Once upon a Whisky

Scotland’s biggest city is also arguably its youngest. Glasgow may have been founded some 1,500 years ago, but most of what you see today is much more recent. The nightlife is legendary, ranging from a lively clubbing scene to Scottish traditional music in lively bars and pubs. The city claims to be Scotland’s sporting capital, a claim which was reinforced when it was chosen to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Football is as much a local obsession as anywhere in Scotland, with all clubs maintaining a keen rivalry.

Glasgow can claim to be one of Scotland’s most ethnically diverse cities, and it has been since the 19th century. Glasgow’s industrial boom created huge demand for labour at a time when both the Scottish Highlands and Ireland were suffering extreme poverty and even famine, so tens of thousands of people migrated to work in Glasgow’s mills and shipyards. The city also had a sizeable Jewish community, and in the late 19th century, large numbers of Italians migrated to the city. About a century later, Glasgow attracted migrants from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and as a result you’ll find some of the best Asian food in Scotland here.