Cultural Glasgow Vacations
Edinburgh many be Scotland’s capital, and it may also be Scotland’s number one vacation destination but the sad fact is that many of the annual visitors to this fine city are missing the opportunity of visiting the fantastic nearby city of Glasgow.
Glasgow is a lively and vibrant city attracting more and more visitors annually. While most folk visit to enjoy the vibrant nightlife that the city offers more people are becoming aware of the many artistic and cultural elements of this fascinating city. Below I introduce the reader to three such places to visit in Glasgow.
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum: The Kelvingrove Art Gallery is Glasgow and Scotland’s premier museum and art gallery, and home to one of Europe’s great civic art collections. It has also been voted one of the most popular free visitor attractions in Scotland. You will find Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on Argyle Street, in the West End of Glasgow, on the banks of the River Kelvin. The gallery was built in a Spanish Baroque style following the Glaswegian tradition of using red sandstone. The building was designed by Sir John W. Simpson and E.J. Milner Allen, and opened in 1901. The museum’s collections were originally from the McLellan Galleries and the old Kelvingrove House Museum in Kelvingrove Park.
The House for An Art Lover: House For An Art Lover is one of Glasgow’s most popular attractions. The Art Nouveau House was orignally designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow’s most famous architect, with the help of his wife Margaret Macdonald. The design was for a competition, in 1901, to design a House for an Art Lover. The Mackintoshs entry was disqualified from the competition, on the grounds of late submission. Over 100 years later, the house now stands completed in Bellahouston Park, thanks to engineer Graham Roxburgh and architect Professor Andy Macmillan. Building work began in 1989 but was then halted, and resumed again in 1994, due to the collaboration between Glasgow City Council and Glasgow School of Art.
The Peoples Palace: The People’s Palace and Winter Gardens are a museum and glasshouse situated near Glasgow Green. They were opened on 22nd January 1898 by the Earl of Rosebery, and were intended to provide a cultural centre for the people of Glasgow. The ground floor originally provided reading and recreation rooms. However, since the 1940’s, it has been Glasgow’s social history museum, and tells the story of the people and the city from 1750 to the present day. Attached to the People’s Palace is the Winter Gardens, an elegant Victorian Glassghouse where on can relax among the tropical plants, or enjoy the cafe.
Of course there are a great many more cultural attractions in Glasgow so when you are next planning a Scottish vacation you should investigate this stimulating city further. One final word is that you may have difficulty finding hotel vacancies at times so it is well worth booking your accommodation at the earliest opportunity.
