In Pictures: All that's great about Glasgow

One of the classic images associated with Glasgow is the bronze statue of the Duke of Wellington atop his horse outside the Gallery of Modern Art on Queen Street, proudly displaying his hat for all to see…a rather fetching orange traffic cone. The image has made its way into postcards, photographs and found its way onto the Lonely Planet’s guide to the Top 10 Most Bizarre Monuments on Earth. Despite previous efforts by authorities to remove the cone, it never remains down for long and even sparked a Facebook campaign to ‘Keep the Cone’ after efforts to stop its placement. Clearly here to stay for the foreseeable future and somewhat indicative of the city’s humour and modern art, a visit to the Duke and his cone are an essential stop.

Wellington

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Charles Rennie Mackintosh, perhaps one of Glasgow’s best known architects and designers, still leaves his mark today around the city which makes for some beautiful sightseeing. One of the best known representatives of Art Nouveau in the UK, examples of his designs can be found adorning the buildings of the Glasgow School of Art, the House For An Art Lover, which contains the majority of his watercolours, is located in Bellahouston Park, and a number of his and his wife Margaret’s work are featured in the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum. Alternatively, pop into the Willow Tea Rooms on Buchanan Street for a spot of lunch, which were designed in 1903 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh himself.

Food and Drink

While perhaps not a cuisine your diet club would thank you for, Glasgow’s food and drink (or ‘scran’ as it’s known by locals) is some of the best around. Famed as one of the curry capitals of the UK and the birthplace of the tikka masala, tucking into a curry in one of the many restaurants or takeaways dotted across the city is a must. Wash it down with one of Scotland’s two staple orange-gold elixirs of life: a bottle of Irn Bru or a wee dram of whiskey. Round it off with a Tunnock’s Teacake or a Caramel Log made in the iconic Tunnock’s factory in nearby Uddingston, a snack so central to the Glasgow way of life that it was even featured in the form of dancing teacakes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games!

Music

Not named a European Capital of Culture and a UNESCO City of Music for nothing, Glasgow’s performing arts scene and particularly its thriving music culture is second to none. Whether its catching some of the biggest headlining acts at this summer’s Summer Sessions in Bellahouston Park, the SSE Hydro or King tut’s, chilling in more in intimate settings like Nice and Sleazy’s, listening to the city’s top orchestras like the RSNO and the BBC SSO at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall or the Old Fruitmarket, or even listening to the sounds of the many buskers floating up Buchanan Street as you go about your shopping, Glasgow’s music and arts scene offers a multicultural assembly of musical genres and has something to suit all tastes.

Sport

Few can deny the love Glasgow has for its sporting teams – the city hosted the Commonwealth Games two years ago, with the monument still standing in George Square today. While the infamous Old Firm matches certainly don’t do much for Glasgow’s global image, the city’s love of the game of football is apparent. Going to catch one of the local teams gets you into the atmosphere, or even something a little alternative like watching the Glasgow Rocks, the city’s basketball team, or the Glasgow Warriors playing rugby is sure to get you into the spirit of Glasgow’s love affair with sports.

Getting Around

As Scotland’s biggest city in terms of population, the hustle and bustle of crowds around the city is seemingly inescapable, particularly in the city centre. However if you don’t fancy braving the throngs of people, why not make use of some of the city’s public transport? Jump on one of the many red tour buses zipping around town where you can see some of Glasgow’s famous landmarks with the help of a dedicated tour guide, hop aboard the Clockwork Orange to make your way out into the West End to explore Glasgow’s stylish, student-centre side (or for the legendary subcrawl), or take a boat trip along the famous River Clyde that runs through the city.

Museums

Glasgow is home to some of the world’s treasures and offers a number of opportunities to explore the city’s evolving history. Take a trip to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in the West End and see internationally renowned works such as Dalí’s Christ of St. John of the Cross, or pop into the Riverside Transport Museum to explore the fascinating boats, steam locomotives and cars that have graced Glasgow in days gone by.

City Centre Shopping

Rivaled only by the capital, Glasgow is well recognised as a shopping haven for Scots. Come prepared to treat yourself and maybe pick up a bargain in centres like Buchanan Galleries or trendy chain stores along Buchanan and Argyle Street, stop for a spot of dinner in the evening under the sparkling starry canopy of the Merchant City lights, or wander down Great Western Road for something a little more niche and quirky in some of the one-off, unusual boutiques found there.

The Weather

Admittedly, Glasgow and Scotland more widely is hardly known for being the sunniest place on the planet – the rain makes a frequent appearance so be sure to bring your umbrella! However if you happen to visit when there’s some ‘taps aff’ weather, enjoy the sun in one of Glasgow’s beautiful parks such as Bellahouston or Kelvingrove. Even on one of the more typically dreich days, use it as the perfect excuse to explore some of Glasgow’s indoor favourites: take a wander through the beautiful Princes Square and treat yourself to some luxury shopping, admire some of the treasures lurking in one of Glasgow’s many museums, or reach the top of The Lighthouse to see the city from the sky and keep in out of the elements.

The People

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for directions if you get lost! Glasgwegians are some of the friendliest bunch about. Renowned for their openness and their friendly banter, you’ll never be met with a cold shoulder and you might even make a new pal into the bargain!