Embrace Glasgow's thriving cultural scene and striking architecture
Friday, 28, May 2010 09:14
If you're looking for a city packed with culture and history for your next getaway, you should give serious consideration to taking a break in Glasgow.
The city may be better known for football, nightlife and shopping, but Glasgow has some of the best museums and galleries north of the border, together with some stunning architecture.
Booking into one of the finest five-star hotels in Scotland will provide you with an ideal base from which to explore Glasgow's cultural attractions.
One place not to be missed is The Burrell Collection, which is located in Pollok Country Park just a short train ride from the city centre.
The collection, which was donated to the City of Glasgow by private collector Sir William Burrell, contains more than 9,000 pieces, including works by Degas, Rodin and Cezanne, together with artefacts from ancient Greece and Rome.
You'll find many of the city's other cultural attractions in the heart of Glasgow's shopping district - just a short walk from your luxury accommodation in Scotland.
The Gallery of Modern Art, which is housed in a beautiful 18th century neoclassical building, contains a mixture of work by world-renowned talents, such as David Hockney and Andy Warhol, and local artists.
McLellan Galleries and Mitchell Library are close by, along with the Theatre Royal and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. You are likely to find that the buildings themselves are every bit as fascinating as the exhibitions, installations and productions they house.
Mitchell Library is an ornate building which resulted from a design competition held almost 100 years ago, while the Royal Concert Hall is an imposing structure at the head of Buchanan Street which was built to mark Glasgow's City of Culture status in 1990.
In addition to its striking architecture, the city centre is home to a host of public sculptures, including statues of leading historical figures such as the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, James Watt and Robert Burns.
Venture further afield from your five-star hotel and into Glasgow's West End and you will be able to visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, while a trip to the East End will allow you to see the McLennan Arch and the People's Palace.
One other must-see, even if you don't attend a concert there, is the Clyde Auditorium - a spectacular Sir Norman Foster-designed building known by locals as The Armadillo.