Glasgow was also the UK's City of Architecture and Design in 1999 and its architecture is certainly an attraction in itself. Central Glasgow's Manhattan-style town planning affords many sweeping vistas of the city's impressive Victorian buildings, dotted with little gems from the medieval to the present day. But its the Art Nouveau 'Glasgow Style' for which the city has become famous, and no one should miss the work of one of Glasgow's most celebrated sons, architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Glasgow is also a shoppers' paradise, second only to London for sheer volume and variety. It's also just so stylish too, with funky bars, boutique hotels and vibrant nightlife.
The city's arts scene is world-class. Over 200 arts organisations, including Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera, are based there, creating the cutting-edge productions and attracting high-profile exhibitions that led to the city being crowned as a European City of Culture.
Surrounding Glasgow is some of the best of Scotland's scenery, from the rolling hills of the Clyde Valley to the beautiful walking country of East Dunbartonshire that borders the south-west Highlands. Exploring further, you'll find that many of the towns and villages in the area such as Paisley, Hamilton, Biggar, Greenock, Gourock and of course the amazing New Lanark World Heritage Site make great day excursions from the city and offer a range of attractions that make discovering their rich history a real joy.
