City of surprises

Sally Toms does some more sightseeing in Glasgow

I travel to Glasgow a lot. I suppose I like to think of myself as a bit of an expert, being the Editor of a respectable publication such as this. But a recent trip to the big city showed me that being familiar with a place can work against you.

It occurred to me that I only see the same places: the airport, the inside of a taxi, the SECC. I even end up going to the same pubs and restaurants.

This time I decided to make a change, see a few ‘touristy' things.

Throw off that feeling of prior knowledge and look at the place with a fresh pair of eyes. I was amazed by the range of new experiences waiting for me, and how much you can do for free in this vibrant city.

So off I went, armed with one of those tissue-thin tourist maps that disintegrate before the day is done, and a long list of ‘things to see' which included newly refurbished Kelvingrove and some other of Glasgow's excellent museums. You may well know that admission is free to all the Glasgow Museums, including Kelvingrove, the Burrell Collection, Scotland Street School Museum, St Mungo's and The Museum of Transport, but until you're on the tourist trail you don't realise just what a big difference this makes, especially if you're on a budget.

Surprisingly for me, the Transport Museum was the pick of the bunch. I don't consider myself to be a very girly girl, but nor am I particularly excited by cars, boats and trains. The fact that they work is good enough for me – especially if I'm in one. Yet this museum is...

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• By : Sally Toms
• In : Editor's View
• Issue : 42
• Page : 3
• Words : 586