Where to stay in Glasgow

If you’re heading to Scotland soon, here’s our presentation of the country’s largest city: where to stay in Glasgow!

Scotland’s largest and most populous city, Glasgow is the UK’s third largest city, with a total population of 606,340 (2015) and 2.3 million across the urban conurbation. It is one of Europe’s most important financial centers, and the 44th city in the world in terms of infrastructure quality. For over half a century, Glasgow has been trying to shake off its image as a depressed, working-class, coal-mining city by asserting its identity as a festive, attractive, lively, fiery city.

Glasgow is often overlooked by tourists in favor of Edinburgh, yet many would argue that it’s more authentic than the capital. Yet the city is renowned for its vibrant nightlife, with live music in the city’s bars and countless pubs: in 2008, UNESCO declared it a « City of Music ». Here’s our selection of areas to stay in Glasgow.

North West

Photo credit: Flickr – p&p Photo

North of the River Clyde and northwest of the city center is the North West district, with everything you need to enjoy a Scottish city: green spaces – including Ruchill Park and the famous Glasgow Botanic Gardens, pubs and bars, countless restaurants serving international cuisine. In terms of accommodation, you’ll find a selection of relatively affordable lodgings for the UK: here, you can expect to pay between €20 and €120 per night for accommodation in Glasgow.

West End

Photo credit: Flickr – Zoetnet

Located in the west of the city, this is where most of Glasgow’s social activity takes place. Contrary to usual, it’s not the city center that’s the most interesting: while the latter has certainly preserved its popular soul from an outdated working-class era, locals and tourists now prefer the western districts. This is the open-air temple of the Irish pub.

Home to the University of Glasgow – where the famous economist Adam Smith and James Watt, father of the Industrial Revolution, taught – the district also boasts extensive green spaces, such as Kelvingrove Park. Museums – Hunterian Art Gallery, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Museum of Transport – art galleries, boutiques for shopping, bars and pubs for partying or enjoying an evening concert, restaurants and a lively Scottish youth scene are all part of your daily routine if you choose this area as your base in Glasgow. There are two youth hostels where you can stay in Glasgow for very little money, otherwise hotels can cost upwards of €100 a night.

East End

Photo credit: Flickr – Tom Bastin

Located, as its name suggests, on the east side of the city, East End is a good place to stay in Glasgow if you like a residential area that’s less crowded than the city center, but still close to it: expect to pay well over €150 a night for hotel accommodation, however. It’s a popular area, however, where the old working-class and industrial past is still visible. While you’re in the East End, take the opportunity to wander around the city center and see Glasgow’s historic buildings: Glasgow Cathedral, Necropolis Cemetery, enjoy a pint in a pub or relax in Drumpellier Country Park.

Main Photo Credit: Flickr – Michel Curi

Map of hotels and accommodation – Glasgow,gb