Glasgow feels completely different from Edinburgh, even though it’s only 1 hour away on the train.
Arriving in Glasgow looks quite regal though. The train stations, both Queen Street and especially Glasgow Central look very grand.
Arriving slightly out of the centre, in an area like Queens Park, seems a lot more like the reality and day-to-day life of Glasgow folk.
Glasgow has been a settlement since the 6th century, with a massive sprawl. Now offering a population of around 600,000, Glasgow is a mix of migrants, old and industrial architecture and a sense that the town is looking for a revival.
Once you get closer to the centre, the town definitely starts to look prettier.
Glasgow City Centre
A beautiful and diverse hub. Although I did learn from a local that very few visitors stay more than a day in Glasgow. They usually rock up on their way to somewhere else in Scotland.
Lunch at Riverhill
Healthy lunch options weren’t very obvious, but I did find a good one here with cauliflower soup and mixed vegetable salad (except the bread was a bit old and dry).
Fantastic Coffee in Glasgow
Luckily just around the corner, was really great coffee, at Riverhill Coffee Bar.
Buchanan Street Mall
Wonderful for wandering in Glasgow city centre.
St Enoch
Stumbled upon a shopping centre which had a few good shops, and a huge junk-food foodcourt.
Overall, a town like Glasgow is a post-industrial icon. With the right leadership and initiatives, it could make itself a new kind of hub again.