Glasgow has seen more changes in the past two decades than almost any other British city. From a declining industrial center with widespread pessimism about its future, Glasgow has been transformed into a
forward-looking city and one of the
hippest spots in Europe.
There has always been an enormous
sense of pride in the city’s history - the long list of
inventors,
engineers,
writers and
architects of the 19th and 20th centuries were part of the driving force of
industrialization, tamed by socially progressive values in the
’second city’ of the
British Empire.
With ports on the
Clyde giving access to the Irish Sea, Glasgow was an important
shipbuilding center and well known for
massive engineering works, where the locomotives of the nation were produced. Its former wealth can still be seen in the
classical architecture of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson and the
art nouveau style of
Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
During the 19th century, the grid of the commercial center streets was laid out to the west of the
Merchant City, whose
Palladian mansions had been commissioned by industrial barons in the previous century. The
West End (the area surrounding the hill, on which the University of Glasgow sits) is separated from the commercial center by the
Kelvin River and the brooding 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 (despite this, Glasgow is still the
UK’s fifth largest urban area). Large, bleak council estates in the city suburbs, poverty and widespread unemployment led to problems with the infamous razor gangs and a general malaise in the city.
In recent years, Glasgow has picked up again and there seems to be a definite
spring in its step. The city is turning its economic fortunes around, as heavy industry gives way to
21st-century technology, with call centers, financial services and information technology.
Arguably, the driving forces of this revolution have been the
cultural and
artistic fields.
Scottish film,
theater,
writing,
music and
design are all pushing boundaries and capturing
worldwide attention. The opening of the
Burrell Collection in 1983 (housing an art collection gifted by a shipping magnate) inspired the growth of a
thriving museum and
gallery scene that has helped propel Glasgow into becoming a top tourist destination.
With a world-class art gallery and several excellent museums as a starting point, Glasgow was chosen as a
European City of Culture in 1990. From this point on, the various strands of its
post-industrial economy and
burgeoning cultural sector, combined with a
large student population (there are four universities in the area and many colleges), have given the city a
youthful, progressive character.
In 2014, Glasgow will play host to the
20th Commonwealth Games. This will see the construction of a new National Indoor Sports Arena, a National Velodrome, a Norman Foster-designed National Entertainments Arena and a hockey center.
For visitors that tire of the city’s delights, Glasgow offers
easy access to some of
Scotland’s beautiful mountains,
glens,
lochs and
unspoilt coastline.
Loch Lomond, for instance, is only 32km (20 miles) away.
The city’s
northern latitude means that although summer days are long and light, the weather tends to be
unpredictable throughout the year and can be particularly cold and wet in winter.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related Glasgow Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related Scotland Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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