Glasgow city centre

Last updated

Glasgow City Centre is the central business district of Glasgow, Scotland. It is bordered by the Saltmarket, High Street and Castle Street to the east, the River Clyde to the south, and the M8 motorway to the west and north. It is made up of the areas of Garnethill, Blythswood Hill, and Merchant City, though parts of Cowcaddens, Townhead, Anderston and Calton also fall within its boundaries.

Contents

Retail and theatre district

Looking down Buchanan Street towards St Enoch subway station (looking down) Buchanan Street, Glasgow.jpg
Looking down Buchanan Street towards St Enoch subway station

The city centre is based on a grid system of streets, similar to that of Barcelona or American cities, on the north bank of the River Clyde. The heart of the city is George Square, site of many of Glasgow's public statues and the elaborate Victorian Glasgow City Chambers, headquarters of Glasgow City Council. To the south and west are the shopping precincts of Argyle Street, Sauchiehall Street and Buchanan Street, the latter featuring more upmarket retailers and winner of the Academy of Urbanism 'Great Street Award' 2008. [1] The main shopping centres are Buchanan Galleries and the St. Enoch Centre, with the up-market Princes Square and the Italian Centre specialising in designer labels. Glasgow is generally recognised as the United Kingdom's second largest and most economically important retail sector after Central London. [2] [3] [4]

The city centre is home to most of Glasgow's main cultural venues: The Theatre Royal (home of Scottish Opera and formerly Scottish Ballet which now resides in The Tramway Theatre), The Pavilion, The King's Theatre, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Film Theatre, Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), Mitchell Library, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, McLellan Galleries and The Lighthouse Museum of Architecture, Design and the City. The world's tallest cinema, the eighteen-screen Cineworld, is situated on Renfrew Street. The city centre is also home to four of Glasgow's higher education institutions: The University of Strathclyde, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow Caledonian University.

Merchant City

The Tolbooth Steeple dominates Glasgow Cross and marks the east side of the Merchant City. Glasgow Tolbooth Steeple, Glasgow.jpg
The Tolbooth Steeple dominates Glasgow Cross and marks the east side of the Merchant City.

To the east is the commercial and residential district of Merchant City. The Merchant City was formerly the residential district of the wealthy city merchants in the 18th and early 19th centuries, particularly the Tobacco Lords from whom many of the streets take their name. As the Industrial Revolution and the wealth it brought to the city resulted in the expansion of Glasgow's central area westward, the original medieval centre was left behind. Glasgow Cross, situated at the junction of High Street, Gallowgate, Trongate and Saltmarket was the original centre of the city, symbolised by its Mercat cross. Glasgow Cross encompasses the Tolbooth Clock Tower; all that remains of the original City Chambers, which was destroyed by fire in 1926. Moving northward up High Street towards Rottenrow and Townhead lies the 15th century Glasgow Cathedral and the Provand's Lordship. Due to growing industrial pollution levels in the mid to late 19th century, the area fell out of favour with residents. [5]

From the late 1980s onwards, the Merchant City has been rejuvenated with luxury city centre apartments and warehouse conversions. This regeneration has supported an increasing number of cafés and restaurants. [6] The area is also home to a number of high end boutique style shops and some of Glasgow's most upmarket stores. [7]

Royal Exchange Square at night (Merchant City) Glasgow Royal Exchange Square at night.jpg
Royal Exchange Square at night (Merchant City)

The Merchant City is the centre of Glasgow's growing 'cultural quarter', based on King Street, the Saltmarket and Trongate, and at the heart of the annual Merchant City Festival. The area has supported a huge growth in art galleries, the origins of which can be found in the late 80s when it attracted artist-led organisations that could afford the cheap rents required to operate in vacant manufacturing or retail spaces. [8] The artistic and cultural potential of the Merchant City as a 'cultural quarter' was harnessed by independent arts organisations and Glasgow City Council, [8] and the recent development of Trongate 103, which houses galleries, workshops, artist studios and production spaces, is considered a major outcome of the continued partnership between both. [9] The area also contains a number of theatres and concert venues, including the Tron Theatre, the Old Fruitmarket, the Trades Hall, St Andrew's in the Square, Merchant Square, and the City Halls. [10]

A large part of Glasgow's LGBT scene is located within the Merchant City. This includes many clubs, along with a couple of saunas. Recently the city council defined (and perhaps expanded) the area known as Merchant City as far west as Buchanan Street, marking these boundaries with new, highly stylised metal signage. [11]

