23 February 2024 , 10:09
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Glasgow is the best place in the UK for a city break, a new study has claimed.
The Scottish city may not be the country's official capital but it is by far its biggest. Recently upgraded art galleries, a great pub scene and unrivalled access to the natural world make it an ideal place for some time away.
It is well worth visiting the Burrell Collection when in the city. The building reopened to the public a couple of years ago and houses one of the most impressive selections of art anywhere in the country. There you will find medieval treasures including stained glass, arms and armour and more than 200 tapestries, as well as paintings by renowned French artists including Manet, Cezanne and Degas.
The city's large Italian population has helped it to foster an excellent ice cream and pizza scene, the latter of which is realised in modern form through Pizza Punks - a city centre restaurant with a surprisingly large selection of toppings you can add to your cheesy and doughy disk.
A view from the air of the townhouses and flats of Glasgow's Park District (Getty Images)A recent addition to the centre's streets is Mikaku - a restaurant which serves ramen, cocktails and Izakaya in a Queen Street outlet that has been decorated to look like downtown Tokyo. Across the whole city there are 222 five-star restaurants and two Michelin star establishments in Unalome and Cail Bruich, so you are unlikely to be short of somewhere to eat.
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If you can stand the northerly gales which rush off the Atlantic or the unfortunately regular burst of rain that douse the city, then Glasgow has a nightlife offering which only Manchester and London can hope to match in the UK.
The de-industrialised parts of the town are ideal locations for the occasional pop-up warehouse party, while there are ample pubs to keep you watered. Trendy student vibes can be found at Stereo Cafe bar (or The Old Haordresser's opposite). The Horseshoe Bar is the place to go for a more traditional Glasgow pub experience, with a long wooden bar that is worth a look alone. Or for a slightly nicer but still Scottish feeling setting, there's The Pot Still - a whisky pub one local describes as "pure heavy good".
For those who prefer to get out and about, there are dozens of walking routes out of the city into the hills. Loch Lomond is a short train ride away and less than 20 miles from the city centre. There you can kayak, swim, boat, visit a bird of prey centre and marvel at a series of waterfalls, among many other outdoor activities.
Every year, tourism and real estate advisory service Resonance Consultancy releases its ranking of the World’s Best Cities, which it does based on a wide range of measures. Last year Glasgow ranked the second-best UK city (after London) coming in 61st overall.
It has now been ranked the best place in the UK for a weekend away by Village Hotels, which scrutinised a number of large settlements based on their outdoor leisure, sports tourism, food and drink, shopping and arts and culture offerings. London - which arguably has a slightly disproportionate amount of national galleries, museums and sports stadiums was not included in the list.
UK's best city breaks
- Glasgow
- Birmingham
- Leeds
- Manchester
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Nottingham
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Liverpool
- Norwich
Moving further down the country, Birmingham takes a highly respectable second place. The city also ranks highest for shopping experience with 11 shopping centers and 53 vintage stores – head to Digbeth, which was awarded the oh-so-prestigious accolade of the UK’s ‘coolest neighbourhood’, and grab a unique find at Red Brick market, and after visit the Custard Factory for independent cafés, shops and cinemas. For those looking to treat their taste buds, Birmingham also has an amazing food and drinks scene with 246 five-star restaurants, four of those holding the prestigious Michelin star.
Part of God’s Own Country, Yorkshire, Leeds ranks third with a score of 5.951. Perhaps most well-known for its sports tourism, the city is home to four professional stadiums, including Leeds United home ground Elland Road. Hop on a train from the city centre to Headingley, where you can catch a Leeds Rhinos game, or a cricket match at the Headingley Cricket Ground. Leeds also has an amazing shopping scene, with the Corn Exchange a crown jewel of the city’s independent shops.
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