Two days in Glasgow

Glasgow isn’t a city I’ve ever wanted to visit. Not that I’ve ever had anything against it, it’s just never jumped out in the same way as Edinburgh for example. However when a friend on mine told me about their recent trip to Glasgow on the Caledonian Sleeper I thought it sounded fun and a great way to travel. The train leaves London around 11pm (although you can get into your cabin slightly earlier) and gets into Glasgow the next day, which means no time wasted on travelling. It also meant no rush leaving work early and I could enjoy a leisurely meal with friends before I set off.

I was slightly apprehensive because I was travelling solo and wasn’t really sure what to expect, however I needn’t have worried. I had a nice little cabin all to myself, which although compact was very clean and comfortable. The toilets are shared, and pretty much the same as normal train toilets, except they were also kept spotlessly clean.

There was also a small cafe and bar carriage, where you could sit down and get a drink or light meal if you so wished. As it was late and I’d already been out to London, I went straight to bed.

Glasgow Day 1

I arrived in Glasgow around 7.30am the next morning so had the whole day ahead of me. I was staying at the Ibis Stlyes Glasgow Central (near the modern art museum), so made my way there to drop off my bags and then headed out to explore Glasgow.

My first stop was the University of Glasgow and it’s beautiful architecture. I didn’t just come to admire the buildings though, this is also home to the weird and wonderful Hunterian Museum (free to visit). I would definitely recommend this, especially if you’re interested in science and not too squeamish. It has a fantastically diverse array of exhibits – from Roman artefacts, to Art (and going via pickled body parts in jars, Lord Kelvin’s old instruments, & deformed (e.g. Siamese twins) stuffed animals! A truly interesting place, if a little macabre in places.

I then walked over to the Kelvingrove Museum . This is actually one of Glasgows largest and most popular museums, and you could quite easily spend hours there. It has a wide range of exhibits, including Renaissance art, stuffed animals, and artefacts from ancient Egypt. I had a quick skip through (lunch was calling and I already had a reservation at Eighty Eighty, which did an excellent lunch deal when I was there), but have to say the dinosaur and spitfires were quite impressive!

After lunch I walked down to the river and went aboard the tall ship Glenlee, a restored Vicotorian sailing ship. It was very interesting to wander around.

I then went to the neighbouring Riverside Museum, which I really liked. It was very cool to see all the old vehicles and the Olde Worlde Streets – it really did feel like going back in time!

The weather was pretty fine, so I head a leisurely stroll to Ashton Lane, a quaint little cobbled road with some lovely restaurants and bars. A local Glaswegian had recommended the Ubiquitous Chip to me. I didn’t end up eating there, as it felt a little too fancy to be somewhere to eat alone. If you do go though, you should definitely book in advance as it is very popular. I did have a drink in the bar though, and they did a very nice selection of cocktails.

I spoke too soon about the weather! As I was enjoying my cocktail, the heavens opened and it started pouring with rain. I therefore opted to take the subway back rather than walk. If you’re used to London, the subway is incredibly small and quiet, but also very clean! Much more relaxing than the London Underground.

I had a quick bite to eat and the popped into The Pot Still, another recommendation from a local Glaswegian. This traditional pub has perhaps the best selection of whisky you’ll possibly ever find. I felt slight uncomfortable walking in at first, as I was literally the only female (and on my own!) but everyone was very friendly and soon put me at ease.

By this time is was getting into the evening so I went back to the Ibis Styles to check in (my room wasn’t available when I arrived, so I’d literally dropped off my luggage and headed straight out to explore)

It was still too early to sleep and I hate sitting in a hotel room on my own so I decided to head down to the hotel bar and read my book. Normally I’d head somewhere more interesting but it was absolutely pouring with rain and I didn’t fancy the idea of getting soaked through!

The hotel bar also had a free pool table, which was quite cool, and before I’d finished my drink I was having a game with a group of local Scottish guys. This really brightened my evening. I was quite worried about feeling lonely travelling alone, so it was lovely to have such a sociable evening.

Glasgow Day 2

The next morning I decided to visit the Glasgow Tenement Museum. I found it an extremely interesting and slightly unusual place to visit. It’s basically a a flat in an 1892 tenement building, perfectly preserved in its condition from the early 20th century (including the original furnishings and everything). It’s fascinating to step back in time and see how people used to live.

After the museum, I walked down to Ralph and Finns for a very delicious lunch – excellent value too, at £17 for 2 courses and a glass of wine (a pre booked offer)

I didn’t have long before catching an onward train to Oban. Before I set off for the station, I spent an hour or so at the Modern Art museum.

Overall I was very impressed with my trip to Glasgow. It was especially nice that the majority of museums are free to visit, and there was so much to see and so – I will definitely return at some point! The local people were also incredibly friendly and welcoming, which really helped make my trip enjoyable.