of the ancient celtic kingdom’
has seen more changes in the past twenty years than almost any other
British city. From a declining industrial centre with pessimism
about its future, Glasgow has been transformed into a forward-looking
city and one of the hippest cities in Europe. There has always been
an enormous sense of pride in the Glasgow’s history –
the list of inventors, engineers, writers and architects of the
19th and 20th centuries were part of the driving force of industrialisation,
tamed by progressive values in the ‘second city’ of
the British Kingdom.
With ports on the Clyde providing access to the
Irish Sea, Glasgow was an important shipbuilding centre and well
known for large engineering works, where the locomotives of the
nation were produced. Its former wealth can still be seen in the
architecture of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson
and the Art Nouveau style of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
During the 19th century, the grid of the centre streets was laid
out to the west of the Merchant City, whose mansions had been commissioned
by industrial barons in the previous century. The West End –
the area surrounding the hill, where the University of Glasgow sits
– is separated from the commercial centre by the Kelvin
River and the expanse of Kelvingrove Park.
In the post-war period, the city suffered a decline and the population
halved from its peak of 1.1 million in 1939. Bleak council estates
in the city suburbs, poverty and widespread unemployment led to
problems with the razor gangs and a general malaise in the city.
In recent years, Glasgow has picked up and there seems to be a spring
in its step. The city is turning its economic fortunes around, as
heavy industry gives way to technology, with call centres, financial
services and information technology. The driving forces of this
revolution have been the cultural and artistic fields. Scottish
film, writing, theatre, music and design are all pushing boundaries
and capturing worldwide attention. The opening of the Burrell
Collection in 1983 – with an art collection gifted
by a shipping magnate – inspired the growth of a thriving
museum and gallery scene that has helped push Glasgow into becoming
a top tourist destination.
With a world-class art gallery and excellent museums as a starting
point, Glasgow was chosen as a European city of culture
in 1990. From here on, the various strands of its post-industrial
economy and burgeoning cultural sector, combined with a large student
population, have given the city a youthful, progressive character.
For visitors that tire of the city’s delights, there is easy
access to some of Scotland’s beautiful mountains, glens, lochs
and unspoilt coastline. Loch Lomond, for instance,
is only 32km or 20 miles away.
The city’s northern latitude means that although summer days
are long and light, the weather can be unpredictable throughout
the year and tends to be particularly cold and wet in winter.