Moving to Glasgow
IanAndOut
RoselandPosts: 33MI6 Agent
Hi all. I've just been accepted to the University of Glasgow for my postgraduate work and I'm in need of some help. I've never been to Glasgow, though I've always wanted to go, and I could use some advise from some of you who live there or know the area well. What are places that interest you? Good pubs? Where are some decent flats that a poor College kid can afford? Just list off anything you like or dislike. I just want to get a feel for my new city.
Comments
Anyway... I studied in Glasgow for 4 years, I worked in it for 9, and it was the centre of my social life for a good number of those years. Less so these days, but as the nearest major city to where I live (I'm 24 miles west, on the coast) it's still a huge draw for shopping, socialising, and all that jazz. So I know it very well.
First of all, the flats... Glasgow, as with the rest of the United Kingdom, is an expensive place - even for those of us that live here. I don't know how much research you've done on what rent etc. will cost you, so I'll save it in case you've read up on it till your blue in the face.
Glasgow University, as you'll know, lies in the west end of the city. The west end is the more arty, cooky, chilled and cosmopolitan part of town. It has a vibrant social scene and is home to more other world delis, cafés and weird shops that you could shake a stick at elsewhere in Glasgow. You want to try and live there, as it's by far the nicest area and it's handy for uni.
If you haven't done so already and decided against it, look into student accomodation (at least for a short spell). It'll be cost effective. If not, then flat share is obviously the next option. Areas to look in would be Hillhead, Partick, Yorkhill, Kelvinside (and North Kelvinside), Anniesland, Kelvingrove and Woodlands. Garnet Hill is pushing further to the city centre and is across the motorway (the M8 cuts through the city and is a bit of a 'border'), but still a decent enough area.
This website has some decent info on flathunting in the west end. There's also a newsagent on Byres Road in the west end that has a window full of flat share cards, but that's obviously only visible when you get here. Need any explanation on what "+council tax, TV licence" etc means, just give me a shout. (Of course, I'm assuming that you're coming from overseas, probably the US...if you're coming from Carlisle, then you're just taking the p*ss
Maryhill I'd avoid (though confusingly, areas of Maryhill Road are fine) and Whiteinch, Scotstoun, you're starting to edge into ropey territory. Drop me a PM if you want to know anything about an area or even a particular street.
The west end's social scene centres around Byres Road, Great Western Road and Ashton Lane. Glasgow, like any other town and city in the UK, is spoilt for choice when it comes to bars and pubs. There's plenty of decent places in the west end, and if I'm out in the city centre, I'd stick to Bath Street, Sauchiehall Street or further past the heart of town into the Merchant City, which is toward the east. You'll have no worries finding decent bars, at all.
Glasgow is Scotland's largest city and third largest city in the United Kingdom, so with it comes extensive shopping and entertainment venues, major bands and artists will tour and there's always something to see or do. Plenty of cultural stuff too, Kelvingrove Art Galleries (well worth a visit, and are free) for example.
Glasgow is an easy city to navigate, and getting around by bus and tube (which is a circular service, main public transport link between city centre and west end) is easy. The city has changed beyond all recognition from when even I was a student, there's massive development gone on in recent years and more yet to come as the city is beginning to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
But the really great thing about Glasgow is it's relative proximity to everywhere else in Scotland. An hour on the train and you're on the west coast, gateway to Argyll and the Clyde Islands (and where yours truly resides) Walking, biking, sailing, or just breath taking scenery. Loch Lomond is also less than an hour away, and you can be in the Highlands before you know it. Edinburgh is also less than 2 hours away, as is Stirling and St Andrews. All rather historic places and dead easy to get to.
You'll find the Scots friendly and helpful, and though I would say that, Glasgow is often lauded for it's friendliness. You'll also find them outspoken, proud, a little firey at times, but with good humour. Some of them may be a little difficult to understand as well.
Feel free to drop me a PM at any time if you want to know more or have any other questions, regardless of how daft they may sound to you! B-)
www.seeglasgow.com
www.visitscotland.com
Hopefully you're excited by it all, and I'm pretty certain you won't be disappointed!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=a0rgETg2Hoo