Glasgow city centre brings culture, food and nightlife together within a compact area. You can visit a gallery in the morning, explore Merchant City in the afternoon and find live music or cocktails after dinner. When you stay at PREMIER SUITES PLUS Glasgow George Square, you have many of these experiences close to your apartment.
Glasgow has a strong identity shaped by its architecture, music, industrial history and creative communities. The city also has a food scene that covers Scottish cooking, international restaurants, cafés, street food and late night dining.
Here is how you can make the most of Glasgow city centre during your stay.
Discover Glasgow’s Culture
You do not need to travel far to experience Glasgow’s culture. The streets around George Square, Royal Exchange Square and Merchant City contain galleries, theatres, music venues and buildings connected to the city’s past.
Visit the Gallery of Modern Art
The Gallery of Modern Art, often known as GoMA, sits in Royal Exchange Square. It displays modern and contemporary works from Glasgow and further afield.
Entry to the main exhibitions is free, making it a useful addition to your plans when you have a spare hour. The building itself is also worth seeing. Outside, you will often find the Duke of Wellington statue wearing its familiar traffic cone.
GoMA is within walking distance of PREMIER SUITES PLUS Glasgow George Square, so you can visit without planning a full day around it.
Follow the City Centre Mural Trail
Glasgow’s City Centre Mural Trail turns walls, lanes and empty spaces into public artworks. The murals feature wildlife, local figures and scenes connected to Glasgow life.
Following the trail lets you see streets you may otherwise miss. You can complete parts of the route while moving between George Square, Merchant City and the shopping district.
It is also a free way to explore Glasgow city centre and take photographs during your stay.
Entdecken Sie die Kathedrale von Glasgow und die Nekropole
Glasgow Cathedral is one of the city’s main historic landmarks. Its stone interior and medieval architecture offer a contrast to the shops and offices of the modern city centre.
Behind the cathedral, the Glasgow Necropolis rises above the surrounding streets. This Victorian cemetery contains monuments, statues and views across the city.
The cathedral area is around a twenty minute walk from George Square. You can also reach it by local transport.
See a Performance
Glasgow has a packed cultural calendar. Depending on your travel dates, you may find theatre, comedy, classical music or touring productions taking place nearby.
Venues to check include:
• Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
• Theatre Royal Glasgow
• Tron Theatre
• City Halls
• The Old Fruitmarket
The Royal Concert Hall is close to Buchanan Street, while the Tron Theatre, City Halls and The Old Fruitmarket are located around Merchant City.
Check performance times before your visit, particularly on weekends and during festivals.
Where to Eat in Glasgow City Centre
Glasgow city centre gives you plenty of choice at every price point. You can sit down for a full Scottish meal, stop for coffee and cake or try dishes from across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Eat Your Way Around Merchant City
Merchant City is one of the main food and drink areas near George Square. The neighbourhood is known for its old buildings, cobbled streets and mix of restaurants, cafés and bars.
Merchant Square is a useful place to begin. Set inside a former market building, it contains several places to eat and drink under one roof. You can visit for lunch, dinner or an evening drink without needing to move between different streets.
The surrounding streets, including Candleriggs, Ingram Street and Virginia Street, offer more restaurants and bars.
Try Scottish Food
A visit to Glasgow gives you the chance to try traditional Scottish dishes. Menus vary, but you may find:
• Haggis served with neeps and tatties
• Cullen skink made with smoked haddock and potatoes
• Scottish salmon
• Steak pie
• Cranachan made with cream, oats, raspberries and whisky
• Tablet, a sweet Scottish treat
You will also find modern versions of Scottish dishes in restaurants across the city centre. Vegetarian and plant based versions of haggis are common too.
Stop for Coffee or Brunch
Glasgow has a large café scene. You will find independent coffee shops and brunch spots around Merchant City, Gordon Street, West Nile Street and Buchanan Street.
A slower breakfast can work well after a night out. You can also pick up coffee before starting a morning of shopping or sightseeing.
Make Use of Your Apartment Kitchen
Eating out for every meal can become expensive, particularly during a longer stay. Your apartment at PREMIER SUITES PLUS Glasgow George Square includes a fitted kitchen and dining area.
You can prepare breakfast before heading out, store snacks and drinks or cook dinner when you want a quieter evening. Shops and supermarkets are available throughout Glasgow city centre, so it is easy to pick up what you need.
Experience Glasgow’s Nightlife
Glasgow is recognised for its live music, clubs, pubs and performance spaces. You can plan a full night out or keep things simple with dinner and a drink near your apartment.
Start in Merchant City
Merchant City is a good choice when you want restaurants and bars within a short distance of each other. You will find cocktail bars, pubs, wine bars and venues hosting entertainment.
The area tends to get busier on Friday and Saturday nights. Booking ahead can save you from waiting for a table, especially when a large event is taking place in the city.
Find Live Music
Music plays a major role in Glasgow’s cultural life. The city has produced well known bands and continues to support new performers.
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut is one of Glasgow’s best known small music venues. You can also find live performances in pubs and bars across the centre, with everything from acoustic music to traditional Scottish sessions.
Larger concerts take place at venues throughout Glasgow, so it is worth checking listings before your trip.
Explore Sauchiehall Street and Bath Street
Sauchiehall Street and Bath Street are established nightlife areas. They offer pubs, late bars, music venues and clubs.
You can begin with dinner closer to George Square before walking or taking a short taxi to this part of the city. Some venues stay open late, while others focus on live entertainment or drinks earlier in the evening.
Choose a Theatre or Comedy Night
Nightlife does not have to mean clubs. Glasgow has regular comedy nights, theatre performances and touring shows.
A theatre or comedy booking can give your evening a clear plan. You can have dinner beforehand and return to your apartment without a long trip across the city.
A Simple Day in Glasgow City Centre
You can fit a lot into one day without rushing.
-
- Start with breakfast in your apartment or at a nearby café.
-
- Walk to GoMA and explore the current exhibitions.
-
- Follow part of the City Centre Mural Trail.
-
- Stop for lunch in Merchant City.
-
- Walk towards Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis.
-
- Return to your apartment to rest and get ready.
-
- Head out for dinner, drinks, live music or a performance.
This plan keeps most of your day within walking distance of George Square.
Stay at PREMIER SUITES PLUS Glasgow George Square
PREMIER SUITES PLUS Glasgow George Square gives you a central base for exploring Glasgow’s culture, food and nightlife. The property overlooks George Square and places you close to Merchant City, Buchanan Street and public transport connections.
The apartments include separate bedrooms, open plan living spaces, dining areas and fitted kitchens. One bedroom and two bedroom options are available, making them suitable for solo visits, couples, families and groups.
You have more space than a standard hotel room and the freedom to follow your own routine. You can prepare food, relax in the lounge and enjoy a quieter place to return to after a busy evening.
Book your stay at PREMIER SUITES PLUS Glasgow George Square and experience Glasgow city centre from a location that keeps culture, dining and nightlife close by.
