Gallivanting in Glasgow: top hotels for superb shopping and more
Whether your next sojourn to Glasgow is aimed at indulging in its marvellous music venues, superlative shopping options or simply enjoying the copious cultural delights of Scotland’s largest city, it is important to find the hotel that best suits your travel itinerary and personal requirements.
Glasgow, on the River Clyde, is a sprawling city which was one of the first in Europe to have more than a million inhabitants. Although that figure is now halved, Glasgow remains one of the most popular and safest UK destinations and counts among the top 10 cities of the world. Hosting more than 3 million tourists per annum, the city offers a variety of accommodations ranging from upmarket luxury hotels such as the boutique Du Vin Glasgow in the West End, to budget hotels like the Holiday Inn Express Glasgow City Centre Riverside and hostels such as the Old School House. The latter is centrally located near many Glasgow attractions and shops.
There are also holiday apartments, aparthotels such as the four-star Fraser Suites Glasgow and a selection of Bed and Breakfasts. Depending on your preferences, staying at a B&B may be an economical and homely alternative to a Glasgow hotel. Whether you’re looking for a cheap city centre hotel or special offers and discount rates on luxury accommodation, trivago will help you to find the best available current offers and last minute hotel deals. The unique price comparison effortlessly finds hotel deals and discounts from multiple booking agents and you can use various filters to further tailor the selection.
Getting to Glasgow
Located less than 50 miles from the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, Glasgow is easily accessible from abroad and boasts what is arguably the best transportation infrastructure in the country. Glasgow city centre is less than an hour by train (30 miles) from Prestwick Airport which offers regular, cheap flights to London Stansted airport as well as direct flights to Dublin and numerous destinations in Europe. There are flights to more than 90 worldwide destinations from Glasgow International Airport (10 miles from the CBD) and a daily Glasgow-Dubai service is available. Hotels in the vicinity include the Glynhill Hotel, Ashtree House and The Watermill as well as the Glasgow airport Holiday Inn Express.
An extensive 24-hour bus service operates throughout Glasgow and sightseers would appreciate the City Sightseeing Glasgow bus routes. A daily bus service to London Heathrow Airport as well as regular services to the Belfast ferry and most major cities in Scotland ensure easy access. In addition there are numerous trains to the south from Glasgow Central Station whilst Queen Street Station serves the destinations to the north and east such as Edinburgh and the Highlands. Both train stations are about a quarter mile apart and linked by bus. The Grasshopper Hotel Glasgow, conveniently adjacent to Central Station, is housed in a building from 1905.
Visiting Glasgow: there’s always a reason, whatever the season
In addition to hosting the XX Commonwealth Games in July 2014, Glasgow is also a contender for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games and several developments, including the addition of hundreds of hotel rooms, are underway. The tourism boom in Glasgow is further fueled by the many accolades bestowed upon the city: named a UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow has also been heralded as the British City of Architecture and Design and, in 1990, was declared a European City of Culture.
Both four-star CitizenM and Carlton George hotels as well as the affordable Buchanan hotel are convenient to the Buchanan Bus station and the Royal Concert Hall which is the epicentre of the Celtic Connections festival in January. This 18-day celebration of Celtic music and dance offers 300 events and should not be missed. The Glasgow International Comedy Festival in March is also highly acclaimed. The West End Festival in the vicinity of the Royal Botanic Gardens happens in June and offers an array of cultural events at 80 venues, easily accessible from any hotel near Glasgow University. This is followed by the Glasgow Jazz Festival, in July there is the popular T in the Park music event and August heralds the highly acclaimed annual Glasgow International Piping Festival and World Pipe Band Championships.
In April you can catch the Glasgow Art Fair, the Glasgow International Comedy Festival and the bi-annual Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art. Moderate temperatures and nearly 100 Glasgow gardens & parks make Spring a good time to visit. Kelvingrove Park is only a 20-minute walk from the CBD, so you may for example make use of hotel offers in Glasgow city centre and book at the modern Novotel Glasgow Centre or, if you prefer a budget B&B which is closer, try the Beersbridge Lodge Guesthouse.
There are multiple attractions in the vicinity, including the acclaimed Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries, and you may enjoy wandering along the Kelvingrove Park Heritage Trail or stocking up on woolens and whiskey in nearby Sauchiehall Street. Only London beats Glasgow in the ranks of UK shopping destinations and the Festive Season is a great time to explore the “Style Mile” or “Golden Z” (formed by Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street). Whether you prefer browsing exclusive shops at the Buchanan Galleries near Queen Street station or delight in the architecture of Princes Square, there are a number of shopping options from European-style malls to designer outlets and boutiques, all temptingly near your Glasgow city centre hotel. The indoor Barras Market near Celtic Park in the East End offers everything from carrots to collectables and is ideal for weekend shopping.
Art & culture, spices & sport - Glasgow has it all!
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra as well as the Scottish Ballet and Opera are based in Glasgow and there is a plethora of museums and art galleries including the Gallery of Modern Art and the Burrell Collection in Pollok Country Park. Lovers of art would also appreciate the many examples of architecture and Art Nouveau designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Booking a Glasgow hotel near the train station or downtown city centre will give you easy access to the majority of the tourist attractions and points of interest in the city such as Robert Adam’s Trades Hall of Glasgow which dates from 1794, the neoclassical Hutchesons’ Hall built in 1802, Gallery of Modern Art, Sharmanka Kinetic Gallery, The Lighthouse, Mitchell Library, George Square, Glasgow Cathedral. The centrally located boutique ABode Hotel has special offers on weekends and you may be tempted to splurge on gourmet French cuisine at the nearby Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or. Glasgow has also been heralded as the Curry Capital of the UK so you may wish to try Mother India in the West End or The Dhabba opposite Merchant Square.
Should you prefer a bohemian vibe and buzzing nightlife, it is recommended to check at trivago for a Glasgow hotel discount in the West End. Accommodation options cover the full spectrum from the upmarket Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor hotel to the two-star budget Lomond bed and breakfast.