Hidden gems of a dear green place
IT may not take itself too seriously, but Glasgow has a serious amount to offer. Scotland’s largest city is a true culture capital, home to worldclass museums, vibrant festivals and one of Britain’s best live music scenes. It’s something of a shoppers’ paradise, boasts a wealth of topquality restaurants and is famed for its friendly locals and irreverent sense of humour – the i conic Wellington statue adorned with a traffic cone is a prime example.
Though i ts guide books are packed full of celebrated sights and award-winning attractions, you’ll find an array of lesser-known gems hidden around the city, too.
Check out these tips to discover something new next time you’re in town. Kibble Palace Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens are ideal for a peaceful walk or relaxing break between shopping and sightseeing. Make sure you don’t miss Kibble Palace, the striking greenhouse designed by inventor and engineer John Kibble, which features fine marble statues surrounded by vivid flowers, tropical palms and the National Collection of Tree Ferns. MAKLab MAKLab is Scotland’s first open access digital fabrication studio, giving you the chance to get your hands on state- of-the-art equipment including 3D printers, scanners and laser cutting machines. Sign up to one of MAKLab’s one- off workshops to try out the hi-tech gadgetry or learn skills such as programming and soldering. Glasgow University Glasgow University isn’t exactly a ‘hidden’ gem – it’s one of Scotland’s best seats of higher learning – but nor is it an obvious destination for visitors to the city. Its atmospheric cloisters are perfect for fans of architecture or photography, while art and history enthusiasts will find the Hunterian Museum well worth a visit. WEST brewery 2015 is the Year of Food & Drink Scotland, so be sure to partake of the city’s local produce. Located in the distinctive Templeton On The Green building, WEST brewery creates German-inspired beers with a unique Glasgow flavour. Take a guided tour of the microbrewery or tuck into currywurst, Wiener schnitzel or burgers in the WEST restaurant. St Aloysius’ Church Among the most impressive of Glasgow’s churches is the magnificent St Aloysius’ Roman Catholic Church, which boasts an opulent Renaissance design based on the Church of the Gesù in Rome. It also houses a copy of the famous Our Lady of Montserrat statue, one of only two outside Catalonia in Spain. Britannia Panopticon Music Hall Victorian vaudeville gets a new lease of life at the Britannia Panopticon, the world’s oldest surviving music hall. Built in the 1850s, the theatre has seen real legends of entertainment tread its boards: Stan Laurel made his debut here and Cary Grant once entertained crowds with his acrobatic skills. The Necropolis Inspired by the famous Père Lachaise in Paris, Glasgow’s Necropolis is a remarkable Victorian cemetery with around 3,500 monuments. Its most notable graves include a monument to Protestant Reformation leader John Knox and a Celtic cross designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Tchai-Ovna Scots love a good cup of tea and few places offer more variety than Tchai-Ovna. This charming, slightly ramshackle l i ttle café is housed in a former 19th century stables tucked into a cobbled lane in the city’s West End. In addition to dozens of types of leaf tea, it serves delicious vegan and vegetarian food and hosts live music several times a week. Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre Founded by the sculptor-mechanic Eduard Bersudsky and theatre director Tatyana Jakovskaya, Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre has been captivating Scots audiences since settling in Glasgow almost two decades ago. The theatre stars hundreds of stunningly carved figures controlled by steampunk- style machinery combined with lights and music to tell haunting, beautiful stories. Planning a ci t y break to Glasgow? Find more things to s ee and do at: visitscotland.com/ glasgow.