Essential Glasgow

Essential Glasgow

Architecture

The aspiring Victorians, including Alexander "Greek" Thomson, bequeathed Glasgow a solid legacy of striking buildings with artistic appeal, and architectural innovation continued into the 20th century with the erection of such buildings as Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Glasgow School of Art and Norman Foster's Clyde Auditorium. Glasgow's buildings manifest the city's enduring love of grand artistic statements.

Cafés & Tearooms

In the Victorian tradition, while men went to pubs, Glasgow women's social interaction would take place in the city's many tearooms and cafés. Today everyone goes to the café. Glaswegians have succumbed to the world-wide love for Italian-style, espresso-based coffees, but they'll never give up the comfort of a nice cup of tea, so you'll find both at most tearooms, along with scones, Scottish pancakes, other pastries, and light lunch fare like sandwiches and soup.

Shopping

Glaswegians love to dress up, and you'll find the mark of the fashion industry on the city center's hottest shopping streets, Buchanan and Sauchiehall, as well as in Princes Square. Glasgow is the biggest and most popular U.K. retail center outside London. Besides straight-off-the-runway couture, Glasgow has an impressive number of antiques stores, and Scottish specialty shops selling woolen, cashmere, and tartan dress.