Overview

Overview

Glasgow has seen more changes in the past two decades than almost any other British city. From a declining industrial centre with widespread pessimism about its future, Scotland's biggest city has been transformed into a forward-looking city hailed as one of the hippest spots in Europe. A large student population has given the city a youthful, progressive character and, with thumping nightlife, one of the strongest live music scenes in the UK, plus first-rate shopping. Glasgow continues to assert itself as one of Britain's most appealing destinations. With an outstanding art gallery and several excellent museums as a starting point, Glasgow was chosen as a European City of Culture in 1990. You can see Glasgow's tradition of great design in the classical architecture of Alexander 'Greek' Thomson and the organic, art nouveau style of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Today, Glasgow's School of Art continues to produce world-class talent. Glasgow has a proud history - the long list of inventors, engineers, writers and architects of the 19th and 20th centuries were part of the driving force of industrialisation, tamed by socially progressive values in the 'second city' of the British Empire. Glasgow was an important shipbuilding centre and well known for its Clydeside engineering works. Despite the decline of this industry and years of ensuing malaise, Glasgow has bounced back with a definite spring in its step. In 2014, the city will play host to the 20th Commonwealth Games.