Article Surfing Archive

When you think of a 'classic' holiday, what type of setting do you envision? Do you picture yourself lounging on a beach, relaxing in a seaside town, or perhaps partaking in an array of adventurous activities? There are countless 'classic' holidays out there - and ranking high among them is undoubtedly the cultural city tour.

City tours are spectacular, simply because they encompass so much; whether you'd like to stroll through grandiose galleries, shop in stylish districts, or experience thrilling nightlife, a city is the place to be. What's more, cultural city tours are ideal for weekend-mini-breaks as well as extended getaways - so anyone can partake in the excitement, no matter how busy they may be. But any major city will offer shopping, theatre, nightlife and cultural activity; so what makes a city stand out in these particular categories? Head to Glasgow, and you'll find out.

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, as well as one of the UK's top tourist destinations. And while it has a wealth of cultural attractions and activities to offer any visitor, it holds much more: Glasgow is well-known for its distinctive energy, unique style and unparalleled character - so it's no surprise that the city attracts over 3 million tourists each year.

Glasgow's centre boasts some of the city's most prominent cultural venues; the art enthusiast will enjoy exploring the Gallery of Modern Art and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, while the theatre-goer can catch spectacular shows at the Kings Theatre, the Citizen's Theatre, or the Theatre Royal - which is also home to the Scottish Opera and the Scottish Ballet.

Other must-see attractions in the city include the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow University and Cineworld, the tallest cinema in the world. Glasgow is also home to the Mitchell Library, which is the largest reference library in Europe, with over 1,213,000 volumes.

In addition, Glasgow hosts countless exhibitions and festivals; but unlike Edinburgh, which primarily holds its festivals during the month of August, Glasgow's festivals stretch throughout the year. The most renowned festivals include the Glasgow Jazz Festival, the Glasgow Film Festival, the Glasgow Comedy Festival, and the West End Festival. Between October and November every year, Glasgow also hosts Glasgay!, the UK's largest multi-art gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender festival.

Glasgow is also one of the world's top shopping destinations, with stores that will satisfy every fashionista. The most popular areas for shopping are Argyle Street, Sauchiehall Street, and Buchanan Street - known as the 'Golden Z,' due to the two-and-a-half mile 'z'-shaped layout of these streets; and, if you don't find what you're looking for here, the West end is sure to impress with its array of chic boutiques. Prince's Square and the Italian Centre are also popular areas for high-street retail shopping.

If you're impressed by all that Glasgow has to offer during the day, you'll love what it has to show by night. Glasgow's night life is certainly something to talk about, with numerous bustling hubs packed with restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs; from the West End and Merchant City, to Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street and Prince's Square, anyone up for a night out on the town is guaranteed a good time.

With Glasgow Airport located just twenty-five minutes from the city centre, it's convenient to fly in; and with 265 flights arriving daily, you'll have no trouble finding a flight to Glasgow, whatever your location may be. So for your next holiday, choose to go somewhere spectacular; choose to travel to the city of Glasgow.