Anything to do in Glasgow?

[mrsimperless]

So I travel a lot for work. And now it seems I'm in Scotland. Gonna check out some museums here for sure this weekend. But anything that I have to do while I'm here? Any FOFCers?

This trip is 2 weeks, but it could easily turn into 2 years as per normal.

I love travelling buh.... I don't think I enjoy spending this much time by myself as I once did. Oh well, time to change the world or something I guess.

[Galaxy]

Get a kilt, bagpipes and some hookers?

[Sublime 2]

Check out these guys:

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[Cringer]

Scottish Premier League football game?

[Critch]

If you're in the city center and like bars, try The Horseshoe in Drury Street. Been there approximately a million years and the food is good cheap stodge. Further down near the river there's The Scotia Bar in Stockwell Street, more traditional with regular live traditional/folk music but a bit off the regular tourist trail. Out towards the west end there's Byres Road, plenty of pubs out there and they don't all suck (Tennants Bar is full of old men moaning about Partick Thistle, it's great). That's a list of what I'd do in Glasgow.

Merchant City is very close to the city center, a few good bars and restaurants and more of a studenty/yuppy crowd than the other bars I've mentioned.

You'll probably be out of luck for the SPL, the season is coming to an end so tickets would be hard to come by. Rangers aren't at home for a couple of weeks, Celtic play in an area of Glasgow that looks like beirut on a bad day and it's not easy to get to by public transport. Partick Thistle up in Maryhill are playing out a boring mid-table season in the second level, but at least there are good pubs (Munns and the Woodside) near by. Ibrox and Parkhead are devoid of good bars.

For museums there's the Burrell Collection. Some old businessman who plundered lots of crap from all over the empire, supposedly good but I've never been there. The museum and art gallery at Kelvingrove is good, havent been there for years.

Last few years the city center has changed, plenty of swanky restaurants and the like now. Personally I'd hit a Blue Lagoon fish and chip shop for a fish supper and a can of irn bru. Real Scottish nourishment.

edit to save a dola: The People's Palace at Glasgow Green is good, a social history of the people of Glasgow. And the general architecture is apparently good if you're into that sort of thing. George Square looks nice, right in the city center.

[flere-imsaho]

Seconded on the advice of the Burrell Collection, which I have been too. It's really, really neat. You'll want to take a cab/car there and back, though.

Can't really add that much more about the city in general, though. There is, of course, a ton of great hiking to be had in Scotland, and I highly recommend that if you enjoy that sort of thing. If you're going to be there for a few years, you could definitely get into that.

[st.cronin]

Drink whisky and play golf.

[Critch]

If you want to drink whisky in central glasgow, The Pot Still in Hope Street is a great pub. Plenty of choice.

Glasgow's a great place (although everybody probably thinks that about their hometown) but it's not very tourist friendly. It's not easy to walk around from attraction to attraction like Edinburgh is.

[Yossarian]

I found the Burrell Collection a bit pants to be honest.

My 'tourist tips' would be:

Kelvingrove Art Gallery (http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/index.cfm?venueid=4) and directly opposite, the Transport Museum (http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/index.cfm?venueid=7) - it sounds a bit boring but for a half hour / hour, it can be quite fun to see old carts / cars / trams / trains / busses etc.

Also, the Necropolis (http://www.glasgownecropolis.org/) can look amazing if you get a spooky evening light.

There is the Glasgow Film Theatre (http://www.gft.org.uk/) which shows independant and foreign movies.

There are also many small theatre companies in Glasgow and if you get lucky and have a good show, the intimate venues make for a really good memory: The Tron (http://www.tron.co.uk/), The Citizens Theatre (http://www.citz.co.uk/), The Arches (http://www.thearches.co.uk/),
The Ramshorn (http://www.strath.ac.uk/culture/ramshorn/), King's Theatre (http://www.theambassadors.com/kings/) )

There's also a fairly busy music scene. Wildly varying in quality but if you like live music you'll find something I'd imagine.

Um... For eats - I like low-key places like the veggie / vegan friendly Thirteenth Note (http://www.13thnote.co.uk/) - who do the best cheesecake you'll ever eat (take the strawberry topping)

I also love Pancho Villas (http://www.panchovillas.co.uk/index.php?section_id=5) for mexican food and Cafe Cossachok (http://www.cossachok.com/) for Russian (mmm pancakes).

I second the above for walks in Glasgow Green, The parks along the Kelvin River (where botanic gardens is) etc.. I wouldn't go walking in the parks late at night (unless you are looking for something in particular).

You should also read Lanark (http://www.lanark1982.co.uk/lanark.html) which is (said to be) one of the great books of the 20th Centuary - written by Glaswegian author Alasdair Gray and partially set in Glasgow.

If you like it, you may like to visit the Ubiquitous Chip (http://www.ubiquitouschip.co.uk/) which is a trendy Glasgow pub where the author (who is also an artist) painted the walls surrounding the stairs.

Gray also created an amazing murial that adorns the ceiling of Oran Mor (http://www.oran-mor.co.uk/) which is a converted church (now a venue and pub).

Also, if you're the 'go walking around town' type, you may enjoy this website: Hidden Glasgow (http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/) which details many of the city's forgotten sights.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I found the Burrell Collection a bit pants to be honest.

Is there a website where I can get a translation on what 'pants' means?

[Toddzilla]

Personally I'd hit a Blue Lagoon fish and chip shop for a fish supper and a can of irn bru.+1

[Schmidty]

You can go visit my mom and step-dad in Motherwell. I think it's only 15-20 minutes away. She'll make you some meatloaf, and watch taped episodes of Wheel of Fortune with you. It'll be a blast.

[cartman]

Trainspotting?

[Draft Dodger]

no sheep jokes?

[cartman]

no sheep jokes?

Those jokes are for Wales.

[Critch]

Trainspotting?

That's Edinburgh

no sheep jokes?

That's Aberdeen

[cartman]

That's Edinburgh


The setting was Edinburgh, but they filmed the bulk of it in Glasgow.

[MartinD]

Is there a website where I can get a translation on what 'pants' means?

'Pants' means not very good in this context (or, given the thread title, should that be no' vera guid?).

http://www.glasgowsurvival.co.uk/ might be of interest - just don't take it too seriously...

Martin