Financial district

Clyde Arc, also known as "Squinty Bridge" ClydeArc.jpg
Clyde Arc, also known as "Squinty Bridge"

To the western edge of the city centre, occupying the areas of Blythswood Holm and the southern edges of Blythswood Hill, lies Glasgow's financial district, known officially as the International Financial Services District (IFSD), although often irreverently nicknamed by the contemporary press as the "square kilometre" or "Wall Street on Clyde". [12] Since the late 1980s the construction of many modern office blocks and high rise developments have paved the way for the IFSD to become one of the UKs largest financial quarters. With a reputation as an established financial services centre, coupled with comprehensive support services, Glasgow continues to attract and grow new business. Of the 10 largest general insurance companies in the UK, 8 have a base or head office in Glasgow - including Direct Line, Esure, AXA and Norwich Union. Key banking sector companies have also relocated some of their services to commercial property in Glasgow - Resolution, JPMorgan Chase, Abbey, HBOS, Barclays Wealth, Tesco Personal Finance, Morgan Stanley, Lloyds TSB, Clydesdale Bank, BNP Paribas, HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The Ministry of Defence have several departments and Clydeport, the Glasgow Stock Exchange, Student Loans Company, Scottish Executive Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department, BT Group, Scottish Qualifications Authority and Scottish Enterprise also have their headquarters in the district.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow</span> Largest city in Scotland

Glasgow is the most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in west central Scotland. The city is the third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom and the 27th-most-populous city in Europe. In 2022, it had an estimated population as a defined locality of 632,350 and anchored an urban settlement of 1,028,220.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow City Council</span> Scottish unitary authority council in Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow City Council is the local government authority for Glasgow City council area, Scotland. In its modern form it was created in 1996. Glasgow was formerly governed by a corporation, also known as the town council, from the granting of its first burgh charter in the 1170s until 1975. From 1975 until 1996 the city was governed by City of Glasgow District Council, a lower-tier authority within the Strathclyde region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Enoch Centre</span> Shopping mall in Glasgow, Scotland

The St. Enoch Centre is a shopping mall located in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland. The centre is located adjacent to St Enoch Square. The Architects were the GMW Architects. The construction, undertaken by Sir Robert McAlpine, began in 1986, and the building was opened to the public on 25 May 1989. It was officially opened by the then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in February of the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buchanan Street</span> Street in Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Buchanan Street is one of the main shopping thoroughfares in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. It forms the central stretch of Glasgow's famous shopping district with a generally more upmarket range of shops than the neighbouring streets: Argyle Street, and Sauchiehall Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowcaddens</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Cowcaddens is an area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It sits directly north of the city centre and is bordered by the newer area of Garnethill to the south-west and Townhead to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Central (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency, 2005 to 2024

Glasgow Central was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 2024. A Glasgow Central constituency existed from 1885 until its abolition in 1997. Prior to the 2005 general election, boundary changes led to a new constituency named Glasgow Central being introduced. The constituency was abolished again prior to the 2024 general election. Prior to its abolition, the seat was held by Alison Thewliss of the Scottish National Party (SNP). The first iteration of this constituency was the seat of the former Conservative Prime Minister Bonar Law, who was the shortest-serving UK Prime Minister of the twentieth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merchant City</span> Human settlement in Scotland

The Merchant City, a new name introduced through urban renewal by the Scottish Development Agency and the city council in the 1980s is one part of the metropolitan central area of Glasgow. It commences at George Square and goes eastwards reaching Glasgow Cross, in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. The eastern fringe of the Merchant City contains part of Glasgow's original medieval street plan, which stretches northwards towards neighbouring Townhead.

Blythswood Hill, crowned by Blythswood Square, is an area of central Glasgow, Scotland. Its grid of streets extend from the length of the west side of Buchanan Street to Gordon Street and Bothwell Street, and to Charing Cross, Sauchiehall Street and Garnethill. Developed from 1800 onwards, its Georgian and Victorian architecture is a Conservation Area. It started as the "Magnificent New Town of Blythswood", becoming a part of the city-centre's business and social life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sauchiehall Street</span> Shopping street in Glasgow city centre

Sauchiehall Street is one of the main shopping streets in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland, along with Buchanan Street and Argyle Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Inner Ring Road</span> Proposed road in Glasgow, Scotland, UK

The Glasgow Inner Ring Road is a partially completed ring road encircling the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Construction of the roads began in 1965, and half of its circumference was completed by 1972 - forming part of the wider M8 motorway, but no further construction was made and the remaining plans were formally abandoned in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trongate</span> Street in Glasgow

