Ana-Maria's Guidebook

Where you’ll be Barrhead, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom You will be perfectly situated near Barrhead Main Street (5 mins drive or 15 mins walk) which offers the hypermarket ASDA, Tesco, a great selection of unique shops, cafes, restaurants, and banks. This area is very scenic and away from the loud City life. You will be 12 mins form Silverburn Shopping Centre, Barrhead Road, Glasgow, a great selection of unique shops, cafes, restaurants and banks, 24 Hours Tesco and Petrol Station for details search Silverburn Shopping Centre. The New York Times description; “confidently Glaswegian and instinctually international” sums up Glasgow excellently. As you start approaching Glasgow City Centre, you will see the stunning Victorian buildings lining the streets of the famous grid system in the city centre which have featured in Cloud Atlas and Patrick Melrose amongst other films. George Square is a wonderful people watching spot, with charming ice rink in winter and gorgeous picnic spot in Summer. The Vatican-esque City Chambers runs free tours of its majestic marble interiors, and the grand Central Station runs a tour every morning at 10am, revealing some enchanting historical secrets. Hop on a City Sightseeing Tour or for walking fans, there is everything from Eating Tours to Music Tours running aplenty each week. Film fans will delight in Glasgow Film Theatre on quirky Rose Street, and the Mitchell Library is a beautiful landmark with a fascinating collection. Pop into Tenement House for an interesting insight into historical life in Glasgow. The Lighthouse building offers stunning city views and a free exhibition of some of Rennie Mackintosh’s finest work. With the world-renowned luxury department store House of Frasers, as well as Zara, Hamleys, Urban Outfitters, Paperchase, John Lewis and hundreds of others, you will not struggle to find places to shop. With everything from designer stores, over 60 boutique jewellery stores in Merchant City, to quirky Sloans Market at weekends and endless cuisine from around the world, Glasgow City Centre has something for everyone. For a quirky take on Italian Street food try a spaghetti wrap from Vapianos, international delights at Chakoo Bombay Cafe or go for some fining at ChaoPhraya or The Citizen. Try brunch at hidden gems like Madha or Single-End to name a couple. The nearby West End contrasts soulfully with the more commercial city centre, the bohemian spirit means thriving small local businesses and a unique collective personality. The world village vibes will ensure you’ll feel at home in no time. Byres Road and Ashton Lane are full of cute café’s and world class food just waiting to be discovered. Pop down to Brel for some delicious cheese fondue in their magically lit garden, guaranteed to make you feel you’ve stepped into a fairy-tale. Or Head to Ubiquitous Chip for some artistically served up Scottish food in their leafy courtyard, to Di Maggio’s for an authentic Italian, or to beautifully tiled Café Andaluz for some eastern eats. Try tea at the buzzing Tinderbox Café or a famous ice cream float at Nardini’s ice cream parlour. The Botanical Gardens are a breath-taking urban escape, the exotic plants and stunning Kibble Palace make an ideal picnic spot. The majestic Kelvingrove red stone building boasts a combination of art gallery and history museum, overlooking the scenic park. The Gothic style buildings of the University of Glasgow are walking distance from anywhere in the West End and the vaulted ceilings, turrets and towers evoke a Harry Potter-esque feeling. Scotland’s oldest museum, the Hunterian is an interesting stop to make before sifting through vintage gems in the cute shops and markets on Byres Road. You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to food, with no end of funky cafes and artisan restaurants. Be it Scottish food with a twist in a flower filled courtyard or afternoon tea in a pretty parlour, there’s something for everyone. At the river, the ‘Glasgow Guggenheim’ designed by Zaha Hadid has over 3000 transport related exhibits, so why not experience Glasgow in the 1890’s at the Riverside Museum. A short scenic stroll by the water will take you to a restored ship still floating on the Clyde, where you can stop for a tour, or head to Glasgow Science Centre. Check out a live music venue or go to the theatre, experience sunset over the Clyde or fine seafood dining in Finnieston, peruse boutique shops or step back in time to the Victorian era. Whatever your cup of tea (or glass of Irn-Bru), one thing's for sure, you won’t get bored in Glasgow! Once an industrial powerhouse, Glasgow has grown into a vibrant city of culture. The combination of modern architecture and old sandstone buildings provides a unique backdrop for the unrivalled cultural experience and quirky delights the city offers. The awards roll in as steadily as the waves of the River Clyde, whether it’s UNESCO City of Music or European City of Culture, Glasgow boasts an array of awards in recognition of it’s music, museums, art, entertainment, architecture and food scene. Brimming with creativity, innovation and spectacular history, Glasgow’s out-of-the-box charm and gritty edge is topped off by the fact that Glaswegians are some of the friendliest you’ll ever meet (not biased at all!).