Glasgow has become an increasingly popular travel hot-spot, rising from the ashes of its industrial past and transforming in recent years into a destination for the traveler who craves a bit of art, culture, and history with a twist. Read on for the ten best places to stay in this fascinating Scottish metropolis.
Let’s just say that this is not your average hotel. Catering to an art and design-oriented crowd, citizenM is decorated in striking black, white, and red hyper-modern decor. Creative and freelance types will be happy to notice the lobby, which resembles a living room complete with a computer work station, stocked bookshelves, and a lounge, as well as a café open 24 hours. Just a short walk from the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the Theatre Royal, there’s no excuse to not take in a bit of culture.
This luxury boutique hotel is charmingly situated in a stunning Georgian house in the city’s chic West End, and offers remarkable service and amenities, from a whisky room to a ‘cigar shack’ to the 49 sumptuously decorated rooms and suites. For a travel experience dripping in old-world glamour and bespoke service, this is the place.
Directly above Glasgow Central Station in the beating heart of the city center, this penthouse hotel offers 30 rooms, each of which has a panoramic view of Glasgow. The hotel is decorated in an elegant mix of the old and the new, with custom-designed furniture and Caledonian Oak floors, combining traditional influences with contemporary Scandinavian design. Breakfast, included in the room rate, is made of locally-sourced ingredients supplied fresh daily by Glasgow’s finest purveyors.
This five-star spa hotel offers a decadent and relaxing experience. Set aside some time for a massage, or a body wrap using Hebridean seaweed gel, before heading down to the hotel’s restaurant and salon for a seasonal food menu and delicious cocktails.
The definition of sophisticated, all of the rooms here are fashionable and modern, and the top-tier suites even come with a living room, designer-brand toiletries, and gratuitous champagne. At dinnertime, check out the onsite gastro-steakhouse, the brainchild of celebrity chef Marco Pierre White, and then go for an evening stroll to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
A contemporary, minimalist hotel, the Z is situated in a former print-works, lending it an industrial flair; the 104 rooms are arranged on five floors encircling a light-well. The best part about this unique hotel, though? It’s probably a tie between the amazing location beside George Square and the budget prices.
Staying at this hotel, housed in a 19th century mansion a few miles from the city center, makes for a stylish and memorable holiday. The rooms are invitingly decorated, and the grand tower suites include four-poster beds. In the morning, don’t miss the complimentary breakfast, featuring a full Scottish array.
For an undeniably Scottish experience, book a room at this hotel, just a few minute’s walk from Cowcaddens subway station. As the name cheekily suggests, the hotel is located in the National Piping Centre, and true to form the rooms are decorated with tartan accents. A highlight is the onsite piping museum, which is worth a visit.
Housed in a striking contemporary Argyle Street building in close proximity to the train station and Prices Square Shopping Centre, the Glasgow outpost of the upscale Radisson Blu brand offers a top-tier restaurant, a cocktail bar as well as a pub, a health center comprising both a gym and a swimming pool, and of course elegant and contemporary rooms and suites.
At this inviting boutique hotel, each room comes with a stocked minibar in which there are complimentary whiskies and other spirits, giving a clue to the attentive service the Carlton George provides. Club and Executive rooms are granted access to a special lounge rife with complimentary cocktails, but all guests can head up to the rooftop restaurant for modern takes on Scottish cuisine or for afternoon tea.
