Glasgow at a Glance
Glasgow receives more than 2 million visitors every year to its wealthy array of art galleries and museums, friendly locals and gastronomic delights. This sophisticated city provides some top shopping opportunities, even being compared to London. There is an infinite range of bars and nightclubs with more than 800 pubs and clubs in the city centre and West End alone. The city's lively nightlife reaches its pinnacle on the weekends as the streets bulge with residents and tourists queuing for a club, heading to their favourite bar, catching a live gig or going to see their favourite DJ.
The city of Glasgow has seen a huge amount of change in the past 20 years and is now a popular tourist destination that offers its visitors an impressively trendy city. The Glaswegians are immensely proud of their heritage and history and there are many famous writers, engineers and architects that have grown up amongst its industrial background. In the past, Glasgow was a shipbuilding centre and the producer of locomotives, once a wealthy city the fascinating classical architecture can still be admired in the city centre. Scottish architect Alexander 'Greek' Thomson, the art nouveau style of architect, designer and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and over 9,000 works of art in the Burrell Collection are just some of the trademarks of this Scottish city.
The Kelvin River and Kelvingrove Park run through the city and the positive attitude of the Scots attracts businesses and tourists. Culture and art feature high here with Scottish filmmakers and actors, authors and music attracting international attention and a successful museum and gallery scene has succeeded into making it one of the most visited cities in the UK today.
In 1990 Glasgow was awarded the European City of Culture and, together with a large student population, the city has a young and progressive attitude and spirit that appeals to visitors. In recent years, the emergence of new Scottish writers, a dynamic live music scene and contemporary art and design has transformed the city into a place where people are proud to live. The cultural scene in Glasgow is strongly influenced by traditional Scottish heritage and you will find a deeply entrenched attachment to Scottish literature and poetry, in particular the works of Robert Burns. Take a visit to Mitchell Library where you can scrutinize a large collection of his poetry in its Robert Burns Room.
The 20th Commonwealth Games is set to be held here in 2014, and already plans are being made for a new national indoor sports arena, a Norman Foster designed national entertainments arena, a national velodrome and a hockey centre to be built.
Glasgow is also a trendy place with filmmakers and a number of films are shot here each year. One of the most famous is 'Trainspotting' and 'Shallow Grave', both starring Scottish actor Ewan McGregor. Carla's Song, My Name is Joe and Ae Fond Kiss, all directed by Ken Loach, were also filmed and set in Glasgow, and more recently the psychological thriller, The Jacket, starring Keira Knightley.
Glasgow has something of a literary revival too with the cult classic Lanark, Alisdair Gray's debut novel, set in a fictional version of Glasgow. Also William McIlvanney's Laidlaw crime novels are based in Glasgow, and James Kelman's Booker Prize-winning How Late It Was, How Late.
A good base from which to explore the surrounding stunning glens and lochs, mountains and the area's unspoilt coastline, Loch Lomond is easily reached for a day trip or weekend break and Edinburgh is less than one hour away by train.
There are 5 casinos in Glasgow, all throughout the city and plans for further casino developments are in progress including the first destination resort casino in the UK which will feature a 5 star luxury hotel, shopping, business, restaurant, health and leisure services. 4 of the casinos are operated by Gala Casino's, Merchant City is located on Glassford Street, Princes on Sauchiehall Street, Gala Rotunda Casino on Tunnel Street and Gala's Riverboat Casino sits on the banks of the River Clyde. Glasgow's Mint is a modern casino owned by the Stanley Group and also based on Sauchiehall Street. Most casinos play buy-in Texas Hold Em' Tournaments throughout the weekend.
