While some might argue that Glasgow lacks the prestige of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, Fiona Whitting embarked on a journey to the city where she once studied, eager to showcase why it deserves as much admiration as its more renowned counterpart.
During a city walk, she encountered an American tourist who made a compelling comparison: “Edinburgh is like Disneyland everything’s geared towards the tourist. Glasgow, however there’s a real city.”
Fiona found herself in complete agreement, although she acknowledged her own partiality, having been a student in Glasgow.
She recalled: “Back then the city council had conjured up a clever branding tag Glasgow’s Miles Better aimed at boosting its image. Locals knew it was really a veiled dig at its glitzier neighbour Edinburgh.”
Caron, the guide for a tour of Glasgow’s street murals, echoed these sentiments, stating: “Glasgow is full of unique charm. And, of course, the people are amazing.”
The tour highlighted some of the remarkable artwork gracing various buildings, such as St Mungo a portrayal of Glasgow’s founder and patron, depicted with a robin perched on his finger by the prolific artist Smug.
Other notable murals include two large-scale tributes to local comedian Billy Connolly, and a piece by The Rebel Bear often referred to as Glasgow’s Banksy due to their concealed identity depicting a couple in a mid-air embrace.
This was a side of Glasgow that Fiona, despite her past ties to the city, had never experienced before.
Glasgow’s River Clyde regeneration is a shining example of the city’s transformation.
Once globally recognised for its shipbuilding industry, the decline in the 1960s left the Clyde derelict. However, recent rejuvenation efforts have seen the river banks revitalised, now bustling with leisure venues and stylish apartments.
To experience this firsthand, Fiona and her friend Beth embarked on the Clyde Ride on a RIB Boat. Fiona shared: “The trip sped us past sights like Finnieston Crane, a huge disused cantilever crane that remains a symbol of Glasgow’s engineering heritage, and the modern “squiggly bridge” a pedestrian river crossing so named because of its lazy S shape.”
After their boat ride, they visited the Riverside Museum, a tribute to transport and technology that honours Glasgow’s shipbuilding and engineering history.
The striking building, which opened its doors in 2011, was designed by renowned architect Dame Zaha Hadid, featuring a glass front and a zig-zag roof that mimics a wave.
Notable exhibits include a wall adorned with full-size cars, including a Rolls-Royce Phantom II, a cobbled street reminiscent of old Glasgow, and the Clyde-built tall ship Glenlee moored outside.
Following their exploration, the duo enjoyed a meal at the Prancing Stag, a hidden gem offering delicious food, welcoming staff, and a refreshingly down-to-earth atmosphere.
Fiona shared her culinary experiences, saying: “Menus were based around seasonal Scottish produce, with starters like west coast fish, crab and sweetcorn cakes, smoked salmon with smoked trout rillettes, and Loch Fyne scallop with pea and ham hough (the Scots equivalent of hock) pancake. Mains included saddle of Cairngorm roe deer and fillet of red gurnard with langoustine and caviar in a shellfish bisque. Believe me, they all tasted as good as they sound.”
The duo lodged at the centrally located Radisson Blu, conveniently near Central Station where they had arrived by train. Fiona noted: “The journey takes just four-and-a-half hours from London and two hours 20 from Preston where Beth had joined me with services every hour. It certainly beat driving.”
Both having studied in Glasgow, Beth and Fiona took the opportunity to revisit the West End, home to the University of Glasgow. Fiona remarked: “The Gothic buildings of the university itself said to be the inspiration for Hogwarts remained impressive, while newly transformed Finnieston proved to be a new gem. Once run-down, it’s now home to art and craft studios, cafes and Dockyard Social, a cool street food market where we tucked into baked mackerel with potato salad, chicken bao buns and watermelon daiquiris”.
Back in the city centre, the pair continued their gastronomic adventure with more delightful Scottish fare.
At the chic Table Twenty Eight in Merchants Square mall, we engaged in friendly banter with the staff while savouring plump Shetland mussels in a tantalising cider and sriracha broth, and pan-fried salmon in a smooth Mangalore curry sauce accompanied by black mustard and curry leaf potatoes.
Meanwhile, at Maison by Glaschu, an elegant French brasserie located in Princes Square, I indulged in the largest portion of seared tuna I’ve ever seen on a salad nicoise, while Beth enjoyed fresh tagliatelle in a chicken and butter sauce. The shellfish tempura was also a hit.
“Having sampled both the new and the traditional, we can confidently say that Glasgow’s culinary scene is a delight. Who says you can’t revisit old favourites? “.
Plan your trip.
Avanti West Coast offers fares from London Euston to Glasgow starting at £33 one way; fares from Preston start at £12.50. Visit avantiwestcoast.co.uk for more information.
Accommodation at the Radisson Blu hotel in Glasgow starts at £126 per night for bed and breakfast. For bookings, visit radissonhotels.com.
For additional information, check out visitscotland.com and visitglasgow.com.