It’s not quite a trip to the jungle, it’s not a tour through sparkling snowy waste, but exploring the side streets of Glasgow can be just as much a life-changing experience. It’s the music that does it, as I discovered on trips to the city in the last year. Live music happens in every street; not just in grand concert halls but in basements bars and attic clubs, in ageing art deco cinemas and old variety theatres, in subterranean tunnels where gigs are punctuated by passing trains, in vegan (yes vegan) cafes which would not look out of place in San Francisco. Live music transforms even the most battered parts of the city into an unforgettable experience – O2 Academy stands like a beached liner, a defiant dazzler on Gorbals edgelands. Barrowland is a beacon for rock bands the world over, The Arches and Sub Club rock the city underground and even the Apollo, long gone, absolutely refuses to die. All adding to the gritty, almost industrial strength of Glasgow’s cultural life. No wonder this is the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music. I explored Glasgow with the help of Walking Heads audio tours who have just produced Glasgow Music Tour as a free app.

www.walkingheads.net/

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You can walk up the see the Falls of Clyde where there is a manned area with telescopes by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. We saw the mother feeding her newly hatched chicks.

www.swt.org.uk/visit/falls-of-clyde-visitor-centre/
Google map: bit.ly/koo26P

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I took my partner there last week for a wonderful meal. Even though it's in the futuristic Xscape building, the inside of the restaurant is as traditional Italian as you can get. The meal and wine were fantastic!

www.bellaitalia.co.uk/
Xscape, Braehead, Glasgow, G51 4FB
+44(0)141 8867645
Google map: bit.ly/lJnk4K

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The Barrowland Ballroom is a hot, sweaty venue with a low ceiling which is virtually unchanged since the ballroom was rebuilt in 1960. It has excellent acoustics and a sprung dance floor (because of its original role as a ballroom) and is just the best place to see live bands. Although its capacity is limited to just under 2,000 it attracts big name bands because of the fantastic atmosphere - a reason it has remained popular with the punters for 50+ years. Have a look at the 1983 video of Simple Minds' single Waterfront, which was filmed there.
If you're in Glasgow check out who's playing in the local paper and go along if you can. Have a drink in the Saracen's Head pub, opposite, to sample the full flavour of a Glasgow night out!

244 Gallowgate, Glasgow G4 0TT
+44(0)141 552 4601
www.glasgow-barrowland.com/ballroom.htm
Google map: bit.ly/iSIsX6

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The building was discovered languishing as a council car park by Jim Smith, director of the Glasgow Jazz Festival in 1992. Since then the Old Fruitmarket has been reinvented as one of the most atmospheric venues in the UK. With its wooden boat-like roof, huge old clock and still retaining the old stallholders billboards from the time when it really was a market hall, the Old Fruitmarket is now a thriving venue for music, comedy and for festivals such as Celtic Connections and the Glasgow Jazz Festival. A refurbishment got rid of the cobbles that threatened many a high heel, strengthened the balcony, improved the heating and sealed the roof against the pigeon squatters, but did nothing to dilute its essential character. It's a large enough auditorium to hold 1500 standing, but still works cabaret style for under 100.

2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3NY
+44(0)141 353 8000
www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/oldfruitmarket
Google map: bit.ly/kpGXTm

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Very good Scottish restaurant. Pleasant interior, attentive service and very good value pre theatre menu and tasty food. Has other branches.

725 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 8QX
+44(0)141 334 6265
www.cailbruich.co.uk
Google map: bit.ly/fryMMV

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Voltaire and Rousseau is a bit of a mess. Books are piled floor to ceiling with no sense of hierarchy or order. Some books are buried so deep that it's unlikely that anyone will ever buy them. But that's also what's so great about the shop - you never know what literary treasures you might uncover. Watch where you step, though - the owner's cats are as much a part of the shop as the books and love to wander around the stacks.

12-14 Otago Lane, Glasgow, G12 8PB
+44(0)141 339 1811
Near Kelvinbridge Subway
Google map: bit.ly/cqCN4a

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Vegan restaurant that serves great food at real value for money prices. The food can be washed down with an excellent range of bottled beers. Table football is available to help you burn off the calories!
Service was excellent with a very warm welcome on the two nights we ate there.

12 Kings Place, off Trongate

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Its a small cocktail bar attached to the Abode Hotel, right in the centre of town. In my opinion, it beats off any competition regarding quality of cocktail in the city centre and merchant city. There are other bars with better atmosphere perhaps, but due to it never being too busy, the bartenders can spend more time with each customer to find out exactly what they want.

129 bath Steet, G2 2SZ

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An independent tearoom in the West End of Glasgow, the best spot I know to chill on a busy day or warm up on a cold one. Shisha pipes on the terrace, books and games inside, 80 types of tea, good vegetarian grub and sinful cakes by request.

42 Otago Lane, Glasgow G12 8PB, (0141) 357 4524
tchaiovna.com/who.php

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City sightseeing tour with live guide or multi-lingual commentary. It is amazing! Takes you on a huge sightseeing tour of the city and we hopped off at the People's Palace and Mitchell Library which were superb. Recommend also visiting Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow Cathedral, University West End area of Byres Road. Fantastic value for money. Interesting. Breathtaking architecture. Your ticket is valid for two consecutive days.

www.citysightseeingglasgow.com or Tourist Information, George Square also Buchanan Bus Station. You may also pay as you get on the bus.

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1- Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

Kelvingrove is the most visited museum in Scotland and the most visited in the UK outside of London. It recently underwent a massive refurbishment which has added new collections to its already impressive invitory.

2- Museum Of Transport

Everything from a horse and carriage to vintage steam trains are available here. A great place for kids or for a family day out, plenty to see.

3- Glasgow Cathedral

Worthwhile just to see the building itself, it is hundreds of years old and still looks magnificent, not bad inside either.

4- Burrell Collection

Located opposite the Kelvingrove Museum and well worth doing along with its more popular neighbor. Plenty to see from Ancient Egypt to information on Sir William Burrell who donated the collection.

www.seeglasgow.com
www.roomsinglasgow.com

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No visit to Glasgow is complete without a viewing of Dali's Crucifixtion 'Christ of St John of the Cross' controversial for its view of Christ from above, all depictions before this had been from the point of view of an observer looking up at Christ. The work is housed in the newly renovated and re-opened Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.

Also, if you have time, take a walk in the park next to the Museum. The park is a great spot for Glasgow people watching and a magnet for skateboarders, rollerbladers and stunt bike riders. You cannot not fail to bump into some Glasgow life in Kelvingrove park and like the painting it will be an alternative view.

The park and Museum do Glasgow proud, both a must visit.

www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/index.cfm?venueid=4

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Don't be put off by the formica tables and cheesy prints, for Chinese food in Glasgow this is the real deal. One of the few places in UK where you can discuss your meal with the waitress. Forget sweet and sour chicken - it's not that kind of place. Be prepared to wait in a queue on Friday and Saturday nights.

185 St Georges Road G3 6JD
0141 332 8828

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There's quite a few places to see jazz in Glasgow, these are the ones I'd recommend both for the music and the bars.

Every Saturday 5-7pm The Griffin: 266 Bath Street (just off Sauchiehall St)
Every Sunday 9pm:The 78: 10-14 Kelvinhaugh Street.
Every Wednesday 8pm Mono: 12 Kings Court
Every Thursday 9pm The Beer Cafe: 78 Candleriggs. G1 1NP

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