As a nation, Scotland is terribly proud of her heritage. Dating back to the Scottish Renaissance of the 1930's, this is a country desperate to prove her worth and discover her identity. Authors, poets, businessmen, PR people etc are all just dying to give Scotland a defining image. My advice to them, and also to those seeking a taste of real Scottish culture would be to visit the West End of Glasgow, the 2004 'City of Style'. Why the West End? Well, it's one of the oldest parts of the city, for one thing, meaning the area is a hotbed of history and thus national culture. The University alone is a historic building that draws thousands of tourists a year (ha ...  Read the complete review

I've lived in the westend for over 5 years now and love it. There is so much around, restaurants, good pubs (much cheapness due to high student population), supermarkets and fabulous little independent shops. If you are planning on visiting Glasgow I would advise finding a B&B/hotel in the westend as due to the students its probably the safest part of the city. I have certainly never encountered any problems - although I would advise the typical common sense when in a city, never walk at night on your own etc. Also Ashton Lane, just off Byres Road is like nowhere else! Little craft shops, a small cinema and restaurants and pubs in a cobbled street that ...  Read the complete review

The Westend is probably the most cosmopolition area of Glasgow due to the large amount of students from all over the world that come to study in the city and seem to mainly reside here. I lived in the Westend of Glasgow while I was working for BBC Scotland in a bedsit in a lovely area known as Athole Gardens. I have very fond memories of my time there and would dearly love to still live there but it is a costly area to live in. It is expensive firstly because of the property prices (I have spacious flat in the Eastend for the cost of my bedsit in the Westend) and secondly because there are so many great pubs and eateries to spend your money hard earned money ...  Read the complete review

Living in the west end of Glasgow was quite possibly the best year of my life. Glasgow is the fabbest place I have ever lived and I think that west-end is just the best place ever. The west-end comprises Glasgow University, a museum, a little high street with it's own underground station , which takes you into the city centre in only 5 minutes. There's the lovely botanic gardens too. Loads of fantastic pubs down Ashton Lane and a yummy restaurant called the Ubiquitous Chip. And the local delicay of pakora is available in many eateries. and so much more. bah. why did I ever move to London? ...  Read the complete review

Glasgow's west end is unlike anywhere else in the city. With Glasgow University and the BBC Scotland Studios in the area it has developed into a home from home for the more bohemian types. Some might call it Glasgow's equivalent to the Village in New York what with it's bars, coffe shops and slightly left field feel. Despite myself I like the place. Yeah it's too studenty and yeah it's full of luvvies but there is a great vibe about the west end - there is a more relaxed pace to life which you just don't get anywhere else in the city. The main street is known as Byres Road and can be found by taking the underground to Hillhead ...  Read the complete review