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Andrew Scotland · Guest

By Victoria Brenan

Ask anyone who hasn't been to Glasgow what they think of it and the
reply is invariably the same.

The city has long battled a public perception - that of derelict
buildings and despair - which couldn't be further from the truth.

Crowned European City of Culture in 1990, Glasgow has forged onwards
and upwards and was recently voted one of Europe's top tourist
destinations, with designer shops to rival Edinburgh, a host of
museums, concert halls, and festivals, all set against a backdrop of
stunning Victorian architecture.

Since the 1980s - when Mr Happy burst onto the scene with his
"Glasgow's miles better" slogan - the city has been undergoing
something of a renaissance.

The cheery yellow Mr Man has long since gone, to be replaced most
recently with "Glasgow - Scotland with Style". And it's a style
which seems to have made an impression - the city was voted best in
the UK at a national travel magazine awards ceremony this month.

The city centre itself - Scotland's main shopping destination -
is a vibrant hub of stores, restaurants and bars. Retail outlets cater
for every taste - from the traditional Marks and Spencer (including
one of the largest in the UK) and several branches of Next, to Karen
Millen, Coast, Jigsaw, LK Bennett, and Dune.

Sitting alongside the high street chain stores is the Italian Centre,
on John Street, aimed at those with a few [thousand] pounds in their
pocket and home to Emporio Armani and the only branch of Versace in
Scotland.

Glasgow's main shopping thoroughfare, on Buchanan Street, houses the
country's largest Frasers department store and the unique
188-year-old Argyll Arcade, one of the UK's oldest covered shopping
areas and containing 30 jewellery shops.

Nearby Buchanan Galleries is the newest shopping centre containing 80
stores, including John Lewis, H&M, Habitat and Mango.

And if all the retail therapy gets too much, Glasgow's Gallery of
Modern Art, situated in Royal Exchange Square and surrounded by
pavement cafes and bars, is just a few minutes walk away.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum reopened this summer after a £28
million refurbishment and is well worth a visit. Home to 22 galleries,
the imposing, red-brick building is situated in the "west end" -
a short bus ride away on the red hop-on, hop-off tourist buses.

Housing everything from fine art and archaeology, arms and armour, the
museum (free to visit) has taken a 21st century turn and is now
complete with a multi-sensory cinema and new discovery centres. And
after an action-packed day around the shops and art galleries,
there's no shortage of places to eat and drink.

Dozens of bars and restaurants are packed around the city centre,
serving food from Thailand to north America.

We ate at the popular and lively Cafe Mao on Brunswick Street, boasting
a wide selection of Asian food, and close to our accommodation in the
four-star Fraser Suites in Albion Street.

The Metropolitan in nearby Candleriggs offers an extensive cocktail
range, and Blu, on Trongate, provides an ideal location for relaxing
with a glass of post-shopping wine.

Glasgow's ongoing renaissance was celebrated at the weekend with the
annual Merchant City festival, set in the district once home to the
tobacco giants at the turn of the century.

More than 300 events took place across the city including performances
by the Scottish Opera, international street theatre, and a French
market in Candleriggs. Adam Hills and Jason Byrne, both stars of
Edinburgh's Fringe, headlined the comedy programmes in the old
Fruitmarket.

Glasgow's renaissance looks set to continue and while the city can
stage events like that, it continues to "smile better" for decades
..

Accommodation: Victoria Brenan stayed at the Fraser Suites serviced
apartments in Albion Street (www.frasersuitesglasgow.co.uk) priced £75
per night if booked via the internet.