Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Grosvenor
24 Ashton Lane
T
0845 166 6002,
W
socialanimal.co.uk
. Renovated two-screen neighbourhood
film house with a bar and sofas you can reserve for screenings
of mostly mainstream films.
IMAX Theatre
Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific
Quay
T
0141 420 5000,
W
glasgowsciencecentre.org.
Shows 3D and super-screen documentaries and features.
5
SHOPPING
Glasgow's
shopping
is amongst the best in the UK, after London. While the city's gritty industrial reputation doesn't appear
to fit with its status as an oasis of retail therapy, Glaswegians have long enjoyed dressing up to go out. The main area for
spending in the city centre is formed by the Z-shaped and mostly pedestrianized route of
Argyle
,
Buchanan
and
Sauchiehall streets
. Along the way you'll find
Princes Square
, the city's poshest mall (see p.183), plus major department
stores and branches of high-end chains.
The Buchanan Galleries
, a bland complex built around John Lewis, features some
high-fashion budget stores; more interesting is the Parisian-style Victorian
Argyle Arcade
, specializing in antique and
contemporary jewellery. Otherwise, make for the
Merchant City
or the
West End
, which have more individual offerings -
the latter features quirky vintage and one-off fashion boutiques and is the only district in the city with antiquarian
bookshops
.
map p.184-185.
Sells good-quality secondhand women's
clothes arrayed by colour, with plenty of decent high-street
brands.
Mon-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat 10.30am-5.30pm, Sun
1-5pm.
Starry Starry Night
19 Dowanside Lane, near Byres Rd
T
0141 337 1837; map p.184-185.
Stocks vintage
clothes, including some antique pieces such as top hats, and
also incorporates Bethsy Gray's handmade silver jewellery
store.
Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 11am-5pm.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Glasgow School of Art
167 Renfrew St
T
0141 332
0691,
W
gsa.ac.uk; map pp.188-189.
A showcase for the
work of forty designers, with jewellery and homeware
created by young graduates and established GSA talent. The
shop also commissions the art school's students, staff and
graduates to create new products inspired by Mackintosh's
work.
Daily 10am-5pm.
The Lighthouse
11 Mitchell Lane
T
0141 276 5360,
W
thelighthouse.co.uk; map pp.188-189.
Well stocked
with tasteful gifts and original design items, from furniture
to lighting and accessories.
Mon & Wed-Sat
10.30am-5pm, Tues 11am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm.
FOOD SHOPS
Demijohn
382 Byres Rd
T
0141 337 3600.
W
demijohn
.co.uk; map p.184-185.
A quirky foodie attraction: it's
lined with demijohns of olive oil, vinegar, whisky and wine.
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11.30am-5pm.
I.J. Mellis
492 Great Western Rd; map p.184-185.
A
wonderful, old-fashioned cheesemonger specializing in
farmhouse cheeses from the British Isles, though they also
stock a selection of the best from the Continent.
Mon-Fri
9.30am-7pm, Sat 9am-6.30pm, Sun 10pm-5pm.
Lupe Pintos Chile & Spice Shop
313 Great Western Rd
T
0131 228 6241,
W
lupepintos.com; map p.184-185.
Those looking for Mexican, American and Asian treats
shouldn't miss this crazily colourful store.
Mon-Wed
10am-6pm, Thurs & Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm,
Sun 12.30pm-5.30pm.
Roots, Fruits & Flowers
451-457 Great Western Road
W
rootsfruitsandflowers.com; map p.184-185.
Piled
high with organic fruit and veg; they also specialize in
products for vegans, vegetarians and coliacs.
Mon-Sat
7.30am-7pm, Sun 9am-7.30pm.
BOOKS
Oxfam Bookshop
5 Royal Exchange Square
T
0141 248
9176; map pp.188-189.
A small secondhand bookshop in
the centre of town, with well-stocked fiction, crime, history,
cookery and Scottish sections.
Daily 10am-5pm.
Voltaire & Rousseau Books
18 Otago Lane
T
0141
611 8764,
W
voltaire-rousseau.co.uk; map pp.184-
185.
An atmospheric and overflowing secondhand
bookshop that's been around for over forty years: you'll find
some rare titles on the shelves.
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm.
FASHION
Fashionistas with money to burn should head for the chichi
and pricey Italian Centre in the Merchant City for some
imported glamour, where you'll find lots of designer names
under one (Neo-Classical) roof. By far the best option for
more affordable and stylish gear is the West End, specifically
Byres Road and the cluster of vintage stores on Ruthven Lane.
MARKETS
Barras market
244 Gallowgate
W
glasgow-barrowland
.com; map p.184-185.
Red iron gates announce the o
cial
entrance, but boundaries are breached as the stalls - selling
household goods, bric-a-brac, secondhand clothes and
records (none of it of particularly high quality) - spill out into
the surrounding cobbled streets. The fast-talking traders,
VINTAGE
De Courcy's Arcade
5 Cresswell Lane
T
0141 334 8211;
map p.184-185.
Features an appealing collection of cute
boutiques and vintage stores, as well as a retro teashop serving
tea and cupcakes.
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun noon 5pm.
Glorious
41 Ruthven Lane
T
0141 357 5662;
