I returned to UK city where I lived in 90s and was shocked by what it looks like now

Fiona Whitting took a travel to vibrant Glasgow - the metropolis that is often overshadowed by its much fashionable sister city, Edinburgh - to observe wherefore it's deserving of conscionable arsenic overmuch love

While immoderate mightiness reason that Glasgow lacks the prestige of Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, Fiona Whitting embarked connected a travel to the lively metropolis wherever she erstwhile studied, to uncover wherefore it deserves arsenic overmuch affection arsenic its much renowned sibling.

During a metropolis walkabout, she encountered an American tourer who remarked: ''Edinburgh is similar Disneyland everything's geared towards the tourist. Glasgow, nevertheless there's a existent city."

Fiona recovered herself successful implicit statement - though she confessed her ain partiality, having been a pupil there. She recalled: "Back past the metropolis assembly had conjured up a clever branding tag Glasgow's Miles Better aimed astatine boosting its image. Locals knew it was truly a veiled excavation astatine its glitzier neighbour Edinburgh."

On the circuit of Glasgow's thoroughfare murals, usher Caron echoed these sentiments. She said: "Glasgow is afloat of unsocial charm. And, of course, the radical are amazing."

The circuit showcases immoderate of the striking artwork that embellishes assorted buildings, specified arsenic St Mungo a portrayal of Glasgow's laminitis and a patron of the metropolis holding a robin connected his finger, painted by a prolific creator named Smug. There are besides 2 monolithic murals of comedian Billy Connolly, a autochthonal of the city, and 1 of a mates successful a loving clasp falling done the aerial painted by The Rebel Bear dubbed Glasgow's Banksy owed to their concealed identity.

This was a broadside of Glasgow that Fiona, being comparatively new, had ne'er witnessed before. Glasgow's stunning River Clyde regeneration is simply a caller broadside to the metropolis that's worthy exploring.

Once globally recognised for its shipbuilding prowess, the Clyde fell into disrepair pursuing the industry's diminution successful the 1960s. However, caller revamps person transformed the stream banks into bustling leisure venues and stylish flats.

Fiona and her person Beth decided to research this by taking the Clyde Ride connected a RIB Boat. She said: "The travel sped america past sights similar Finnieston Crane, a immense disused cantilever crane that remains a awesome of Glasgow's engineering heritage, and the modern 'squiggly bridge' a pedestrian stream crossing truthful named due to the fact that of its lazy S shape. "

After their vessel ride, they visited the Riverside Museum, a tribute to transport and technology that celebrates Glasgow's relation successful shipbuilding and engineering. The striking building, which opened successful 2011, was designed by renowned designer Dame Zaha Hadid and features a solid beforehand and a zig-zag extortion that mimics a wave.

Highlights included a partition stacked with full-size cars, including a Rolls-Royce Phantom II, a cobbled thoroughfare reminiscent of aged Glasgow and the Clyde-built gangly vessel Glenlee docked outside.

After their exploration, they stopped by the Prancing Stag, a hidden gem of a edifice known for its delicious food, affable unit and pleasantly unpretentious atmosphere. Fiona said: "Menus were based astir seasonal Scottish produce, with starters similar westbound seashore fish, crab and sweetcorn cakes, smoked salmon with smoked trout rillettes, and Loch Fyne scallop with pea and ham hough (the Scots equivalent of hock) pancake.

"Mains included saddle of Cairngorm roe cervid and fillet of reddish gurnard with langoustine and caviar successful a shellfish bisque. Believe me, they each tasted arsenic bully arsenic they sound."

The duo lodged astatine the conveniently located metropolis centre Radisson Blu, conscionable a stone's propulsion from Central Station wherever they had arrived by train.

"The travel takes conscionable four-and-a-half hours from London and 2 hours 20 from Preston wherever Beth had joined maine with services each hour. It surely bushed driving."

Having some studied successful Glasgow, Beth and Fiona couldn't defy a travel to the West End, location to the University of Glasgow. Fiona remarked: "The Gothic buildings of the assemblage itself said to beryllium the inspiration for Hogwarts remained impressive, portion recently transformed Finnieston proved to beryllium a caller gem. Once run-down, it's present location to creation and trade studios, cafes and Dockyard Social, a chill thoroughfare nutrient marketplace wherever we tucked into baked mackerel with murphy salad, chickenhearted bao buns and watermelon daiquiris."

Back successful the metropolis centre, the brace relished yet much unthinkable Scottish cuisine.

"At the trendy Table Twenty Eight successful Merchants Square mall, we engaged successful affable banter with the unit portion savouring plump and juicy Shetland mussels successful a mouth-watering cider and sriracha broth and pan-fried salmon successful a creaseless Mangalore curry condiment with achromatic mustard and curry leafage potatoes.

"Meanwhile, astatine Maison by Glaschu, a blase French brasserie connected Princes Square, I indulged successful the largest portion of seared tuna ever connected a crockery nicoise, portion Beth enjoyed caller tagliatelle successful a chickenhearted and food sauce. The shellfish tempura was besides a hit.

"New and old, we'd had a splendid sampling of Glasgow's delights. Who says you should ne'er spell back?"

Plan your trip

Avanti West Coast fares from London Euston to Glasgow commencement astatine £33 1 way; Preston starts astatine £12.50. avantiwestcoast.co.uk.

Accommodation astatine the Radisson Blu edifice successful Glasgow begins astatine £126 a nighttime for furniture and breakfast. radissonhotels.com.

For much information, sojourn visitscotland.com, visitglasgow.com.