge green park perfect for a picnic or a leisurely stroll. In the park is the restored Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and overlooking the park are the grounds of the celebrated University of Glasgow, home to the Hunterian Art Gallery and Mackintosh House.

The City of Glasgow owns one of the richest art collections in Europe and is displayed in 13 museums across the city. Admission to these sites is free. The Burrell Collection is located in Pollok Country Park, the most well-known and visited art museum in Glasgow it was donated by shipping magnate Sir William Burrell. There are an impressive 9,000 works of art from paintings and drawings dating back to the 15th to 19th century, medieval European tapestries, stained glass and sculpture, and artworks from the Middle East and East Asia, alabasters, stained glass and English oak furniture.

The Lighthouse is Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City and occupies the former Herald Building. Spanning six floors, The Lighthouse offers a chance to understand architecture and design through its exhibits, education and events. Also housed here is the Mackintosh Interpretation Centre, which gives an outline of the architect’s work. The nearby Mackintosh Tower offers wonderful views over the city.

Take the kids to Glasgow Science Centre and you can be sure they will love it as there are hands-on exhibits and a planetarium. A tunnel takes you to the base of the 127m high Glasgow Tower, it’s the only tower in the world that rotates to face the oncoming wind. Its views are breathtaking, be warned though if you don’t like heights there is a bit of sway on the observation level.

People’s Palace and Winter Gardens was built in 1898 for the working classes. The social history museum tells the story of the people of Glasgow, exhibits cover everything from the Glaswegian dialect to the use of alcohol and is both fascinating and educational. There are paintings, prints and photographs on display, a wealth of historic artifacts, film and computer interactives. Watch out for the exhibits on home life during the Second World War, and discover how a family lived in a one-room Glasgow tenement home of the '30s. The Winter Gardens is an enormous Victorian conservatory that now has a quaint tea room located in it.

If you have had enough of the city and fancy a trip out to the surrounding countryside then Loch Lomond is a delight to visit. This is Britain’s largest expanse of fresh water, head to Balloch the largest town on Loch Lomond.  The Trossachs National Park is only 20km away from the city and Scotland’s first national park, spot the wildlife and experience the highland scenery. There is something for everyone here, from low level and hill walking, cycling, boating, golf, to canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing and mountain biking.

If you have a weekend free then New Lanark, a World Heritage Site, is a restored 18th century cotton mill village hidden beneath the South Lanarkshire valley close to the Falls of Clyde and less than an hour from Glasgow.