How to while away 24 hours in Glasgow?
 

One for our Scottish Clan I think......
Travel plans next spring mean that we (SWMBO and I) will probably arrive at Glasgow Airport on a Monday afternoon (with a fair bit of luggage) and stay overnight at one of the easily accessed airport hotels.
The next day we will have until about 3pm to while away until we have to connect with our ongoing surface travel arrangements, in the airport concourse. We will be eating very well that Tuesday evening so a posh lunch would be a waste.

What would people recommend to pass the time (evening and morning); we obviously don't want to lug our cases around with us?
Happy to use fast, reliable public transport to travel somewhere nearby and interesting for food, culture etc. :cool:

Ask the hotel to store your luggage for a few hour and jump into a taxi for a 15 minute ride to this

Looks interesting, thanks. +++
Just booked our flights, will now be arriving just before 5pm on the Monday. Decided to "lounge around" at Heathrow T5 and have lunch/drinks in the business class lounge there before catching the 3:10pm Airbus to Glesga.

Airport hotel was the first choice, but maybe one in town might be better, any recommendations? We don't have to be back on the airport (with bags) until 2:30pm/3pm Tuesday. Or we can go to Glasgow Central station at a similar time.

Last year we stayed here. Funky, friendly and right in the very centre. And surprisingly low priced.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...hotel-glasgow/

We booked a hop on, hop off tour bus that took us to most of the museums, galleries and sights. Can't recall which company but there's a good selection to choose from

Update: After careful thought we've decide a city centre hotel would be a better choice as we have the option of ongoing travel connections at the Central Station.
This looks very convenient: https://www.phcompany.com/principal/...central-hotel/

Thanks Nick, the Z hotel looks fun, but probably more for a short city break than an overnighter "in transit".

10 out of 10 for the hotel !

Welcome to the city of culture!
For a cultural tour I would suggest:
1. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery andMuseum for paintings, (they have the Salvador Dali painting "Christ of St John on the Cross" which even as an unbeliever, is truly stunning in the flesh; the "Glasgow Boys" and many outstanding others) plus lots of other museum type stuff - Spitfire, Dinosaurs! (some stuff loaned from the Burrel Collection whilst the latter is undergoing refurb).
2. The Hunterian Art Gallery and Museum (right in city centre) house collections of, amongst other things, CR Mackintosh work. (see The Macintosh House).
3. Gallery of Modern Art (what it says on the tin).
4. The Peoples Palace - collection of objects, photos etc of how Glaswegians lived, worked and played. (Billy Connolly's big Banana Boots included!)
4. The Riverside Museum is worth a visit (used to be the Transport Museum) but has been subject to modern practice of arranging things for people with ADHD. i.e. there is no theme such that you could follow through the development of the railway locomotive or ship building industry in Glasgow. Stuff is just presented out of any context alongside other random stuff. The "Glenlee" ( a large barque) is good.

Take tea in the Willow Tea Rooms in city centre (aka Miss Cranstons tea room) - all things CR Macintosh.

Some good pubs and restaurants in the Merchant City - too many to list.

+++ If you are after other recommends just ask

Thanks David, a good list there. +++

We're only passing through so will have Monday evening and Tuesday morning/lunchtime up to about 1pm. What would you prioritise?

I'd guess most "cultural" venues will be closed in the evening anyway, especially on a Monday, but maybe pub/restaurant/club/theatre?

Which one and why?

Well, on the evening you can check out whats on at the Concert Hall (dont know what dates you are thinking of here - Celtic Connections 18th Jan - 4th Feb) (nothing to do with fitba' :)). Or look at the multiplex Cineworld Cinema (both the Concert Hall and cinema at the top of Buchanan St). Or saunter in Merchant's City for a meal/drink (dont know enough to recommend anywhere particular).
Tuesday, I would say the Kelvingrove (take the tube aka "the clockwork Orange" or the Hunterian - a (fair) walk away from the hotel/Central station.
+++

My tuppence worth to add to the already excellent list/suggestions above (as a native, ex-pat, and more-than-regular visitor/tourist...).

Firstly, I think Miss Cranston's is currently closed for refurbishment (or was a few weeks ago..). An alternative MacIntosh fix (as his Art School is also closed to visitors, post-fire) would be the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park - excellent tours, but a bit out of the way if you're not in a car - I think Ibrox is the closest tube station, from memory.

You said "Spring" so I think you'll be arriving after Celtic Connections (as mentioned by David...) is on, but if not, then here's the link to the festival programme - http://www.celticconnections.com/eve...s/default.aspx (I've just booked for several of these!)

As you're only there overnight for one night, I'd suggest you consider stopping in the West End, rather than the city centre ('cos you might not do the latter justice in one night...) That would give you access to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the Hunterian, both of which - as mentioned - are excellent.

There's also lots of other stuff to do in the West End, with good restaurants and local pubs, etc. For example at Oran Mor - a converted church: https://oran-mor.co.uk - you can eat in the restaurant, drink in the excellent bar, listen to live music, or possibly do their "Play, Pie, and a Pint" for a tenner. Other similar venues within walking distance of Byres Road - the West End hub road - are Cottiers (also restaurant/bar/music venue) or Websters (same).

Whilst in the West End, you've also got the excellent Ashton Lane, full of excellent restaurants (The Ubiquitous Chip is highly rated, and has attached bars, including a (heated!) rooftop one, though my favourite in the Hanoi Bike Shop - https://hanoibikeshop.co.uk) and loads of very good bars (not rough!), which are very popular with students and academics/arty types, and and arty cinema too. Slightly further away, but only a £5 taxi ride, there's a further large choice of very good restaurants in Finnieston.

