Department
Glasgow
home | destinations | uk | glasgow
Information
About Glasgow
Glasgow has seen more changes in the past two decades
than almost any other British city. From a declining
industrial centre with widespread pessimism about its
future, Glasgow has been transformed into a forward-
looking city and one of the hippest spots in Europe.
There has always been an enormous sense of pride in
the city‘s history, the long list of inventors, engineers,
writers and architects of the 19th and 20th centuries
were part of the driving force of industrialisation,
tamed by socially progressive values in the “second city”
of the British Empire.
With ports on the Clyde giving access to the Irish Sea,
Glasgow was an important shipbuilding centre and well
known for massive engineering works, where the locomotives
of the nation were produced. Its former wealth can still
be seen in the classical architecture of Alexander “Greek”
Thomson and the Art Nouveau style of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
During the 19th century, the grid of the commercial centre
streets was laid out to the west of the Merchant City,
whose Palladian mansions had been commissioned by industrial
barons in the previous century. The West End, the area
surrounding the hill, on which the University of Glasgow
sits, is separated from the commercial centre by the
Kelvin River and the brooding expanse of Kelvingrove Park.
In the post-war period, the city suffered a decline and
the population halved from its peak of 1.1 million in 1939
(despite this, Glasgow is still the UK‘s fourth largest city).
Large, bleak council estates in the city suburbs, poverty
and widespread unemployment led to problems with the infamous
razor gangs and a general malaise in the city. In recent
years, Glasgow has picked up again and there seems to be
a definite spring in its step. The city is turning its
economic fortunes around, as heavy industry gives way to
21st-century technology, with call centres, financial services
and information technology. Arguably, the driving forces of
this revolution have been the cultural and artistic fields.
Scottish film, theatre, writing, music and design are all
pushing boundaries and capturing worldwide attention. The
opening of the Burrell Collection in 1983, housing an art
collection gifted by a shipping magnate, inspired the growth
of a thriving museum and gallery scene that has helped propel
Glasgow into becoming a top tourist destination.
With a world-class art gallery and several excellent museums
as a starting point, Glasgow was chosen as a European city of
culture in 1990. From this point on, the various strands of
its post-industrial economy and burgeoning cultural sector,
combined with a large student population (there are four
universities in the area and many colleges), have given the
city a youthful, progressive character. For visitors that tire
of the city‘s delights, Glasgow offers easy access to some of
Scotland‘s beautiful mountains, glens, lochs and unspoilt coastline.
Loch Lomond, for instance, is only 32km (20 miles) away.
The city‘s northern latitude means that although summer days
are long and light, the weather tends to be unpredictable
throughout the year and can be particularly cold and wet in winter.
Confused?
For advice and information on hundreds of destinations, special offers and discounted airlines simply browse our site..
If you need help organising the rest of your trip, try out some of the links below.
car hire
travel insurance
airport parking
airport hotels
© Cheap Flights - Sitemap
