Art & culture

Image by Roddy Cunningham

When I need to just get away from it all and find some piece and quiet right in the middle of the city I like to go to the Mitchell Library. The Mitchell from the outside is an incredibly grand and opulent building that dates back to when Glasgow was a powerful and important ship building town.

At night the lights project upwards onto the carvings and sculptures making it feel ever so impressive. Inside is no different, with marble sculptures and figures at the end of every corridor.

I often come here if I have any type of university project to complete as its resources are endless and as of yet, there has been nothing that I have needed to find that I couldn’t find after searching and it is probably the only quiet spot in the whole city centre.

It also has great exhibitions on most of time about often about old Scottish history and culture. However, these often do cost a couple of pounds but they are usually worth the admission fee.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Mitchell Library | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
533 North Street | City Centre | +441412872999
Mon – Thu 09:00 – 20:00, Fri – Sat 09:00 – 17:00

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Image by Roddy Cunningham

When I have an hour or two to kill Offshore is a favourite spot for me. A simple and comfortable coffee shop located right beside The River Kelvin, Offshore is the first place to go when I want to sip a coffee and work on my laptop. It has comfy couches and big windows with cushions and is warm and light, which in winter makes it a great break from the cold. I quite like to come here with friends for a chat at lunch or in the evening, as obviously do other locals because it is always really busy.

It is a great place to go when I want free wi-fi because although there are plenty of places in Glasgow that comes with wi-fi most of them charge ridiculous fees for using them. The only thing they ask is that you buy something from them before use.

It does also make a really rice coffee, has a nice selection of cakes and sweets as well as sandwiches, soups and sometimes a stew or curry.

Downstairs there is normally an exhibition of photographs and prints, which, whenever I have been down, has been really good, and these are usually available to buy.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Offshore Cafe | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Expresso £ 1.60
3/5 Gibson Street | West End
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 22:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 22:00

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Image by Roddy Cunningham

When simply lounging about won’t do I’ll head over to Pollok Park on my bike. The park that won best European park 2008 has something for everybody. Whether its football, mountain biking, running or art there is always something to do.

It has numerous full sized football pitches and mountain bike trails that are all free to use and it also has the Burrell Collection- an art gallery which is definitely worth a look.

Sometimes, when I’m up in time, on a Saturday morning I take part in the 5k run that is also organised for free where up to 250 people frequently run around the marshalled track set within the grounds of the park.

Wandering around the park it is possible to see a local breed of cattle called the Highland Cow which is pretty impressive considering it is right in the middle of town.

Also a great place for a snowball fight this winter!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pollok Park | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
2060 Pollokshaws Road | South-West
Daily

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Image by Roddy Cunningham

Walking up probably the second busiest street in Glasgow you would be forgiven for just mistaking the CCA for any of the other numerous shops on Sauchiehall Street.

The Centre for Cotemporary Arts, or CCA as it is locally known, is cinema come shop come café-which serves nice affordable meals and artistically brewed coffees. Furthermore, being Glasgow, it wouldn’t be complete without the obligatory bar which itself stocks a good selection of draught and bottled beers that you can enjoy in on the new outdoor terrace.

The CCA primarily is a contemporary art gallery housing various exhibits and exhibitions all year round. These are put on by creative types from all over the globe and are always, unless I’m mistaken, free of charge. Being literally 30 seconds away from the Glasgow School of Art, expect to see a bundle of eccentric art students hanging around and expressing there opinion.

Exhibitions are generally fairly abstract, but make interesting viewing even to the untrained eye. The building is also really well designed and is worth a look, even if just for a couple of minutes.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Centre for Contemporary Arts | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea | Free
350 Sauchiehall Street | City Centre | +441413327521
Tue – Sat 11:00 – 18:00

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