Scotland may be famous for clichéd representations of whisky, tartan and golf, but as the largest city north of the English border, Glasgow offers a diverse mix of activities for city-lovers with an eclectic cultural palate.

In Gaelic 'Glasgow' means 'Dear Green Place', and if you look at a map of the city, it's easy to see where its name came from. In Glasgow's West End, there is the impressive Kelvingrove Park, which is an 85 acre recreational area by the banks of the River Kelvin. It is home to a skate park, bowling and croquet greens, and is generally an extremely pleasant place to spend a sunny afternoon. Also in the West End is Glasgow's Botanic Gardens, which is a large public park housing several glasshouses and is a great place to relax and take in some amazing greenery any time of year.

The West End is where it all happens. Being home to Glasgow's world-renowned university the West End has a very youthful vibe and there are plenty of bars, shops and restaurants to visit. A wander along the cobbled backstreet of Ashton Lane may give the impression of being transported back to another time and place, but with a top class cinema and some fantastic eating establishments, the small street captures the imagination of native Glaswegians and tourists alike.

For sport lovers, it's probably safe to say that life in Glasgow revolves around football making it the perfect place for those with a penchant for the beautiful game.

From a historical perspective, Glasgow was home to the world's first ever officially recognised international football match, when Scotland and England battled for a no-scoring draw in front of 4,000 fans way back in 1872. The Scottish Football Museum, located within the Scottish national football stadium - Hampden Park - is certainly worth a visit for those keen to learn more about the origins of what is now one of the most popular sports in the world. Included in the display are the world's oldest national football trophy, match ticket and international cap.

Like any great modern city, Glasgow has its own underground rail system too. Known locally as ‘The Clockwork Orange', it is the third oldest subway system in the world and enables speedy, affordable transport between the city centre and west-end.

Given that the UK has an abundance of top cities, Glasgow may not receive the accolades it perhaps deserves. However, with three million visitors from around the UK and overseas each year, it should be known that Glasgow is a fantastic city and well worth a visit. There are a wide range of hotels in Glasgow, covering every budget and location requirement. So whether you're looking for top shopping, football or acres of green public space, Glasgow has it all.

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