Facts about Glasgow

For nearly two centuries, Glasgow has been at the centre of global trade. After all, this was a time when tobacco ruled over Britain and half of that empire’s imports came through Glasgow.
​
Glasgow's underground railway system is the only one in Scotland, and it opened its doors to commuters back in 1894. It was built on a creative whim by engineers who wanted their kids' school near them at all times. They designed an elaborate plan that allowed for just such convenience. But what they ended up with was something much more exciting than anticipated! The trains are painted orange because of this whimsical origin story. Engineers had originally chosen blue as the colour of choice for these speedy little carts which would carry children around town. This was until someone pointed out how starkly different (and less desirable) bright purple looked against Glasgow’s cloudy skies so close to Christmas Eve.

Glasgow is a massive football city. It is home to the three largest football stadiums in Scotland: Celtic Park (Celtic), Ibrox (Rangers) and the national stadium, Hampden Park. Scottish Football League clubs Partick Thistle and Queens Park are also based in the city. You will be hard pressed to find another city with the passion for football that Glasgow has.

Glasgow is indeed a football city. It’s the home to three of the biggest football stadiums in Scotland. Ibrox that homes Rangers, Celtic park that hosts Celtic and the national stadium which is Hampden park. Also you have Partick Thistle and Queens park that are located within the city of Glasgow. History confirms that the first team from Glasgow was formed around 150 years ago by the pupils of St Patrick’s school that were after an after school venture that would provide good exercise and keep them from roaming the streets with nothing to do!

The first international football match to take place in the world was between England and Scotland on November 30, 1872. The game ended with a score of 0-0 but is still heralded as one of history's most important sporting events.
John Logie Baird, inventor of the television and a native Scot living in England, had been working on his invention for over 10 years when he made history with transmitting an image to a screen. This Glasgow engineer never stopped innovating until inventing what we now know as one of society’s great luxuries: TV!

Though not the oldest civic square in Glasgow, George Square is definitely one of the most popular. The City Chambers are located on its east side and a Merchant's House lies at its western edge. It was given this name to honor King George III but it wasn't developed for another twenty years after that initial decision until 1883 when construction began with laying foundation stones. All sorts of architecture can be seen around here like buildings from Victorian times as well as more modern structures such as BBC Scotland (it shares space with SSE Scottish Hydro).
The Glasgow Botanic Gardens is a lush and lively place to spend an afternoon. There are many sections that house plants from all over the world including tropical rainforests, Mediterranean forests, cactus gardens and more! Visitors can also enjoy walking along one of their riverside walks or taking in some culture at Kibble Palace which houses the national collection of tree ferns amongst other things.

What is Glasgow famous for

Glasgow is a city that has been shaped by its people and their passions. It's easy to see this in the architecture, with Gothic buildings from centuries ago standing across the street from new modern structures. There are plenty of parks where you can stroll through fields or along rivers, discovering Glasgow as it was years past and imagining what will come next for Scotland’s largest city!
Glasgow sits on both banks of River Clyde which bounds about half its boundary line. The river divides many neighbourhoods within Glasgow such as Queen Street, Dalmarnock and Cambuslang.

Architecture

Glasgow is a wonderful city of architecture. It's the second most populous in Scotland and has been called "the Second City of the Empire. The history of Glasgow can be traced back to Roman times, but its modern-day identity was shaped by a series of significant events that happened in the 18th century. We will attempt to highlight some of Glasgow’s most famous buildings, which have attracted tourists from all over the world. 

Glasgow is a city that has the perfect atmosphere to get you exploring. Things don't have to be complicated or hard, as there are so many things for people of all ages and interests! From beautiful Victorian architecture and art nouveau buildings along with modern designs, Glasgow will keep your curious mind entertained throughout your journey.

Glasgow Cathedral is one of the most beautiful examples of gothic architecture in Scotland. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, it's jaw-dropping beauty is matched by its history as St Mungo founded Glasgow here.

Famous for its distinctive red sandstone and striking facade, the Glasgow School of Art is one of Scotland's most iconic buildings. It was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1897, with a second phase completed ten years later. The building remains an important centre for architecture today but is also open to the public as a museum and art gallery

The Kelvingrove Museum is a museum and art gallery located in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland. The building was originally designed as an exhibition hall for the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1893, but it has since been converted into one of Glasgow's main attractions. The museum houses over 100,000 objects, spanning from ancient Egyptian artefacts to contemporary art installations.

Glasgow City Parks and Woodlands are a set of nature reserves in the city. Glasgow City Council owns this area, which is managed by their parks department. The total size is around 18 hectares (44 acres). These include: Bellahouston Park, Calderglen Country Park, Drumchapel Woods, Firhill Stadium and Hampden Park. These tree lined inner city parks are a indeed a credit to the park keepers and tree surgeons that look after and maintain them throughout all the seasons.

Shopping in Glasgow

Glasgow is a shoppers paradise, with the city catering for all tastes and budgets. From vintage wares to designer gear. You will find it all in Glasgow! The majority of stores can be found on Style Mile where an extraordinary concentration of shops make their home. Here you'll find leading individual stores as well as shopping centres and premier department stores. Glasgow is a city bursting at the seams with creativity, style and entrepreneurial spirit. It's no surprise that it has attracted so many designers from around the world! You can find some of these international fashion brands in Glasgow boutiques which specialise in Scottish-designed clothes, or Textile Traders who stock materials, ready-to-make garments that are specially made to order to your exact requirements.

History of Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and has been a hub of transatlantic trade for centuries. It played an important role during the industrial revolution, being one of few cities to be industrialised at that time with cotton mills, shipyards and coal mines fuelling its economic growth. Glasgow was considered part of Britain’s second-city following this period which extended through much if not all Victorian times into Edwardian history when it became known as ‘the workshop town’ due to its leading position among British industries.
The River Clyde in Glasgow has made the city its centre of shipbuilding since it was first navigated by European explorers 500 years ago. For centuries, thousands of ships have been built here including vessels as large and legendary as The Titanic!

In a time when steam power ruled over sailboats for travel across oceans, no other location had more experience building such huge sailing crafts than Glasgow-the home to Scotland's largest inland waterway and birthplace of one the most famous seafaring disasters ever seen at sea.
Glasgow is known as the second city of Britain, after London. Glasgow's industrial past created a third of its jobs in industries such as glass-making and textiles during 18th century times; it was once one of the most powerful cities on earth because people flocked to make their fortune here.

Back to Home page​