A Weekend in Glasgow

Glasgow is a city that you can fall in love with on a weekend trip. Whether it is a group trip or a couples getaway there is something for everyone.

This relatively compact city manages to blend grit and glamor, utilizing its industrial heritage to inspire creativity in art and design. While visiting you'll be struck by the remarkable Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture that lines the streets, from the gilded magnificence of the City Chambers to the innovative designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Some Must-Sees While in Glasgow Are:

The Kelvingrove Art Museum

Housed in a stunning red sandstone building on the west end of Glasgow, The Kelvingrove has one of the finest civic art collections in Europe spanning everything from medieval artifacts to renowned European artworks by masters like Rembrandt and Salvador Dali. Highlights include Salvador Dali's Christ of St John of the Cross, the iconic Scottish Galleries and the eclectic displays like the Boyds medieval Scottish artifacts.

Mackintosh at the Willow

If you want to have a unique lunch experience and immerse yourself in the world of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh, the legendary pair of Scottish architects, designers and artists who helped shape the Glasgow Style then a formal tea at Mackintosh at the Willow is a must. Opened in 1904, by the legendary Glaswegian Miss Cranston, the renovated tea rooms feature Mackintosh's signature high-backed chairs, detailed furniture and geometric rose designs. It has been meticulously restored as an authentic tea room where you can enjoy traditional afternoon tea service while surrounded by his influential style. I highly recommend the champagne tea. Word of caution: don't eat beforehand.

Glasgow Street Art

Glasgow has emerged as one of the United Kingdoms most exciting street art hubs, with kaleidoscopic murals brightening up lanes and buildings across the city. From the Saltmarket and City Center Lane to the East End's COVID Streets, Glasgow's once-drab industrial urban spaces have become massive canvases for local and international artists. Guided walking tours allow visitors to discover these ever-evolving outdoor galleries, decoding the artistic inspiration and social commentary behind large-scale murals by renowned artists like Smug, Rogue-One and Klingatron. Bold, whimsical designs depict images ranging from mythical beasts and Mexican skull art to thought-provoking messages about mental health and social justice. Glasgow's street art scene adds a brilliant splash of color and urban cool, transforming the city's grittier corners into avant-garde spaces for public artistic expression.

West End Shopping

The West End of Glasgow is a shopper's paradise, brimming with independent boutiques, vintage stores and hip shopping districts. Running through the heart of the area is the iconic Byres Road and Ashton Lane. These cobblestoned streets are lined with an eclectic mix of retailers selling everything from vintage clothing to artisanal food and drink.

Byres Road is fantastic for browsing quirky boutiques like Relics, which specializes in retro furniture and accessories. You'll also find a cluster of charity shops perfect for hunting down secondhand gems. Ashton Lane is a bohemian hotspot filled with vintage havens like the Lost Glasgow shop selling nostalgic Scottish memorabilia.

For books, records, and music lovers, the West End is nirvana. Browse wall-to-wall vinyl at indie record shops like Monorail Music or get lost in the seemingly endless shelves of Voltaire & Rousseau's bookstore.

With its lively street performers and tucked-away cafés, wandering the West End's walkable stretches makes for an atmospheric, one-of-a-kind shopping experience immersed in local culture.

Day Trips:

Glasgow is a great base for day trips, either self-drive or guided.

If driving on the other side of the road is not your thing - not to worry - several tour companies based in Glasgow offer immersive day trips in a small group setting, typically with a maximum of 16 passengers per van or mini-coach. These guided tours are an excellent way to explore the stunning natural beauty and rich history of the Scottish Highlands without the hassle of self-driving.

For first-time visitors or seasoned Scotland enthusiasts alike, a day trip to the Highlands is an absolute must. No journey to Scotland is truly complete without venturing out to iconic destinations like the brooding valleys of Glencoe, the legendary Loch Ness or the arresting Grampian Mountains. These fully-narrated tours not only take the stress of driving and navigation away, but also provide fascinating historical and naturalist commentary from knowledgeable guides as you travel through the awe-inspiring landscapes.

Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to spot ancient castles perched atop crags, admire sweeping vistas of heather-clad moors and mirror-like lochs and perhaps even catch a glimpse of iconic Scottish wildlife such as red deer or golden eagles. With comfortable transportation, plenty of photo stops and the enriching insights of your guide, these small group tours offer an unparalleled way to immerse yourself in the magic of the Scottish Highlands and of course not have to drive.

In addition to the guided tours if you are seeking an extra dash of adventure, you can venture out for the day and engage in other more specialized experiences such as falconry, fly fishing with a local ghillie or adrenaline-fueled off-road drives through the rugged terrain with Land Rover vehicles.

All of these activities are just a short drive away from the city which makes Glasgow a perfect base for getting out into nature and into the highlands.

Scotland is quickly becoming a foodie destination. Seriously. Scotland has 12 Michelin-starred restaurants throughout the country, and two of them are in Glasgow. Cail Bruich acquired its star in 2021, and it was joined in 2022 by UNALOME by Graeme Cheevers. Both of these restaurants focus on Scottish and British produce and offer seasonally changing menus. Cail Bruich is headed up by the only female Michelin-starred chef in Scotland. UNALOME was awarded their Michelin star only eight months after opening. Cheevers takes a sustainable farm-to-table approach and also focuses on locally sourced goods.

You don't have to dine at a Michelin restaurant, though, to get memorable meals in Glasgow. Glasgow's West End is home to some truly talented chefs that craft both Scottish and international cuisines at very reasonable prices. Some of my favorites are:

• The Bothy Glasgow

• The Ubiquitous Chip

• Number 16

Not to be outdone by the food, though, are the pubs in Scotland, and starting off this list is one for whisky lovers.

The Pot Still: The Pot Still is home to some 800 whiskies. The Pot Still's staff has a strong knowledge of all things whisky, and because of that, you can do private guided tastings here. All you need to do is reach out via email and provide the amount you would like to spend per tasting and the style of whisky you like, and from there, they will curate a guided flight for you and any others that would like to participate. I take people here as one of the first activities on a trip to Scotland so that people can find a style of whisky they like to enjoy throughout their trip. The Pot Still has turned many a non-whisky drinker into a whisky lover.

If you are up for a bit of activity and ambiance then you should head to Ashton Lane in the West End and check out The Wee Pub at the Chip. It truly is wee on size but big on ambiance. Nestled on a cobblestone street in the West End, you can pop in here on a rainy evening and warm up with a craft cocktail or a wee dram.

Looking for live music? Then head to Jinty McGuinty’s - yes it is an Irish pub in Glasgow. This is a local favorite and should not be missed. It is only a few steps away from The Wee Pub at the Chip, so why not start at Jinty’s and end the The Wee Pub?

A perfect night out for me in the West End is grabbing some Cullen Skink at The Bothy before heading over to Jinty’s for some music, followed by capping off the night with a drink at The Wee Pub at the Chip.