With lockdown slowly starting to ease across the UK, one still quite major issue is travel and what (if any) holidays will look like this year. Many people are thinking about this proactively and ditching their usual trips on planes for trains and automobiles, and instead doing staycations at home this year.
One city big on my list for a staycation is Glasgow. While Edinburgh is seen as the touristy spot in Scotland, especially in the summer, Glasgow is where you’ll find all the action and some unique activities. Don’t believe it? Well, here are some of my top choices for staycations activities anyone can try out in Glasgow this summer.
Glasgow Staycation Idea 1: Having a proper pint (and some scran) in Glasgow’s biggest food space
Pretty much all the big gigs and festivals which were supposed to take place this summer are either postponed to 2021 or cancelled altogether. This left many big venues with a free calendar, and while many venues have been completely shut up for the last few months, one venue has been planning to bring a little fun back to everyone’s calendars in Glasgow.
SWG3 in the trendy Finnieston area of town has been changing their outdoor venue, Galvanizers Yard, into a giant outdoor bar and restaurant. Considering that it is a large outdoor area though, the organizers might have to get to work so that the space doesn’t carry any surprises for the guests – uninvited pests or rodents, for example. Enlisting the help of commercial pest control services could be on their list before they open it up for a fun time. Putting strict measurements in place when you have almost 25,000 sq ft to play with, means you can still have plenty of people out in the summer sunshine enjoying a lovely cold beer and great food from local vendors.
You’ll have to pre-book on their app to reserve tables, and it’ll only be open Thursdays-Sundays, making for the ultimate weekend hangout spot.
Glasgow Staycation Idea 2: Take those cooking skills to the next level
Speaking of cold beer, the home of Scotland’s biggest beer has a secret behind its doors too. Tennent’s Lager doesn’t just brew thousands of litres of beer every week; they also train some of the best chefs in Scotland. The Tennent’s Training Academy is a cook school located in the ground of the brewery which has hospitality training courses and imaginative cooking classes for budding amateur chefs.
Their classes cover everything from making the perfect curry to becoming a BBQ master, to delicately making Afternoon Tea. And, of course, you’d be remiss if you didn’t have the chance to sample some of the freshest beer brewed on-site while cooking. If you’ve been cooking up a storm in the kitchen during lockdown and now consider it a fully-fledged hobby, this is the ideal activity for you.
Glasgow Staycation Idea 3: A silent disco in your car
One of the advantages of a UK staycation is that you can use your car to get there with your friends and have some extra freedom in how you get around. The majority of people who have a large group of friends tend to rent vehicles such as a minibus when they want to go on such disco outings. With many pubs, clubs, and cinemas still shut down and waiting on information on how they can re-open, you may have noticed a recent surge of pop-up drive-in cinemas across the country. To elevate the fun with friends during your staycation, consider opting for transport hire such as a party bus or minibus hire Glasgow. Having a dedicated and spacious vehicle adds an extra layer of enjoyment to your journey, creating a vibrant atmosphere for your group.
That idea goes even further when The Parking Lot Social rolls into town. The late summer tour will see it go all across Scotland with stops in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Aberdeen, and Dundee. The Glasgow leg of the “tour” has two movie nights, a family fun day and a silent disco.
If you’re the kind of person who will always crank up the dial on the radio and doesn’t care who can hear you sing in the car (whether or not you’re in tune) this unique experience is a must.
Glasgow Staycation Idea 4: Supporting local walking tours
The tourism industry has been hit quite hard by everything going on this year, and when it finally does get going again, I can’t recommend seeking out a walking tour enough. Glasgow walking tours will be able to operate almost as standard, although don’t be surprised if the tour guide is using their umbrella as a social distancing measuring stick.
Two tours of note you’ll want to book ahead for are The Wee Food Tour and the Glasgow Gander Walking Tour.
The Wee Food Tour is a weekly whirlwind tour of six of the best foodie spots in town, most of which aren’t in the guide books. Local guides will have you sampling new delights, and part of the ticket price goes towards local food banks, so it’s all for a good cause.
The Glasgow Gander Walking Tour is the highest rated walking tour and takes you around every significant building in the city centre in just 3 hours. You’ll get a full history of the likes of Royal Exchange Square, Buchanan Street and Merchant City. Oh, and did I mention it is free? You can find full information on their website.
Now go and explore Glasgow
I hope you enjoyed this article and now have a few things you can check out. If you’re planning a staycation in the UK this summer, make sure Glasgow is at the top of the list
