h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A couple of friends of mine from Seville are planning to go to Glasgow next week for the UEFA Cup final. They will be there for five days (Wednesday-Sunday) and will be hiring a car as they also want to go to Edinburgh.

So I was wondering if anyone could recommend some interesting places to visit, as well as some good pubs & restaurants. It's always nicer to get some personal recommendatons rather than just go with tourist guide stuff.



azahar

Sure you're going to get better advice from residents, but FWIW I went to Edinburgh for a Uni interview some years ago (in February in the snow) and had a fantastic time. A hike up Arthur's Seat is essential, the view from there is gorgeous.

I spent some time in each on business last year.

You're spoilt for choice, really - loads of good pubs and restaurants, all kinds of cuisines - probably not fair to single any out. One thing that surprised me (being English) was the smoking ban - all the pubs and restaurants were clean.

There's a good rail service between Glasgow & Edinburgh - no need for the hire car unless you plan to tour around. Rush hour is pretty busy in both cities.

That's a good point about the hire car, Icy North. Really, after the football match they are only going to have 3 days and a bit to go elsewhere (not sure what time their plane leaves on Sunday). So perhaps taking the train to Edinburgh would be easier and less stressful.

az

I also thought of Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond as possible places to visit, but after Edinburgh and Arthur's seat they may well be "castled out" even if they have time. I'm pretty sure you can get to Loch Lomond by train too, and it's not too far for a relaxed day trip.

Noggin

Traveller in Time on his head
"Been to Glasgow some time ago.

Buy a tourist tour ticket, you will get through the whole town with the tour, as well as you can get any other bus. "

Apparently my friends will be staying at the Bowfield Country Club - does anyone know this place?

az

Been to Bowfield for lunch once - and think a car might be a good idea as it's a bit off the beaten track.

Things to do in Glasgow?
The Burrell Collection
School of Art + anything involving Charles Rennie Macintosh
Culzean Castle in Ayrshire - great for a day out in the fresh air
The Tenement House in Glasgow
Museum of Modern Art - Glasgow City Centre
Kelvingrove Museum
Museum of Transport
A trip on Loch Lomond would be ok if the weather's good. As Scottish lochs go, it's a bit disappointing though.
Hill House in Helensburgh's not too far from Loch Lomond
Cafe Gandolfi for lunch - with furniture by Tim Stead http://www.cafegandolfi.com/?gclid=CPb3rK78_osCFRKnQQod5QZuvg

Things to do in Edinburgh
Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street is worth a look as are the Art Galleries
Edinburgh Castle + a walk down the Royal Mile to Holyrood where you can see the new Parliament building and where the Queen stays when she's there. Ignore the See-you-Jimmy tartan shops
Arthur's Seat
Valvona and Crolla on Leith Walk for lunch http://www.valvonacrolla.co.uk/html/caffebarmain.html
Or if you're celebrating in style - dinner at The Witchery

Also worth seeing if there are any last minute ticket deals for plays/concerts/etc in either city.

http://www.nts.org.uk/Home/ Good website, once you get past its 'clunkiness'

http://www.seeglasgow.com/

http://www.edinburgh.org/

Glasgow's Miles Better, by the way


I'm homesick

Traveller in Time not intersted in football anyway
"Perhaps your friends can find any information on < > it seems to be about football . . .

I liked the barrows crowded and chaotic . "

" < A3859220 > 'Glasgow Scotland'

Barras is the exciting market "

That's a great list, Teuchter. And thanks for the link, TiT. I think they'd quite enjoy a busy market too.

Apparently my friend can't access h2g2 at work so I'm going to invite her over on Friday to have a look at all the suggestions.

az

Re trains: there are trains every 15 minutes from Glasgow Queen St. to Waverley in Edinburgh, I think returns cost about £13 after 9am. For Loch Lomond, trains are to Balloch every 30 minutes and would be about £5 return. There's not an *awful* lot to do there, so unless the weather is good I'd maybe not bother, like Teuchter says.

If they're going for something to eat, there's a restaurant called 'City Merchant' which does really good Scottish food (mainly fish). It's pricey, but they have a pre-theatre for about £10 per head for 2 courses. It's minutes away from the city centre. And they've got to go for a curry. There are loads of curry places, and many of them are really good.

Oh, and there's also 'La Tasca' if they want something which apparently resembles a tapas bar. It probably doesn't, but the food is quite nice.

i live in glasgow, and lived in edinburgh for several years.... glasgow, as far as food goes, well, you really are spoilt for choice.... for scottish food, i'd recommend two fat ladies... mainly fish.... and also stravaigan, bloomin loverly..... pubs, well, depends what sorta experience youre after, babbity bowsters in the merchant city is good, nice beer garden, good selection of ales and good food too...i'd also say that if they are hiring a car then up the side of loch lomond onto arochair or tarbet is worth it for a drive..

edinburgh, well, i'd head down the newtown for a wander-about and would make the effort to visit IJ Mellis for some cheese (victoria st by the grassmarket), and i love wandering around the museum....and i'd suggest going up calton hill at the end of princes st as a bit easier to cram into the day than arthurs seat.....

Great suggestions everyone!

Meanwhile, it turns out that my friends' reservation at Bowden has fallen through, which may be a blessing in disguise because they now want to look for something more central.

So, can anyone recommend some nice hotels in or near the centre of Glasgow?



az

Bowden? Sorry, I meant Bowfield.

az

Teuchter pretty much has it nailed. If they like archie texture - then add The Glasgow School of Art.

Loch Lomond - as I've said elsewhere, the side without the trains/ main road is the best. Look out for the feral goats.

It they have a car - the Trossachs.

And food: *definitely* Mother India, or it's sister, Mother India Cafe...as patronised by Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand: http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,,1650603,00.html - a man who knows his food.

Seriously, though. DEFINITELY Mother India.

Now...pubs:
The Horsehoe (hidden down an alleyway, just ask anyone in the city centre for directions)
Babbity Bowster
Blackfriars
The Scotia
The Victoria Bar
The Clutha Vaults
The Ubiquitous Chip (if they can stomach head-up-arse BBC Scotland types)
The Halt Bar
Uisghe Beathe

...and many more. Any others? Pedro?

But if they have a car...a day trip up Loch Lomond, across Rannoch Moor to Glencoe. Maybe take a side trip at Bridge of Orchy for part of the West Highland Way near the Inveroran hotel. There's a great eating place at Tyndrum (http://www.therealfoodcafe.com/)...and on the way back, pop into the Drover's Arms at Inverarnan, just past the N. end of Loch Lomond for the - er - 'interesting' decor.

Hi Edward *also waves to Pedro!*

Being Spanish, or possibly because of being Andaluz, they are not going to be interested in Indian food (too bad for them!) but the pubs will be of definite interest.

And after reading the advice here to take the train to Edinburgh, they seem happier to do that than hire a car, which fits in nicely with them looking for a more central hotel.

Any hotel suggestions?

az

Ah! I was under the misapprehension thet were staying in *Bowling*. Yes - that's a bit out of the way - although they could get a train from Lochwinnoch. There's an RSPB reserve nearby, if they like flying critters. If they like cycling, they can go to Largs (20 mins away?), take a short ferry ride to Cumbrae, hire bikes in Millport (short free bus ride from ferry point) and cycle around the island (about 9 miles, nice and flat)

Yeah, the original hotel booking at the country club place fell through, so they are now looking for something more central.

az