Tag: Glasgow

Some of the first things I noticed about Glasgow were all those bridges, some in use some others not anymore, beautiful abandoned buildings waiting to be woken up again and a lot of stunning murals all over the city.

After a short stop at my Airbnb room to get some rest, it was about time for the next tearoom. Still raining and tea is always a good idea. The Willow Tea Rooms at 217 Sauchiehall Street opened in 1903 and are currently under renovations to be opened again in 2018. Just before the turn of the century Kate Cranston, a local businesswoman and daughter of a tea merchant, had the idea

of a series of “art tearooms”, venues where people could meet to relax and enjoy non-alcoholic refreshments in a variety of different “rooms” within the same building. This proved to be the start of a long working relationship between Miss Cranston and Mackintosh [architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh]. Between 1896 and 1917 he designed and re-styled interiors in all four of her Glasgow tearooms, often in collaboration with his wife Margaret MacDonald. (The Willow Tearooms)

I had my afternoon tea at the tea rooms at Buchanan Street, which were first built and designed in 1896 by George Washington Browne, Mackintosh designed the murals on the interior.Mackintosh’s trademark high-backed chairs made their first appearance at the existing rooms at  Argyle Street in 1898.

Named after King George III George Square is the principal civic square in Glasgow. Surrounded by beautiful (and probably important) buildings you´ll find the City Chambers on one side. They are supposed to be stunning inside but were already closed when I walked by.

The McLennan Arch

Back at the River Clyde I had walked about 18km around town at this point and decided that The Riverside Museum designed by Zaha Hadid had to wait for my next visit to Glasgow – I was done for the day!

Later in the evening, the sky cleared up – view from my Airbnb room.

After arriving with the Caledonian Sleeper early in the morning I started my walk around Glasgow with The West End and started into my holiday with breakfast at Kember & Jones. There are so many lovely cafés and restaurants that it was hard to decide, but it was possible the smell of freshly baked bread and the cozy interior that brought me in.

Refreshed and filled with coffee and avocado it was time to explore the West End. Glasgow started to wake up and I wasn´t the only one on the streets anylonger. From vintages stores to cafés and bookshops to fancy delis – the West End is fun and colourful. And don´t forget those hidden little lanes that open up to more discoveries.

And suddenly I was standing in front of the Botanic Gardens. Created in 1817 and run by the Royal Botanic Institution of Glasgow. The big glasshouse, know as The Kibble Palace, covers 2137 m^2.   Originally designed for the home of John Kibble at Loch Long in the 1860ies. Brought up via the River Clyde it was erected in the Gardens in 1873.

Eve by Scipione Tadolini

I made my way back down in direction of the city center via the Glasgow University. Catch a first glimpse of the University below.

Located on Gilmorehill the University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the english-speaking world and was founded in 1451 and relocated to Gilmorehill in the West End in 1870.

Glasgow originally educated students primarily from wealthy backgrounds, however it became a pioneer in British higher education in the 19th century by also providing for the needs of students from the growing urban and commercial middle class. Glasgow University served all of these students by preparing them for professions: the law, medicine, civil service, teaching, and the church. It also trained smaller but growing numbers for careers in science and engineering. (University of Glasgow)

The Campus was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic revival style and it´s said that it had inspired the look of Hogwarts for J.K.Rowling.

To be a student again and spend the rainy afternoon sitting behind one of those windows just reading (and watching people passing by).

View towards the Kelvingrove Art Museum.

Through the adjoint  Kelvingrove Park I continued my walk towards the innercity. The park was created in 1852 by the well known gardener Sir Joseph Paxton and was open for the public right from the beginning. The City Council had bought the estate for recreation purposes for the middle class. Today the park seems to be a favourite place for walking dogs, I met so many cute and playful ones (even so it was raining cats and dogs at that time..)

And as it was raining cats and dogs it was about time for a little brake for tea and I chose the supercozy Hidden Lane Tearoom in a hidden lane which was surprisingly colourful and fun.

Next stop: my Airbnb near the Central Station to freshen up and have a little nap.