If you do decide on the West End, I'd recommend the Heritage Hotel, a very good value, friendly and cosy townhouse-style hotel. No frills, but excellent staff and very comfortable and less than 5 minutes from most of the above. Oran Mor has also opened a similar hotel on the same block, The Alfred, but I'm not sure what that's like, as I've not stayed there.

Thanks Stephen; all looks very accessible via The Clockwork Orange as long as we choose an accessible hotel.

Only one hotel in the West End... Click

If you decide on the city centre the Horseshoe Bar in Drury Street is a good choice for some Glesca banter Click

Stephen is right - the west end and Byers road/Oran Mor/Ashton Lane is a great area. The Ubiquitous Chip can be a tad expensive but if its a special occasion then its worth it.

Too much choice!!+++

If we stay where I'm hoping to that will be just a few yards away! ;)

1 minutes walk there and depending on how much you consume it could take 2 hours to walk back :ROFL:

If you're a fan of Gin, then Gin71 is a few minutes walk up the road on Renfield St.

The Amber Regent is a particularly fine Oriental Restaurant which is nearby, or the Ho Wong about 5 minutes walk away.

Another suggestion.
Stay here, early start for this then hire this for an hour +++

I'm not a golfer, but the seaplane appeals! +++

City Centre it is, staying in the Grand Central at the station. Decided not to pre-book breakfast, might try the Willow tearoom (if open) or the Horseshoe Bar?


Nearer the time, and when I know the weather forecast I'll seek more thoughts. :cool:

Not the best choice last night! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...-west-42392459
Edit: When I first saw and posted this it was just reported as a fire, now sadly much worse.

Saw the mess in the news at 6:00, a proper disaster indeed in which two people sadly died

I've had a few near misses over the years that have resulted in places where I will never stay in again.
The hotel that the Concorde destroyed near Paris is one example.
Now this mornings horrendous fire.
Can't help but feel for the hotel guests and staff.

How time flies! Arriving in Glasgow around 5pm next Monday!

I'm guessing taxi is the easiest way to get to the centre of town from the airport?

We've got till about 3pm on Tuesday to entertain ourselves. Weather looks to be dry but cloudy and only about 5C or 6C, but we will be equipped for that.

The shuttle bus (No 500) is perfectly OK and drops off at St Vincent Street, George Square, and Buchanan St Bus station. Its got wifi too. +++

I agree with that and, even though I'm a Glaswegian (sort of...), even I'd admit that Glesga' cabbies aren't the best in the world - better than Dublin ones, worse than NYC ones, and about on a par with London ones. I'd get the 500 bus too.

Another vote for the bus, if only to avoid the "Airport Premium" addition that airport taxis apply to the already extortionate price+++

Our hotel reckons the bus fare is £8 each and a taxi should be about £20.
We will have quite heavy baggage and the bus stop is about a couple of blocks away, so the taxi may win. ;)

I've always found Dublin cabbies to be fine, though to be fair I don't think I've ever had one that was a native Irishman....

Taxi estimate seems on the low side Andrew, particularly when I see you get into Glasgow around 5.00pm when the M8 traffic will be heavy (not as bad as London motorways at that time though;) ) , we live on the other side of the Clyde from the Airport, about a 15 -20 min journey and even in a prebooked private hire taxi it costs us around £25, so we normally use one of the off airport parking facilities+++

Just asked a mate who's a hackney driver and he says the fare should be no more than £22 plus £2 airport pick up charge

Thanks. +++

Don’t be blaming me if the robbing airport taxi driver charges more...:eek2::eek2:

Of course not, but it sort of tallies with what the hotel said. :cool:

The white taxis as you walk out the arrivals cost a fortune usually. You can book an when you get your bags, and they'll usually be about 10-15 minutes and get you in the pick up zone across the road.

What about Uber? They seem to be operational in Glasgow, or are they excluded from the airport?

Just a little update, we took a white cab from the airport with needing to wait/queue, price pretty much as advertised, maybe a couple of quid more. The driver did a good job of negotiating the rush-hour afternoon traffic, ducking and diving on and off the motorway.

Also took an Uber the next day to get back from Kelvingrove (we walked there on a bright cold morning and stayed for the lunchtime organ recital) for a light lunch in the Mussel Inn. It was as good as its Edinburgh sister which we've tried more than once.

Plus we managed drinks and a snack in the infamous HorseShoe bar, chips from the Blue Lagoon (WITHOUT the advertised deep-fried Mars bar!) and breakfast in the Willow Tea Rooms (Buchanan Street) rather than the hotel, plus a lot of walking around.

Glad you enjoyed the great city of Glasgow.+++

We did, but it does rather overplay the CRM connection. Not sure I could tolerate that for much more than the (slightly less than) 24 hours we had. :tuttut:

Spoken like a true sassanach!

Glasgow obviously has much more to offer than the Charles Rennie Mackintosh legacy, but you're hard-pressed to find it in a short visit. :Confused:

Eh? I'm more than a bit confused by the "overplays the connection" comment. Mackintosh's School of Art was voted Britain's favourite building of the past 175 years (RIBA Journal in 2009), and there are more than half a dozen key MackIntosh buildings in Glasgow (all of which are internationally regarded as exceptional...see here for the list, plus more related stuff: http://visit-glasgow.info/culture/to...ie-mackintosh/ ). Maybe understandable if you were only there less than a day - or were you just turned off by the fake Mac tourist tat in the tearooms?

You probably missed practically all of the rest of what Glasgow had to offer in such a short visit - you'll just have to go back for longer next time +++