Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, and was formerly one of the industrial power houses of the British Empire.  The story of the city for much of the second half of the 20^th Century was one of change, which included some perhaps inevitable industrial decline.  However, the resilient people of Glasgow took a creative approach to regeneration, and much of what was a post-industrial landscape thirty years ago has been transformed into recreational space, including educational and entertainment facilities that offer plenty to keep the whole family occupied – and thanks to the proudly left wing traditions of the city, many of these activities are completely free to enjoy.

When visiting, many people choose to stay in hotels in Glasgow city centre, where there is a good range of accommodation to suit different budgets.  While it is possible to reach any part of the city by public transport from this central location, the leafy West End of the city is very handy if you stay in hotels in Glasgow city centre such as the Millennium Hotel Glasgow, which is on George Square.

The West End grew up around Glasgow University, the fourth oldest university in the English speaking world, which was founded in 1451 and built on what was originally a green field site.  As the city grew outwards to encompass the University, the character of the area remained distinct, and the bohemian atmosphere that you will find in the modern West End reflects the influence of the students and academics that study and work there.  There is a good selection of family friendly cafes and bars when you need to stop for some lunch.

The University itself (pictured above) is a grand historic building built in the imposing gothic style, and may well be attractive to many young devotees of Harry Potter as an attraction in itself. Those with younger children may find that the neighboring Kelvin Grove Park provides a more leisurely source of entertainment, especially if you are lucky enough to get good weather on the day.

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has the kind of art and artifacts on permanent display that you might expect of such a building, but also features many child friendly exhibitions that change on a regular basis.