Glasgow
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Contents |
Welcome
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As Scotland's largest city, Glasgow has seen more changes in the past two decades of its history than almost any other British city. From a declining industrial centre with widespread pessimism about its future, Glasgow has been transformed into a forward-looking city and one of the hippest destinations around, the most vibrant city in Scotland, and according to National Geographic, the most vibrant city in Europe, leaving behind its rough and violent reputation to embrace the arts. On page 116 of the new Lonely Planet Scotland guide, it reveals that: “Not only is a stay in Glasgow a highlight of any trip to Scotland, it’s essential. Combining urban mayhem, black humour and, most of all, a delicious sense of fun, this city will entice you to linger..... Approach Glasgow with an open mind, an open heart and, most essential, a willingness to engage – if you don’t have fun in this city, we’d suggest therapy."
Quick Links
- Internet Access - Handy map with a list of internet cafes and wifi hubs scattered about Glasgow....
- Scotland With Style - on -line guidebook, events, travel tips, download the Glasgow Diary for free....
- Glasgow Museums - Glasgow has plenty of museums to tour, all free....
- Glasgow Gig Guide - How to Swim, Mogwai, Sons & Daughters, GlasVegas, Franz Ferdinand....
- Glasgow Gumtree - flatshares, rideshares, services, community, jobs and classified ad's....
If you need to find somewhere in particular check out this streetmap
CouchSurfers
There are, at the time of writing, around 100 to 150 active Couchsurfers in Glasgow, with many more currently travelling or waiting in the wings. Check out the group for info & updates or to drop us a line.
Weekly Meeting: every weekend a rag tag bunch of couchsurfers meet up around saturday 4pm in downtown mono, a bohemian cafe bar with lots of space and a great menu, the meetings thus far have ranged from the very intimate to the downright chaotic ;) always a mixture of regulars and new faces as well as travelers dropping in and out, this meet is a great occasion to meet more of the Glasgow bunch and plot much sight seeing or mayhem for the week to come. The meet usually evolves into a search for some live music or another form of scottish urban culture. So come on and join the fray, check the group for the weekly updates or to get in touch one of the members.
Events/Meets
Click on the [post] or [meeting] for more info or to join in. (last update-- 20th May 2008)
Also check out some of the Successfull Glasgow Meets to see what we get up to when you aren't looking.
Events
I'll update soon i promise.
CS Meets
- 22th May; End of year recital; Callista's end of year recital |Post|
- 24th May; CS Glasgow Weekly Meet; Why not come along to this week's saturday Meeting of Glasgow Couch-Surfers and like-minded folks at "Mono" in the Merchant City . .|Event|
- 24th May; EuroVision Party!!l; Eurovision song contest party |Post|
- 24th May; Africa Day Party!; celebrate the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was in July 2002 succeeded by the present African Union |Post|
- 30th May; Rock n roll/jazz/blues/folk/country/FOOD - all for a £5'r!;Benefit Concert in Smiths Hotel on Friday 30th May for Kirkintilloch Town Hall Preservation Campaign featuring various artistes and music including folk blues jazz country and rock n roll and a buffet - all for a fiver! |Post|
CS Glasgow News
VSO Youth Exchange
Glasgow Host Homes Wanted!
Experience a different culture from the comfort of your own home
Global Xchange is an exciting international and cross cultural youth exchange programme run by VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas) in partnership with the British Council and funded by BAA and v, the youth volunteering charity.
The programme aims to bring together young people from different cultures and make a real difference to communities in the UK and overseas. It also enables young people to develop their own skills and have a once in a lifetime experience.------
In late March, a team of 18 volunteers (aged 18-25) from the UK and Syria will arrive in Glasgow to spend over 6000 hours engaged in voluntary work and local community projects for 10 weeks. We are looking for people to accommodate pairs of volunteers for all or part of this period.
