Short breaks in Glasgow

Short breaks in Glasgow - one of Britain's liveliest cities, which consists of beautiful Victorian public buildings, Georgian terraced streets and squares, would unveil some of the finest collections of art and worthwhile museums and galleries.

Founded by a monk called St. Mungo in the sixth century, Glasgow has now been designated as the European City of Culture as well as the British City of Architecture and Design. With 35 museums and galleries and major arts organizations such as Scottish National Orchestra, the titles are well earned.

Situated on the banks of the River Clyde in south-central Scotland, Glasgow became a center for the steel and shipbuilding industries. It remains Scotland's leading seaport and an industrial center, but economic hard times in the 1980s impelled the city's growth as a cultural center.

When in the city, view the most impressive Burrell Collection- an 8,000 item art collection housed at Pollok Country Park. It consists mostly of late Gothic stuff, everything from coats of armor to stained glass and other looted items from the effects of the Reformation on the interior architecture of once-Catholic churches. The Glasgow School of Art is a masterpiece of architecture and a highlight of your short breaks in Glasgow.

There are innumerable venues for lovers of history, shopping and art. Another attraction in the city is: the Willow tearoom that was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1903 for Kate Cranston, who ran a chain of tearooms. It has been restored to its original, archetypal Mackintosh Art Nouveau design, right down to the decorated tables and chairs. Other famous architectural buildings in the city of Glasgow include: Hill House, House for an Art Lover and Cathedral of St. Kentigen.

For living art, some of the places to go are the Theatre Royal, the King's Theatre and the Royal Concert Hall. If you're not into shopping, museums and galleries of the city provide the best daytime diversion during your

short breaks in Glasgow.

If all the history gets oppressive, you can relax in one of the city's many parks. The sprawling Glasgow Green is in the east, while Kelvingrove Park, Botanic Gardens and Kibble Palace out west offer peace and impressive statues to admire during your short breaks in Glasgow.

Generally, Scotland is three or four degrees cooler than southern England. Long summer evenings grow longer still as you travel north. Winter days are very short in Glasgow.

Buchanan Hotel is possibly Glasgow's oldest established hotel. Dating from 1840 with a marbled foyer, creating a unique style throughout. The hotel is within easy distance of the main attractions, well located for visits to the theatre, shopping area and art galleries.

Glasgow has a wide variety of restaurants for all tastes, from cafe bars to fine dining. Pubs in Glasgow were once famous for hard drinkers. With times the concept has also changed. Many pubs have now been turned into smart wine bars. There are many famous restaurants offering contemporary Scottish, French influenced cuisine for those on short breaks in Glasgow.