Glasgow is 850 years old in 2025, but its cultural cachet is better than ever

Glasgow is famously friendly — and famously rainy, with some 170 drizzly days each year. But the grey weather comes with an upside: this city pours its heart and soul into its cultural pursuits. After all, when there’s little chance of lolling around in the sun, you may as well start an art movement, a band or a restaurant.

The household names to have come out of Glasgow are legion — from designer-architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, football manager Alex Ferguson and singer Lulu to actor Peter Capaldi and comedian Frankie Boyle — and you’ll find some of the UK’s best theatres, music venues and museums here.

Walking around the city centre, Glasgow’s prosperous past is evident: its grand Victorian banking halls, civic buildings and merchants’ homes serve as towering sandstone reminders of its 19th-century status as the second city of the British Empire. Once, more than half of Britain’s tobacco was landed on the River Clyde and a fifth of the world’s ships were built here. Its decline was painful, with the late-20th-century shutdown of shipbuilders, coal mines and steelworks resulting in mass unemployment. Though the city still ranks as one of the UK’s poorest, Glasgow has undergone decades of regeneration. One example is its celebrated Citizens Theatre due to reopen after major refurbishment this year.

Many attractions lie inside the curled arms of the M8 and M74, which run close to the historic centre. However, it’s worth branching out to the West End, where you’ll find Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, one of the city’s finest, as well as the Botanic Gardens and the Mackintosh House.

This is a city that rewards exploration on two feet, allowing you to change your plans on a whim and follow the sound of live folk music or the smell of Scottish beef sizzling on a grill. You’ll find most Glaswegians keen to pause for a chat, too; be ready to get waylaid for a good old ‘blether’.

What to see and do in Glasgow

Merchant City Tour: A UNESCO City of Music and home to numerous superb small venues, Glasgow has music tour takes in some of the top musical sites, telling tales of famous names and infamous gigs. You’ll see the two-centuries-old The Clutha, a bar that’s hosted everyone from Woodie Guthrie to Frank Zappa, and Barrowland Ballroom, a venue that counts Oasis, Metallica and LCD Soundsystem among its past performers.

Clydeside Distillery: Opened on the waterfront in 2017, this distillery turns out fine Lowland-style whiskies, including Napier, matured in sherry casks for a sweeter finish. You could take a straightforward one-hour whisky tour, but why do just that when there’s a chocolate-and-whisky tour on offer? You’ll sample five different drams, each paired with a chocolate made by artisan producer Sugarsnap.

Glasgow Street Art Tour: This guided 90-minute walk offers insight into the city’s character. It includes political and historical works by locally based artists like Smug and Rogue-One — the latter’s depictions of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Billy Connolly are a highlight — and a legal graffiti site on the Clyde Walkway, where artists have free rein as part of a pilot scheme.

Burrell Collection: If you only have time for one of Glasgow’s many free-to-enter museums, don’t miss the collection amassed by shipping magnate William Burrell. Gifted to the city in 1944, its 9,000 objects include The Red Ballet Skirts by Edgar Degas and a bronze cast of The Thinker by Auguste Rodin. The Burrell Collection is set within Pollok Country Park, where you can also see ginger-coated Highland cows.

Mackintosh at the Willow: Designer- architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh was born in Glasgow in 1868 and pioneered the distinctive Glasgow Style, a form of art nouveau. He also designed many buildings in the city, including this tearoom on Sauchiehall Street. As well as serving cream teas, it houses an exhibition about Mackintosh and a shop selling cards, glassworks and jewellery in his style.

Glasgow Necropolis: Sprawled across a hill beside Glasgow Cathedral (the city’s oldest building), this Victorian cemetery is home to 3,500 tombs, many incredibly ornate. Wander amid the graves of merchants, shipowners and politicians to find the Celtic cross designed by Mackintosh.

Glasgow's best hotels

The Social Hub: On the edge of Merchant City, straightforward hotel rooms are mixed with extended-stay accommodation, with everyone coming together on the open-plan ground floor to dine in the classy cafe. Bedrooms are simple, but the best have far-reaching views of the city.

