Whether you're looking for a place to have a cheap drink and listen to some live music or somewhere to dance the night away, Glasgow's got something for you.
In the West End, close to the University, there are a great selection of bars on Byres Road and Ashton Lane. These include Curlers, which is a favourite with students because of its great drinks offers, and Radio, a small bar playing great music, with a club upstairs. The West End is also home to Oran Mór, one of the most well-known live music venues and bars in the city.
The city centre also has its share of good value, entertaining nightspots. On Vincent Street there's King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, offering great music and reasonably priced drinks in a friendly, lively atmosphere. Walkabout is another popular spot, both as somewhere to watch sports and also somewhere to dance to the early hours.
Glasgow also has its share of theatres and cinemas so there's always something to do. The city hosts a huge number of festivals throughout the year too, from the Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival in March to the Merchant City Festival in September.
For more information about what's happening in Glasgow during your stay, check out www.seeglasgow.com or pick up a copy of the free Glasgow Diary.
272a St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland
This bar and live venue is really popular and gets very busy, especially on gig nights. The music is loud and predominantly rock or indie. Cocktails are offered from £3.80 and it's £1.60 for a bottle of Tennents. For any aspiring musicians, there's a letterbox on the wall inside the bar where you can drop in your CD for a chance to have it played in the bar. WiFi is available.
Open Mon-Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 6pm-12am.
256-260 Byres Road, Glasgow, Scotland
Popular with a younger crowd, this bar gets very busy, especially during term time as it's a student favourite. The staff are friendly and say Curlers is the “cheapest bar in the West End.” Any double spirit and a mixer is only £3.40 and it's only £2 for selected pints. The interior has low lighting and lots of seats, as well as big screen TVs, jukebox and pool table.
Open Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am Sum 12.30pm-11pm.
731-735 Great Western Road, Glasgow, Scotland
As well as an intimate live music venue, Oran Mór has a large whiskey bar. The main bar area is located in the middle of a large floor. Pictures of musicians decorate the walls and, as the building used to be a church, the interior is all stone walls and stained glass windows. According to some, it’s the most popular place in the West End.
Open Mon-Sat 9am-3am, Sun 12.30pm-3am.
1st Floor, 46 Ashton Lane, Glasgow, Scotland
Radio is small enough but has lots of comfy stools to sit on and plays a selection of really good music. It’s a busy place, especially on Wednesdays, when all drinks are only £1.40. There’s a quiz every Monday night from 9pm. Just upstairs from the bar, you’ll find the nightclub Nude, which serves selected cocktails for £2 from Sun to Thurs.
Open 7 days, 12pm-12am.
128 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland
Offering two levels of music and free entry before 10pm, this Australian sports bar and club has lots of tables, a very long bar, and flat screen TVs everywhere you look. Here you can get six shots for £5, vodka and a mixer for £1.50 and selected pints for £1.50. It’s generally very busy. WiFi available.
Open Mon/Tues 11am-12am, Wed 11am-1am, Thurs 11am-2am, Fri/Sat 11am-3am, Sun 12pm-1am.
17 Drury St., Glasgow, Scotland
A traditional, lively pub which is said to be Glasgow’s busiest. It’s horseshoe shaped bar is the longest in Britain.
71 Renfield St., Glasgow, Scotland
One of the new style Glaswegian establishments; this place oozes ‘cool’ with its retro decor and young, hip, right-on clientele.
226 Bath St., Glasgow, Scotland
This colourful three bar pub attracts a committed crowd of student regulars.
112 Stockwell St., Glasgow, Scotland
The pub where comedian Billy Connolly began his career telling jokes and singing folk songs. Its laid back ambience makes it popular with writers and artists. If you’re lucky you might stumble across some live folk music.
131 Byres Rd., Glasgow, Scotland
Although this is an old-fashioned bar it attracts a mixed crowd mainly due to its impressive beer selection including weekly guest ales and European fruit beers.
25 Queen St., Glasgow, Scotland
This huge nightclub caters for a mixed, young crowd who like their dance, hip-hop and garage.
490 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, Scotland
A medium-sized club that caters for indie/rock loving students who like their cover charges and drink cheap.
5 Scott St., Glasgow, Scotland
Another one loved by the beer swilling student sector. You’re guaranteed mainstream music at weekends and seventies and eighties classics midweek.
Oswald St., Glasgow, Scotland
This one is for people who love their music loud and live. Bands strut their stuff throughout the week.
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