Trongate is one of the oldest streets in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Trongate begins at Glasgow Cross, where the steeple of the old Glasgow Tolbooth is situated, being the original centre of medieval Glasgow, and goes westward changing its name to Argyle Street at Glassford Street. In modern times, it forms the notional southern boundary of the Merchant City area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Financial Services District</span> Financial district in Glasgow, Scotland

The International Financial Services District (IFSD) is a financial district in the city of Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. Nicknamed "Wall Street on the Clyde", it ranked in the top 40 of international financial districts, ahead of cities including Brussels, Madrid, Helsinki, Milan and Dublin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Cross</span> Street in Glasgow City, Scotland, UK

Glasgow Cross is at the hub of the ancient royal burgh and now city of Glasgow, Scotland, close to its first crossing over the River Clyde. It marks the notional boundary between the city centre and the East End

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Enoch Square</span>

St. Enoch Square is a public square in Glasgow, Scotland, situated south of the junction of Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, two of the city's busiest shopping streets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Exchange Square</span> Public square in Glasgow, Scotland

The Royal Exchange Square is a public square in Glasgow, Scotland. The square lies between Buchanan Street and Queen Street, opening out Queen Street and Ingram Street to the south of George Square. It is also easily accessible from Buchanan Street on the west side of the square, through two prominent archways at Royal Bank Place. The square is a landmark due to its distinguished architecture which attracts many visitors. It is one of six squares in the city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliamentary Road</span> Former street in Glasgow, Scotland

Parliamentary Road was a major street in the Townhead area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, and was originally the district's main thoroughfare. Most of the street was removed by the late 1980s as part of successive regeneration schemes in Townhead and neighouring Cowcaddens, and as such almost none of the street remains evident to the present day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argyle Street, Glasgow</span> Thoroughfare in Glasgow

Argyle Street is a major thoroughfare in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saltmarket</span> Street in Glasgow City, Scotland, UK

The Saltmarket is a thoroughfare in the City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is a southward continuation of the High Street, running south from Glasgow Cross to the junction with Clyde Street and Crown Street by the River Clyde. It runs past the High Court of Glasgow and also Glasgow Green. Along with the High Street and Crown Street it forms part of the A8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blythswood Square</span> Square in Glasgow City, Scotland, UK

Blythswood Square is the Georgian square on Blythswood Hill in the heart of the City of Glasgow, Scotland. The square is part of the 'Magnificent New Town of Blythswood' built in the 1800s on the rising empty ground west of a very new Buchanan Street. These open grounds were part of the vast Lands of Blythswood stretching to the River Kelvin acquired by the Douglas-Campbell family in the 17th century. The Blythswood district, and its grid of streets, became a Conservation Area in 1970, because of its important architectural and historic buildings.

References

  1. ↑ The Academy of Urbanism : Awards https://web.archive.org/web/20080119212642/http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/awards.htm Retrieved 28-05-2008
  2. ↑ "Retail Ranking from Experian" (PDF). Business-strategies.co.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  3. ↑ "Top of the Shops - Gerald Eve Publishes Prime Retail". Prnewswire.co.uk. 5 November 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  4. ↑ "A Quick Guide To Glasgow". GlasgowCityCentre.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  5. ↑ "Glasgow's Merchant City: Historical Development". Merchant City Initiative. 2008. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  6. ↑ "Merchant City Glasgow: Restaurants and Cafés". Merchant City Glasgow - Merchant City Initiative. 2008. Archived from the original on 16 June 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  7. ↑ "Merchant City Glasgow: Shops". Merchant City Glasgow - Merchant City Initiative. 2008. Archived from the original on 16 June 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  8. 1 2 "Merchant City Glasgow: Galleries and Art". Merchant City Glasgow - Merchant City Initiative. 2008. Archived from the original on 16 June 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  9. ↑ "Trongate 103". 2008. Archived from the original on 1 November 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  10. ↑ "Merchant City Glasgow: Venues and Theatres". Merchant City Glasgow - Merchant City Initiative. 2008. Archived from the original on 16 June 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  11. ↑ Merchant City Glasgow http://www.merchantcityglasgow.com/
  12. ↑ "Let Glasgow flourish". Scotland: the official online gateway. Retrieved 29 July 2008.

55°51′46″N4°15′15″W / 55.86279°N 4.25424°W / 55.86279; -4.25424

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.