Glasgow, situated in the west of the country is regarded as the business and industrial capital of Scotland. With a population of around one million, life insurance Glasgow is a major attraction for both tourists and business people. The population of Glasgow is known for their warmth, good humour and friendly hospitality, a fact that brings more than two million visitors a year to the city. There is something in Glasgow for everyone, from its wide range of museums and art galleries ancient and modern as well as the many festivals, conference and social events held in the city throughout the year.
Deceptively cosmopolitan, the city over the last few years has developed to be a major shopping centre, with some high street stores, situated around the well known Buchanan and Argyle Streets that compete well with anything that London, Paris or Milan has to offer. There are many shopping centers or "malls" to be visited in the city center, all of which have been designed and remodeled to retain the character of Victorian architecture, making for an interesting shopping experience.
If its good food and entertainment that you are looking for Glasgow is up there with the best. Glaswegians enjoy a good time and they have more than their fair share of first class restaurants and nightclubs to let your hair down, after a hard days sightseeing or business. The live entertainment scene in Glasgow is especially active, and the city has succeeded in producing some of the major pop groups to emerge in the UK over the last few years.
If there is one thing that Glaswegians are passionate for, it is their football or soccer for those who don't know better. The city is home to the best to teams in the country; Rangers and Celtic, and the followers of these clubs enjoy a rivalry that has been going on now for almost 150 years. Sadly, although they do have the success and the ambition, their success has been largely limited outside Scotland, apart from during the late 1960's, when in 1967; Celtic became the first British club to win the European Cup, a remarkable achievement then and now, considering that each Celtic player was born within a thirty mile radius of the city. No top team could say that about their own players today!
There is very little remaining of what was medieval Glasgow, apart from a house built as way back as the fourteenth century. The house known as "Provand's Lordship" is situated at the top of the High Street in Glasgow. The other landmark building dating back from roughly the same era is St. Mungo's Cathedral. This ancient cathedral is also situated at the top of Glasgow's High Street, opposite the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the largest and oldest hospital in the city.
The bulk of the buildings in Glasgow City Center were built during Victorian times, with the Glasgow City Chambers being a prime example.
A key characteristic of these buildings was that they built from red sandstone, which over many tears of pollution turned a dull grey color. However from the late seventies onwards, almost every city center building that was not demolished was "sand blasted" instead. The result is that these buildings have now been restored to their former glories and have become a major tourist attraction.
Glasgow was the home of many famous architects, and among the most famous was Charles Rennie Macintosh who designed many famous buildings in and around Glasgow at the turn of the Twentieth century, the most famous being the School of Art. Macintosh was a "turnkey designer". In other words he designed not only the building but also all the furniture and fittings that went into the buildings. A famous landmark relating to this famous Glasgow stalwart is the Willow Tearoom in the famous Sauchiehall Street, where Macintosh "took tea" with is colleagues and friends on a regular basis.
Glasgow has undergone an architectural "renaissance" in recent years and many new buildings have gone up, particularly along the River Clyde, which passes through the city, ostensibly cutting it in half. These new buildings include the life insurance Glasgow Science Centre, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, and the distinctively designed Clyde Auditorium which the local population tongue in cheek has christened it the "Armadillo".
Renting a car can be an economical way to travel around Glasgow and its surrounding areas, with some firms offering discounts for rentals of three days and over. Car Hire in Glasgow usually comes as a 'fully inclusive' package which includes unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, passenger indemnity insurance and cover for third party, fire and theft - but not usually insurance excess. To rent a car anywhere in the United Kingdom, you must show a full driver's licence and a credit card in the driver's name. Cars are usually rented to customers between the ages of 21 to 70 years. Many people are reluctant to hire cars and drive around city centers. However, Glasgow's center can be congested and parking a problem.