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Classy Edinburgh or cutting edge Glasgow -- Which style are you?
Get set for a high-fashion fling in Scotland.
By Ryan Jennings
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GLASGOW
Big picture Music, shopping and nightlife. Greater Glasgow has 2.1 million people and a history rich in design, architecture and the arts. The city is home to Franz Ferdinand and gave Oasis their big break. Remember the name Charles Rennie Macintosh-his work as an architect, designer and artist in the art nouveau and Japanese styles influenced much of the city's (and Europe's) design aesthetic at the turn of the last century.
The vibe "Glaswegians are very much into designer clothes -- Kate Moss-style," says Aitken. "There are labels on everything, and you never dress down-high heels and your Prada bag go everywhere. It is much more in your face." If you like to spend money, you won't have any problems splashing your cash in the U.K.'s second-best shopping city, after London. "Glasgow is much busier and bigger than Edinburgh. It has a huge amount of energy, and as soon as you're there you know you're in a big city -- but not in a bad way," says Aitken.
What to take An umbrella. Glasgow is generally warmer and less windy than Edinburgh, but it gets more rain.
Must-see spots Glasgow is a shopper's paradise with concentrated, pedestrian-only streets like Buchanan and Sauchiehall, and areas like the high-brow Merchant City and the Italian Centre. Everything's so close together, you can hop from the Miss Sixty boutique to the ELLE shop (that's right!) to Lacoste and Furla in Princes Square. If you like to see all your designers in one spot, stop in at Frasers, where you can satisfy your Gucci and Pringle itch. After a full day of credit card abuse, indulge in afternoon tea at one of The Willow Tea Rooms. From the architecture to the tables and chairs to the menu -- even the waitress uniforms -- everything was designed by Charles Rennie Macintosh.
Where to stay If you're looking for a contemporary spot to lay your head and still be within seconds of Buchanan Street, then Langs is the place for you. Treat yourself to one of the Manhattan-loft-style suites-they feel more like private apartments than cookie-cutter hotel rooms. And with two restaurants, two stylish bars and one of Glasgow's best spas on-site, it's the perfect place to come home to after a day of power shopping. (Did I mention how great the shopping is?)
Where to eat Glasgow has a large Indian population, so there are plenty of ethnic restos serving up great curries at reasonable prices, and you don't have to go far to find one. If you're looking for something a little more upscale, there's no beating Gamba. Fantastic service and pared-down decor create the ideal atmosphere to enjoy the best fish in the city. The Japanese- and French-influenced dishes, like Seared Swordfish with Chilli Jam, Rocket and Parmesan, is especially delicious.
Where to drink Stylish bars in converted Victorian buildings are worth a cocktail or two. Try Corinthian, which spans five floors of bars, a restaurant and party spaces in the former Union Bank of Scotland head-quarters. If you're looking for Celtic culture and some good tunes, head to the pubs that line the pedestrian Ashton Lane in the West End.
What to splurge on A kilt by Howie Nicholsby, the designer who brought us 21st Century Kilts and whose pleats have swirled around Vin Diesel's and Robbie Williams' hips. Darts are added to the front apron of women's kilts to flatter the figure, and the length can go "from the indecent to the floor." Nicholsby's designs skip tartan altogether in favour of oriental silks, pin-stripes and PVC. If leather is more your speed, you can expect to pay upwards of $2,000, but everything's made to order and one-of-a-kind doesn't come cheap.
In the limelight
Scottish Tourism Board www.visitscotland.com
Edinburgh Festivals www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk
The Scotsman www.thescotsmanhotel.co.uk
Langs www.langshotels.co.uk"
The Hallionwww.thehallion.com"
Gamba www.gamba.co.uk
21st Century Kilts www.21stcenturykilts.co.uk
Photo of the posh Balmoral hotel courtesy of Ryan Jennings
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