Planning a girly weekend away and not sure where to go? Well, look no further because Glasgow has it all. As Scotland's largest city, Glasgow is a cultural epicentre with so much to offer. From the food scene using the finest ingredients from Scotland, the restaurants cover everything from fusion and Scottish, to Indian, Vietnamese and Italian and whether you are on a budget or are splashing out, you'll find some of the world's greatest dishes, all served with a sprinkling of Scottish charm. There's a whole load of museums and art galleries as well so if you're into football, art or anthropology; there's something for you in Glasgow. So, what about a girls weekend then? Depending on what you and your girls are into, there will be something for you in Glasgow, so have a look at this list of top ideas for you and your girls to have a fab getaway.
Shopping
Starting off with shopping, Glasgow has a few different and diverse areas where you could go to spend some cash. The Style Mile is Scotland's answer to Oxford Street and is the UK's largest retail centre outside of London. You'll find all your favourite high street stores here in the Buchanan Galleries and St Enoch Centre; then Princes Square is great for high-end designer boutiques. After that, you could head to Hillhead and the West End, which is known as the fashionable 'hipster' quarter. Creswell Lane and Hillhead are famous for their classic vintage shops and quirky boutiques, and there's plenty of independent coffee shops and bars too for when you need a little break. Then there is Merchant City which has grown as Glasgow's cultural centre, and while it is just minutes away from the Style Mile, Merchant City is more about exclusive clothing boutiques, independent record shops, cafes, and comic book stores. Finally, if you want to do some savvy thrift shopping then head to Barras Market and the East for vintage stores and charity shops. You'll find a true Glaswegian shopping experience like no other – even if you're not massively into shopping. It was once notorious for selling knock-off CDs and DVDs but is now known for selling everything from antiques, fashion, to TVs and fridge-freezers.
Music And Nightlife
With plenty of Universities and student accommodation in Glasgow city centre, the city is buzzing with people, with bars with nightlife, energy and atmosphere and is an amazing place for a night out with your girls. Check out the famous Barrowland Ballroom, a dusty, old, family-owned Glasgow institution that's been embraced by several generations of live music fans alike for more than four decades. All while retaining independence, integrity and a gloriously retro feel like few other spaces of its size. It is one of the most iconic and cherished music venues in the world, and for an enduringly good reason. You've never really experienced live music in Scotland until you've gone there. The Barrowland's shows today include new and veteran acts alike – every major promoter in Scotland books there.
While there are loads of bars and clubs along Argyle Street in Glasgow, if you want to go somewhere a little off the beaten track and do something a bit different, then Glasgow's West End whisky tour is a fantastic walking tour through some of the best off the beaten track bars available in town. On the tour, you will learn in detail how to taste whisky like a pro while discovering some curious facts about the drink too. If it's gin you're more into then Gin71 is a must.
You could also try the Grosvenor Riverboat Casino which is nestled on the banks of the River Clyde. You can enjoy their a la Carte Louisiana style restaurant, the late-night bar, and then enjoy the roulette tables, blackjack, poker tables and slot machines too.
Down Time
After a hard day's shopping and a full-on night of partying then you might want to relax a bit the next day, and this is where Kelvingrove Park comes in. Situated along the side of the River Kelvin, and set in 85 acres it provides an urban haven for animals and people alike. Have a leisurely stroll, or sit down for a picnic, it's a beautiful place to be.
Museums
No visit to Glasgow would be complete without a trip to one of the city-owned museums and galleries. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has a diverse, world-class collection of art and artefacts from Natural History to Arms and Armour. It's also one of the many museums that are free to visit!
Tea Rooms
There are many lovely little tea rooms and cafes in Glasgow, but the Willow Tea Rooms is one you might just want to go out of your way to see. Designed by the famous Rennie Mackintosh back in 1903, from the architecture to the waitresses' outfits, there are actually two Willow Tea Rooms, so depending on where you are at the time, either one is worth a trip. There is one on Sauchiehall Street; the other is in the famous shopping area of Buchanan Street. There is everything from homemade sandwiches to traditional scones with clotted cream and jam as well as a wide variety of teas and coffees.
Bus Tour
Finally, if you really can't decide, but you want to soak up the whole of the city, then you should definitely explore Glasgow with an open-top bus tour. The city sightseeing tour has 21 stops, it lasts one hour and twenty minutes and is jam-packed with information about the city, it's history, architecture and places to visit.
If that's not enough and you have more specific interested, then Glasgow is also a great city for sports lovers and museums too. There's so much to do that a weekend won't be enough and you'll just want more and more. There's plenty of places to stay too, from family-run Bed and breakfasts to apartments and a tonne of options on Air Bnb, so what are you waiting for?
