Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 1 on 5/3/2002.

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Glasgow - Bonny & Clyde

Architecture, resturants, pubs, clubs, parks, meseums, galleries... Glasgow has it all, and plenty more besides.

Glasgow is a city of surprises, a place that has shed its traditional image of the classic industrial centre with surprising ease and grace. Few other cities have accomplished such a complete transition, which is reflected in the awards European City of Culture in 1990 and UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999.

What is genuinely a shock for the first-time visitor is, for such a relatively small city (population just over 600,000) Glasgow has shopping to rival - and better - most other cities, including London. It's the home of Gianni Versace's first British store, the largest branch of Habitat in Europe and hundreds of other top-name shops, many housed in splendid shopping centres that, unlike their English equivalents, somehow give a sense of space inside rather than filling every available space to make a claustrophobic shopping experience.

What any other city has, Glasgow seems to have more. There are hundreds of restaurants and cafés offering foods from all over the world - and it seems to be harder to find a bad place to eat than a good one.

There are more than 70 parks and gardens in Glasgow alone, giving the former industrial city a sense of true space and plenty of places to escape the hustle and bustle of its shopping streets.

One of the city's most striking features is its architecture. When you visit, walk down almost any street in the city centre and you'll see shops, cafés, bars and restaurants everywhere. But look up and you'll see the city's magni.....

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By Jon Bruford

Section : Regional Focus

Page number : 46