- A weekly allowance of ?75 is provided & only one room is needed* Anyone can be a host - singles, couples, families, young, old...*
Volunteers are CRB checked * 2 supervisors are on hand to offer support For more information contact:Rohanna Law, Programme Supervisor 07968 506 324
Check this post for more details and contact info
Gig-Swapping
Stay tuned...
General Tips
Safety:
For emergency Police, Ambulance, Fire Service or Coast Guard, dial 999, free from any phone.
Related Articles: Safety|Safety for surfers
Couches:
Please try & make you couch request personal! During periods of cheap flights, couchsurfers often get a whole lot of copy and paste style requests at once, so mention something from a host's profile, maybe check this wiki, links, the world wide web or your guide book to find out if there is something you are interested in doing/seeing, if in doubt, ask a local.
If you are having loads of trouble finding a couch before you arrive (which is common during Christmas/new year), you can make a last minute request in the group, can't hurt, if you still don't have any luck, check the hostels below, alternatively, if you are a member of hospitality club or bewelcome, you could try your luck there....
Related Articles: How to write a CouchRequest|Cheat Sheet
Meetings:
This city is more about the people than the place, join a local meeting! if nothing is happening, create a local meeting!
Related Articles: Meetings and Events|How to make a good meeting
Travel:
Glasgow kind of has two Airports, not a big deal on the way in, but on the way out make sure you know which one you are going too, you may miss your flight if you turn up at the wrong one, and it's a £60 taxi journey from airport to airport and maybe a hefty ticket upgrade if you miss you flight.
For ride-shares or carpooling, try Glasgow Gumtree.
Related Articles: Ecological traveling|Rideshares|Checklist for long-term travel
Insider Information
- Melo - Glasgow is full of great (and not so great) buskers but none quite like Melo, his usual spot is on Buchanan St, he's the guy playing the reggae, stop and chat with him, he's always up for banter - my favourite moment in Glasgow was walking down Buchanan St during a total downpour, and there's Melo squeezed under a tiny tarpaulin sheet with his band rocking out in the rain!
Good Hangouts
Daytime
- Kelvingrove Park - During the Summer months this park, chocked full of tree's and rolling hills, becomes an unmissable part of Glasgow, with people everywhere, picnics, barbecues, juggling, poi, capoeira, dancing, and often after dark you can hear African drum's and spot performing artists playing with fire down by the river. All summer there is even more going on that meets the eye.
Evening
Night-time
No Time To Spare?
- work in progress - what are the 'must see' elements of Glasgow, where should surfers start, spend and finish the day in order to get the most from the city? subject to taste, sure.
Can't Find A Couch?
AARGH! Can't find a couch in time! It happens now and then, especially over festive and holiday periods when many hosts are out of the city or too busy.
Remember you can make an emergency request in the group but if that doesn't work these may be a useful backup;
| Glasgow Hostel 8 Park Terrace, | Blue Sky Hostel West 3 Bank Street, |
| Euro Hostel 56 Berkeley Street, Charing Cross., | Globetrotters Berkley st, |
Travel
By Air
BEWARE - there are two airports with the name "Glasgow": Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Don't get them confused!
Glasgow International Airport (GLA) is situated about 8 miles west of the city centre. You can travel into the city centre either by bus or by train from Paisley's Gilmour Street railway station. For more information, see the airport's website: http://www.glasgowairport.com/portal/site/default/menuitem.07debed571aba8f73bcdea10c02865a0/
Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) is situated about 32 miles south west of Glasgow. There is a dedicated railway station for Glasgow Prestwick Airport and you can get 50% discount on rail travel to or from anywhere in Scotland. The journey to Glasgow on the train takes 50 minutes. You can also take a bus from Buchanan bus station to Glasgow Prestwick Airport. For more information, see the airport's website: http://www.gpia.co.uk/AirportInfo/HowTo/links.asp
By Rail
Diagram showing local rail services in the SPT (Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) area: http://www.spt.co.uk/rail/images/rail_network_2007.pdf
The rail network in the SPT area is the largest suburban rail network outside London (186 rail stations).
