Art galleries, pubs, and walking routes: a city in Britain where you can spend a wonderful weekend
According to a new study by Village Hotels, Glasgow is considered the best place in the UK for a city break. It boasts art galleries such as the Burrell Collection, numerous excellent pubs, and access to natural wonders like Loch Lomond.
Although Glasgow is not the official capital of Scotland, it is undoubtedly the largest city. The Mirror website suggests that it's worth visiting for a weekend to have a great time.
While in the city, a visit to the Burrell Collection is recommended. The building reopened to the public a few years ago and houses one of the most impressive art collections in the country. Visitors can explore medieval treasures, including stained glass windows, weapons, armor, over 200 tapestries, and paintings by renowned French artists like Manet, Cezanne, and Degas.
The city's large Italian population has contributed to a thriving ice cream and pizza scene. Pizza Punks, a downtown restaurant, offers a modern take on pizza with a surprisingly large selection of toppings to customize your cheesy, doughy disc.
Recently, Mikaku, a restaurant serving ramen, cocktails, and izakaya, opened on Queen Street, designed to resemble downtown Tokyo. Glasgow boasts 222 five-star restaurants and two Michelin-starred establishments—Unaloma and Kail Bruch.
Despite the northerly storms from the Atlantic and occasional downpours that flood the city, Glasgow offers a nightlife comparable to only Manchester and London in the UK.
The de-industrialized parts of the city are ideal for casual warehouse parties, while there are plenty of pubs to keep you busy. A trendy student atmosphere can be found at the Stereo Cafe Bar (or The Old Hairdresser across the street). The Horseshoe Bar is the place to go for a more traditional Glasgow pub experience, with a long wooden bar that's worth a look just for its own sake. Alternatively, if you're looking for a slightly more casual but still Scottish vibe, check out The Pot Still, a whiskey pub described by one local as "pure heavy goodness."
For those who prefer the outdoors, there are dozens of hiking trails leading from the city into the hills. Loch Lomond is a short train ride away and less than 20 miles from the city center. There you can go kayaking, boating, visit a bird of prey center, and admire a number of waterfalls, as well as enjoy many other outdoor activities.
Every year, Resonance Consultancy, a tourism and real estate consultancy, publishes its ranking of the world's best cities, which it compiles based on a wide range of indicators. Last year, Glasgow was ranked second in the UK (after London), coming in at 61st place.
Now, it has been named the best place in the UK to spend a weekend by Village Hotels, which has carefully analyzed a number of major cities based on their outdoor recreation, sports tourism, food and drink, shopping, and cultural and artistic offerings. London, which perhaps has a somewhat disproportionate number of national galleries, museums, and sports stadiums, did not make the list.
The best cities for a vacation in the UK
Glasgow
Birmingham
Leeds
Manchester
Bristol
Sheffield
Nottingham
Newcastle upon Tyne
Liverpool
Norwich
Earlier, TravelWisetold you that Eurostar is launching a high-speed route from London to Amsterdam for a price of 35 pounds sterling. Starting April 4, the journey will take three hours and 41 minutes.
