Where to stay · Glasgow · United Kingdom
Where to stay in Glasgow
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cutkiller2018, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in City Centre. Buchanan Street shopping, George Square and both main railway stations. Best alternatives — families: West End; nightlife: Merchant City.
Key facts
- First visit
- City Centre
- Families
- West End
- Budget
- City Centre
- Nightlife
- Merchant City
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | City Centre | Buchanan Street shopping, George Square and both main railway stations |
| Families | West End | University spires, Byres Road cafés and the cobbled bars of Ashton Lane |
| Couples | Merchant City | Restored 18th-century warehouses, cocktail bars and restaurants east of George Square |
| Budget | City Centre | Buchanan Street shopping, George Square and both main railway stations |
| Nightlife | Merchant City | Restored 18th-century warehouses, cocktail bars and restaurants east of George Square |
| Food lovers | Merchant City | Restored 18th-century warehouses, cocktail bars and restaurants east of George Square |
| Solo travellers | East End and Dennistoun | The Barras, the Barrowland Ballroom and Duke Street cafés |
| Shopping | City Centre | Buchanan Street shopping, George Square and both main railway stations |
| Quiet stays | West End | University spires, Byres Road cafés and the cobbled bars of Ashton Lane |
Glasgow neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and budget
City Centre
The Victorian grid between Glasgow Central and Queen Street stations holds the big shopping streets — Buchanan, Sauchiehall and Argyle Streets — plus George Square, the City Chambers and GoMA. It has the widest choice of chain and boutique hotels and the fastest links to the airport, the Subway and day-trip trains.
- Good
- Walking distance to most central sights; Both main stations on the doorstep; Large choice of hotels
- Watch out
- Busy, commercial feel by day; Parts of Sauchiehall Street feel run-down
- Nearby
- George Square, Buchanan Street, Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow Central station
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, nightlife and first-timers
Merchant City
The old tobacco and cotton merchants' quarter around Ingram Street, Candleriggs and Trongate is now the city's main dining and bar district, with converted warehouses, apartment hotels and the Trades Hall. It is a short walk to Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis one way and the shopping streets the other.
- Good
- Dense choice of restaurants and bars; Handsome streets; Walkable to the cathedral
- Watch out
- Noisy on weekend nights; Fewer large hotels than the centre
- Nearby
- Trongate, Glasgow Cathedral, George Square, Barras Market
$$$ · Best for couples, culture, food lovers, families and quiet stays
West End
Around the University of Glasgow and Kelvingrove Park, the West End has sandstone terraces, the Botanic Gardens, independent shops on Byres Road and Great Western Road, and Ashton Lane's bars and cinema. Kelvingrove and the Hunterian are within walking distance, and Hillhead and Kelvinbridge Subway stations reach the centre in under ten minutes.
- Good
- Leafy and attractive; Good independent cafés and restaurants; Museums and parks within walking distance
- Watch out
- More guesthouses than large hotels; A Subway ride from the cathedral and East End
- Nearby
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, University of Glasgow, Ashton Lane
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife and couples
Finnieston
Finnieston's stretch of Argyle Street turned from a shabby high street into one of Glasgow's best eating streets, with seafood, small-plates restaurants and cocktail bars. It is next to the SEC, the OVO Hydro arena and the Finnieston Crane, which makes it convenient for concerts and an easy walk to Kelvingrove.
- Good
- Strong restaurant scene; Handy for SEC and Hydro events; Between the West End and the river
- Watch out
- Hotel prices rise sharply on big concert nights; Few classic sights in the street itself
- Nearby
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Finnieston Crane, SEC and OVO Hydro, Riverside Museum
$$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and families
Southside
South of the Clyde, areas such as Shawlands, Strathbungo and Pollokshields mix grand tenements and villas with cafés and pubs, and Queen's Park gives a free view back over the city. Pollok Country Park with the Burrell Collection and Pollok House is close by, and suburban trains reach Glasgow Central in about ten minutes.
- Good
- Residential and relaxed; Close to the Burrell and Pollok Park; Good-value guesthouses and rentals
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Train or bus needed for most sights
- Nearby
- Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park, Queen's Park, Hampden Park
$ · Best for budget and solo travellers
East End and Dennistoun
East of the Merchant City, the old East End has Glasgow Green, the weekend Barras market and the Barrowland Ballroom music venue. Dennistoun, around Duke Street and Alexandra Parade, is a tenement neighbourhood with cafés and bakeries and a walk of about 20 minutes to the cathedral.
- Good
- Lower prices; Local, everyday atmosphere; Near the cathedral and Necropolis
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Some streets feel deserted at night
- Nearby
- Barras Market, Glasgow Green, Glasgow Necropolis, Celtic Park
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| City Centre | $$ | George Square, Buchanan Street, Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow Central station |
| Merchant City | $$$ | Trongate, Glasgow Cathedral, George Square, Barras Market |
| West End | $$$ | Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, University of Glasgow, Ashton Lane |
| Finnieston | $$$ | Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Finnieston Crane, SEC and OVO Hydro, Riverside Museum |
| Southside | $$ | Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park, Queen's Park, Hampden Park |
| East End and Dennistoun | $ | Barras Market, Glasgow Green, Glasgow Necropolis, Celtic Park |
Getting to your hotel
Glasgow Airport is about 13 km west of the city centre; the Glasgow Airport Express bus reaches the centre in roughly 15–25 minutes depending on traffic, and taxis take a similar time. Glasgow Prestwick Airport is about 50 km south-west and has its own railway station, with trains to Glasgow Central in under an hour. Edinburgh Airport is also usable, about an hour away by tram, train or bus.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Glasgow for first-time visitors?
City Centre. The Victorian grid between Glasgow Central and Queen Street stations holds the big shopping streets — Buchanan, Sauchiehall and Argyle Streets — plus George Square, the City Chambers and GoMA.
+Where should families stay in Glasgow?
West End: Leafy and attractive.
+Which area of Glasgow is best for a budget stay?
City Centre ($$): Buchanan Street shopping, George Square and both main railway stations.