The Address Glasgow: This 1920s building with a neo-classical facade is in the heart of the centre, close to train stations and many of Glasgow’s best restaurants — try Sugo for pasta. No two bedrooms are alike; the pouting red lips behind reception nod to the fun artworks you’ll find throughout.

Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel: This five-star spot on one of Glasgow’s finest Georgian squares has bedrooms decorated in dark marble and cosy tweed. There’s a spacious spa, with Scottish island-themed hydrotherapy pools and thermal suites, and the on-site restaurant Iasg (‘fish’ in Gaelic) serves sustainable Scottish seafood, including smoked salmon and Cumbrae oysters.

Where to eat

Royâ: You’ll be tempted to order every dish you see landing on nearby tables at this homely Middle Eastern restaurant in the city centre, from the fiery red mouhamara dip dotted with pomegranate seeds to the charred corn ribs crumbled with feta. Alongside the many vegan and vegetarian options, there are also meat kebabs.

Brett: Nab a seat at the chef’s counter of this intimate restaurant on Great Western Road and you’ll realise why it’s worth the 25-minute walk west from the city centre. Dishes have a decidedly Michelin air — the restaurant’s sister venue, Cail Bruich, currently holds one star — and include the likes of monkfish served with bergamot, wild garlic and fermented fennel.

Gamba: Occupying a warm and welcoming basement on West George Street in the city centre, this elegant restaurant serves Scottish seafood with a twist — from scallop sashimi to classics like lobster thermidor. Settle in with its well-chosen wine list and extensive whisky selection.

Where to go shopping

The Hidden Lane: Duck down this colourful lane off Argyle Street, in Finnieston, to find bespoke jewellery at the studios of Heather McDermott and Fiona Hutchison-Barr; sustainable fashion at House of Black; and pick and mix at Simba’s Sweets. You can refuel with homemade cake at The Hidden Lane Tearoom.

Foodies by SDX: Small producers can struggle to get a look in on city high streets, which is why the Scottish Design Exchange gives the best homegrown brands a chance to appear in its shop window. Its food-focused store in Buchanan Galleries stocks a range of local produce, from hot sauces and honeys to crisps and oatcakes.

Monorail Music: Glasgow has a selection of record shops to root around in. One of the best is central Monorail Music, loved by collectors for its curated selection of LPs and regular small gigs and events. Assai Records is another vinyl specialist and its Sauchiehall Street store includes a rack of Scottish music.

After hours

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut: Opened in 1990 and beloved since, this intimate music venue on central St Vincent Street invites you to squish down a bit, get cosy in the crowd and stand within guitar-swinging distance of the stage. Often one of the first venues played by emerging artists, this is a place to discover the next big thing, having hosted everyone from Pulp to Biffy Clyro.

Devil of Brooklyn: The interior of this city centre cocktail bar, located in a former banking hall, is a mix of hanging plants, flickering candles, neon-red ceiling lights and a marble fireplace. The grand, historic setting is teamed with a very current drinks list, featuring all manner of homemade ingredients as well as unusual vermouths and liqueurs.

The Pot Still: This long-standing whisky joint in the heart of Glasgow claims to serve more than 1,000 different drams, and staff take pride in finding every customer their perfect match. Prime spots are the red-leather banquette seats or bar-side, where you can rest an elbow while scanning the bottle-lined walls.

Like a local

Shop for one-offs: The city’s markets are the best places to unearth a bargain. Established in 1921, The Barras in the East End is open every weekend and good for antiques and vintage fashion, while the twice-monthly Park Lane Market in the suburb of Shawlands is the place to go for artwork, jewellery and handmade clothing.

Hear Grassroots music: Discover new names at the city’s smaller venues. For folk, head along to the relaxed sessions at The Lismore, in Partick; for jazz, visit the city centre’s The Butterfly and the Pig, a Georgian townhouse with a small basement stage that hosts students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Head for Dennistoun: Duke Street is the main drag of this up-and-coming easterly suburb. It’s home to an enticing food scene, including Tibo for brunch and the family-run institution Coia’s Café. Pubs take over at night: both Redmond’s and The Palais Bar have craft beer, live music and great cocktails.