By Bus
You can look at and/or download a colour keyed (and quite complicated) Map of Glasgow Bus Routes from First Bus. On First Buses, you can ask the driver for a single ticket when you get on and he or she will tell you the price. Within the city centre, single fares range from £0.85 up to £1.50. The driver will NOT give you change so make sure that you have plenty of coins so you can give the right money. Some buses have an electronic board stating the name of the next stop.
The main bus and coach terminus is Buchanan Bus Station, which is situated north of Sauchiehall Street, between Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Glasgow Caledonian University. It provides local buses and inter-city coaches across Scotland and to the rest of the UK.
By Subway
Image:GlsgowSubway.png
Built in 1896, it's one of the oldest metros in the world. Originally operated by steam engines via cable traction, the line was electrified in 1935. From 1977 to 1979 the whole line was thoroughly reformed and reopened in 1980. The modern day SPT subway system passes through the city centre, west end and many sites south of the river Clyde, linking 15 stations in under 25 minutes; it's a really convenient way to get across town.
Times
Monday-Saturday (6:30-23:30) every 4 minutes at peak times, every 6 minutes during the day and every 8 minutes in the evenings.
Sunday (11:00-18:00) every 8 minutes
Tickets
Adult Single - £1.10
Adult Return - £2.20
7-Day Ticket - £10
10-Journey Ticket - £9
20-Journey Ticket - £17
Discovery Ticket (unlimited all day travel after 9.30) - £2.50
Spread the goodwill - if you are going to use the subway more than once in a day, buy a discovery ticket, it's cheap after all, and when you get to your last stop, give the discovery ticket to someone getting on so they can ride for free!
Festivals & Events
January:
- Celtic Connections - Annual - Celebrating traditional & modern Scottish folk music with three weeks of gigs, workshops and into the small hours dancing at the festival club...
February:
- Glasgow Film Festival - Annual - The UK's fastest growing film festival, The Glasgow Film Festival. With special star guests, glamorous events and gala screenings.
March:
- Magners Comedy Festival - Annual - Get set to flourish your gladioli, as March sees Dame Edna Everage top the bill at Magners’ Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
- Glasgow Art Fair - Annual - Snap up some art at the Glasgow Art Fair which features over 50 national and international galleries and art organisations.
April:
- Triptych - Last One in 2008! - Scottish Arts festival always features some of the best contemporary musical acts scotland has to offer, highlight will be the last ever triptych party at the arches....
May:
June:
- West End Festival - Annual - Including Mardi Gras parade, live music, films, food stalls, local history sessions, guided walks and family events.
July:
- Glasgow River Festival - Annual - Visiting vessels, dinghy sailing, power boating and jet skii Races, music, a fun fair and street performers throughout the area....
August:
- Hey You Get Off My Pavement - Annual - Festival on the pavement with a mix of indie bands from across Glasgow and beyond, no outside funders, no sponsors, any profit goes to charity...
- World Pipe Band Championships - Annual - Check the Group Post. bag pipe bands from around the world compete in full Scottish dress.
September:
October:
November:
December:
Links
(temporary, i'll put the into the related articles at a later date)
SeeGlasgow.com
The Glasgow Guide
MyVillage.com
Itchy
The List
Glasgow International Airport
Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Strathclyde Passenger Transport
Mega Bus
First Scotrail
Virgin Trains
Add To This Wiki
Maybe you live here and want to contribute insight into Glasgow life/geography/culture/whatever? Or you might be a CouchSurfer and found something you think we should know about? Or want to leave your thoughts on the city? Cool, well, this is a wiki, feel free to edit it yourself, or if you don't fancy fiddling with everything you can get in touch with clark either through his CS Profile or leave a message (or the content you want to add) at User talk:Westendmouse st.
This page is a draft. This is tentative, transient, and collaborative.
We the community are in the process of building this.
Please add what you think ideas, and rearrange things as
you see fit, but don't be quick to delete other people's ideas.
Categories: Draft | Europe | United Kingdom | Scotland
