Hi!
I only have half a day and one separate evening in Glasgow which I know is way too short. I'm wondering how to spend that short time. I'm not interested in any museums or galleries. I do really like just walking around and checking out a different neighbourhoods to get a feel for the city. I'm also interested in good food along the way. I'll be staying on Bath Street, b/ central and queen street stations, overnight.

Any suggestions of nice walks to get a feel for what Glasgow is like? I'm happy to take buses and trains if necessary. I'm thinking of maybe taking a ride on the hop-on-hop-off bus if time permits but may just enjoy roaming around.

Ideas for a good early breakfast place near Bath Street or on the way to Queen St station? Also, any place along the way where I can pick up some snacks/savoury pastries for lunch? I'll be going on the W. Highland rail journey so want to pack a lunch for myself.

And any suggestions for good places to eat lunch/dinner? Something different than what I can find in NYC. Medium to budget priced. I've heard about Ubiquitous Chip and Two Fat Ladies. Are these any good and worthwhile? Any other ideas? How about places for a typically Scottish/Glaswegian snack? I read about Greggs the bakers on another posting so will try that too.

Lastly, do Scots eat potato waffles? I'm also interested in a yummy sticky toffee pudding?

Cheers,

gtrekker2003

Gregg's would be the perfect place to buy your "take away" lunch. There are several branches in Glasgow; the first one that comes to mind is on the south side of Georges Square. Be sure to go in the morning, as nearer to lunchtime the line is often out the door.

My favorite Glasgow restaurant is the Wee Curry Shop (or it's parent the larger and more upscale Mother India) but you can no doubt get good Indian food in NYC (we really can't get it easily in my hometown.)

Although it's a chain, we love the baguette sandwiches you can find at the Upper Crust (in the Queen St. rail station, don't know about Central.) They seem to be in every rail station we've been to in Scotland and England, and really say "UK" to us.

There is a shop in Glasgow where you can get ANYTHING deep fried - my teens and their friends used to go for the deep fried mars bars which they think of as a good Scottish snack. Fortunately for all of our arteries, I don't know the name of the place.

Glasgow is NOT the most walkable city in the world. It's pretty big and spread out. You might want to think about a walk down Byres Road and a walk around the Barras. And Argyll Street and Sauchiehall Street. I would defintiely do the hop on hop off bus, and maybe the Clockwork Orange.

Rogano and the Chip are the two places in Glasgow that just SHOUT Glasgow. If you want to come down market try Babbity Bowster or Bouzy Rouge.

And DO go to a pub or two...

Early breakfast is a bit difficult. I'd go anywhere that's open, if I were you. I DID find a second hand recommendation to Cafe Wander in West George Street.

And I know I shouldn't do this, but M&S is in the Buchanan Street Galleries, at the back of the station, for picnic stuff

Oh, yes, Babbity Bowster is another of our favorites. The haggis there is delicious, comes with neeps and tatties. Usually I am indifferent about the taste of haggis, but it's got great seasoning here.
16-18 Blackfriars Street, G1 1PF (Tel: 0141 552 5055)

I've always heard about the Horseshoe bar, but never been. They are famous for having a cheap meal deal. 17-19 Drury Street, G2 5AE

I had good sticky toffee pudding at Oran Mor, downstairs (don't know if they have same desserts in the restaurant upstairs) - it's in the West End, top of Byres Rd. http://www.oran-mor.co.uk/

I'd also recommend walking through Glasgow Green and along the river - you could combine it with the Barras, same general direction. The People's Palace is worth a pop inside to see the interior.

Another area that's worth walking is around St. Mungo's and Merchant City. (Babbity Bowster's in in Merchant City)


The subway works well to get you from central Glasgow to the West End, but doesn't go east (Glasgow Green or Barras) I didn't go in much for buses but taxis are pretty cheap (distances aren't that great)

Thanks Sheila and noe847!

Those are great ideas. Sounds like I'll be missing the Barras market as I'm only there on a weekday afternoon, I think it is only open on the weekend.

