Glasgow is a truly cosmopolitan city literally brimming over with art, culture and vibrant life. It is said to have the best shopping facilities in Britain outside London, and an exciting nightlife that caters for all tastes.
Many buildings there have reminders of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who is Scotland’s best known architect and designer. He is most famous for being part of the Arts and Crafts movement and was a great influence on early Art Nouveau.
The shopping in Glasgow is excellent and there are a whole range of outlets including designer clothing shops and several department stores. The cafe culture is very much in evidence around the Italian Centre and Merchant Square.
Glasgow museums are a must if you are visiting the city. The total of 13 museums house the largest collection in Europe. Sir Roger the Elephant, an Indian elephant, is still one of the most popular exhibits at the Kelvin Grove Museum. The elephant came to Glasgow with a travelling menagerie in 1900 and was shot when a hormonal deficiency made him unmanageable. Rembrandt’s ‘Man in armour’, medieval tapestry and even a 1950’s tram are included in the collection.
The Burrell Collection houses over 9000 pieces, and is the largest collection ever built up by a single person. This was given to the City of Glasgow by Sir William Burrell and it contains works of art including paintings by Cezanne and Degas, Rodin and Epstein, as well as ancient Roman, Chinese and medieval pieces.
There’s no doubt about it, Glasgow is a real treasure trove for art enthusiasts.