Perched on the River Clyde, Glasgow\u2019s status as a major port city during the Victorian age gave it sufficient wealth to fund handsome, lavish architecture \u2013 all of it still intact and making it a very attractive city for those on a weekend break.<\/p>\n
Acquaint yourself with Glasgow\u2019s most celebrated artist, architect and designer:<\/h5>\n
A short break in Glasgow<\/span><\/a> could be planned solely around the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The hugely influential and much-loved architect designed some of Glasgow\u2019s most interesting modernist buildings \u2013 from major structures like the Glasgow School of Art (its famous library, tragically damaged in a fire in 2015, is currently undergoing a process of painstaking reconstruction) to the Willow Tearooms, with a distinct Art Deco aesthetic. To learn more about Mackintosh himself, you can visit the Hunterian Museum to see the artist\u2019s Glasgow home, painstakingly restored and reconstructed on site with original interiors and furniture designed to illustrate his distinctive style (and give you major wallpaper envy).<\/p>\n The Gallery of Modern Art is a stately building in the town centre, with grand pillars in the neoclassical style \u2013 it\u2019s hard to believe that it was built in 1778 as a home for a wealthy tobacconist. Nowadays, it\u2019s Scotland\u2019s most visited art gallery, and includes work from Warhol and Hockney. As an interesting aside, you may notice the statue of the Duke of Wellington in front of the museum is wearing a traffic cone. This is not unusual \u2013 the local council long ago gave up removing the cone repeatedly placed on the Duke\u2019s head by unidentified Glaswegians. During the 2012 Olympics, he even wore a gold version in recognition of Team GB\u2019s medal haul.<\/p>\n There are lots of ways to take advantage of Glasgow\u2019s riverside location. If you have kids with you, it\u2019s fun to board The Glenlee \u2013 one of only five Clydebuilt sailing ships to survive. Visitors can explore the boat, sit in the captain\u2019s cabin, chat to costumed shipmates and dine on board. It\u2019s a short walk to the Riverside Museum from the Glenlee, where you can learn about the history of Glasgow through a range of interactive exhibits. Alternatively, you can board a boat that actually leaves the port in the world\u2019s last sea-going paddle steamer, a fabulous Glasgow day out. The Waverley is a lovely old sea craft with steaming funnels, timber decks and handsome observation decks. You can board for an afternoon or an evening cruise, heading out to the nearby Lochs and islands of outstanding natural beauty, and see Glasgow from the vantage point of the Clyde.<\/p>\n Purses at the ready \u2013 Glasgow is home to more than 1,500 shops. 200 of the finest stores are located on the style mile \u2013 the stretch of high street around Buchanan St, Argyle St and Merchant City. The west end of the city has a quirkier offering, with plenty of second hand shops and vintage boutiques to satisfy the city\u2019s large student and bohemian population.<\/p>\n Thirsty? Why not head to one of Glasgow\u2019s more idiosyncratic attractions? The Templeton Building was constructed in 1892 to house a carpet factory, but was designed to resemble Doge\u2019s Palace in Venice in order to placate neighbours who objected to having an ugly factory in their view. It\u2019s an unusual piece of architecture, and it\u2019s not to everyone\u2019s taste, but it remains a Glasgow landmark. And it\u2019s even more worth a visit now thanks to its most recent tenant \u2013 the WEST Brewery. This Bavarian style micro-brewery makes Glaswegian beer the German way, and you can learn about the company\u2019s craft at one of the brewery tours which take place daily. If your interest is in tasting, rather than learning, you can pitch up at the stylish pub\/restaurant. On a sunny day, you can dine and drink in the capacious beer garden, which has a great view of Glasgow Green and the People\u2019s Palace \u2013 a museum with a spectacular glass outhouse.<\/p>\n The Glasgow Necropolis is a Victorian cemetery housing the tombs of 50,000 Glaswegians of a variety of creeds and faiths. It\u2019s actually a rather beautiful place to walk \u2013 set over 37 acres, perched on a hill overlooking the city, and filled with more than 3000 monuments. Some have been designed by Glasgow\u2019s foremost artists and sculptors \u2013 including Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who fashioned a Celtic Cross in his distinctive dDeco style for the grave of his friend, Andrew McCall. The Necropolis was based on the P\u00e8re Lachaise cemetery in Paris, and has a tranquil, almost fairytale feel. You can take an official guided tour to uncover its many secrets, or just set aside an hour or two to wander around this strangely charming spot.<\/p>\n This Scottish city has plenty to offer – from art and culture, to shopping and food, so take a look at our hotels in GlasgowSee Warhol and Hockney at the GOMA<\/h5>\n
Set sail on an old steamer<\/h5>\n
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<\/p>\nHit the style mile<\/h5>\n
Go west for a beer brewed the Glaswegian way<\/h5>\n
Visit Glasgow\u2019s dearly departed<\/h5>\n