By Matthew Boudreau, Contributing Columnist
“Did you get lost on your way to Edinburgh?” and “we are happy you are here at all”. Two phrases said to me half-jokingly by a tour guide in Glasgow. Despite being the largest city in Scotland, the neighbouring capital city of Edinburgh generally draws more tourists and tourist dollars. A history of blue-collar work and industrialization has given it a reputation of being a rough around the edges town; a reputation the city is actively trying to change.
At the heart of this shift is the Clyde Waterfront Redevelopment project that spans twenty kilometers along the River Clyde in the heart of the city. Old factories and warehouses are actively being transformed into housing and cultural destinations. The Clydeside Distillery, which opened in 2017, became the first active distillery in the city centre in over 100 years. The hop-on hop-off bus makes a stop at the distillery. I recommend trying one of their tasting flights of four whiskies if you visit.
Slightly further down the river, and the next stop on the hop-on hop-off bus, is the Riverside Museum. This is Glagow’s award-winning transport and technology museum which opened in its current location in 2011. The museum was much larger than I expected and featured a wide range of historical cars, trains, motorcycles, and buses. There is even an old subway car with wooden seats. Glasgow has the third oldest subway system in the world after London and New York.
Plenty of the city’s old architecture remains as well. It is not uncommon to find buildings from the 1700s littered around town. The Cathedral and surrounding area is imposing and impressive. Walking up to the top of the Necropolis provides some of the best views of the city.
For our beer enthusiast readers, there are plenty of craft beer options. Scotland is home to Brew Dog and thus it is well represented in the city. Innis & Gunn has a beautiful taproom in the heart of the city. You can also visit the taproom at Scotland’s largest brewery, Tennents, and get a fresh pint of unpasteurized beer served only at the brewery.
As with any major European city, there is no shortage of cuisine. I had haggis for the first time and enjoyed it. It’s simply spiced ground meat at the end of the day. Though if a traditional Scottish meal is not what you are looking for, almost every other global cuisine is covered. They even have a Tim Horton’s should you be so inclined.
For the whisky enthusiasts, The Pot Still is a must visit. It has hundreds, if not thousands, of varieties available. For live music, or those who love pub architecture, Waxy O’Connors is quite the spectacle. I could imagine that the staircases in Harry Potter were inspired from here.
From architecture to the culture to the street names (yes, there is an Argyle Street with bars), it is certainly worth taking a visit to “Old Scotia”. Make sure to give yourself a few days to take in the vibrancy of Glasgow.