Being displaced from London, I actually love Marks & Spencer. I'm happy to hear it will be closeby to me.

I'll be staying on Bath (200 block). Which stop on the Clockwork Orange would be the closest to me? And how late do these trains run?

I'm thinking of maybe taking a quick ride on the hop-on-hop-off bus, and then maybe taking the train for dinner and to check out a neighbourhood.

Loads of thanks again,

gtrekker2003

Yes,I could also recommend the Wee Curry Shop.......I have always wanted to try Bouzy Rouge,mainly for it's literary connections... Some Glaswegians,(friends of mine), have denied this next bit of info.,but it is written up in historical journals :the author De Quincey used to rent rooms here..They will tell you that he never was in Glasgow !!!Look to the left of Bouzy Rouge !!!Doh !!!It's called De Quincey House !!!Unless they burn all the history books,they cannot disprove this fact.....He was famous for many books,(especially "Confessions of an Opium Eater&quot,which he rattled out pretty quickly as he needed the money for more opium....
The place that I would recommend for lunch would be McPhee's on Hope Street..And they are reasonably priced,too.

Any lunch recommendations for Drumchapel? I know nothing about the area but have to be there for a day for 'work'. Anything I ought to see while there?

gtrekker2003

The hop on hop off bus is a great way of seeing a lot of galsgow in a short time. http://www.city-sightseeing.com/
The bus ride is about 1hr 30 mins.
The website has a route map to give you an idea http://www.city-sightseeing.co.uk/Im...sgow_Map07.jpg. the bus goes in to galsgow green and stops by the peoples' palace if you want to get off and look.

Drumchapel?!!

Now you ARE winding us up....

For (IMO) the best coffee in Glasgow, try Tinderbox - in town cnr Ingram & Montrose streets, or in the West End Cnr Byres Road & University Avenue. You could take the subway out to Byres Road (Hillhead station) have a coffee at Tinderbox and then take a walk back to town past Glasgow University, and the recently renovated Kelvingrove Museum, then through Kelvingrove Park, or along Sauchiehall Street. I'll second Wee Curry House as a place for dinner - that's in the West End though, not in town.

Well, Mother India is in the West End, but we always walk to Wee Curry Shop from Central Glasgow. It's just a few blocks north of Sauchiehall.

Thanks everybody. Sounds like the Wee Curry Shop is not to be missed!

Yeah, Drumchapel.....it's a stop before Singer. I'm going for a lecture at a therapy centre there. It will be a separate day from my half-day travels.

Sheila, what does 'winding us up' mean?

gtrekker2003, Billy Connolly once described Drumchapel as "a desert wi' windaes" - I can't see you wanting to spend any more time there than is absolutely necessary.

Sheila, there are M&S's in both Sauchiehall St. & Argyle St. but I don't think there's one in Buchanan Galleries - or is my memory playhing tricks on me?

Jim

Jim, I was wondering about that myself. There is a Sainsbury's at Buchanan Galleries, right in the corner below the Concert hall steps. We've often picked up picnic things there, as there's a decent selection of take away food. I've been to both Marks & Spencers as well, with our 'local' being the one on Sauchiehall (although the one on Argyle is larger); and think the M&S food is a cut above Sainsbury's. Another place we've picked up sandwiches is Pret a Manger, on Sauchiehall one block west of Buchanan (although it is, shhh, a subsid. of McDonald's)

I could have sworn I've been in a Markies there. Once. About 5 or 6 years ago. After a seminar thing. I'm trying to remember where the seminar thing was held. But you got into the Markies from a pavement under the building. The building went over the road. Am I hallucinating. Is there Life on Mars?

Hi Sheila

No M&S in the Galleries but there is the two previously mentioned on Argyle and Sauchiehall Streets and a more recently opened food only outlet on Bothwell Street.

Gtrekker, I would advise the Merchant City as a pretty good area to walk around if you have limited time. Excellent bars, restaurants and pubs in the evening. Rab Ha's, Babbity Bowsters, Blackfriars, Cafe Gandolfi and McChuills would all hit the spot for a decent evening out.

Regards
Tom