GLASGOW
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. A person from Glasgow is known as a Glaswegian, which is also the name of the local dialect. Glasgow grew from the medieval Bishopric of Glasgow and the later establishment of the University of Glasgow in the 15th century, which subsequently became a major centre of the Scottish Enlightenment in the 18th century. Today it is one of Europe's top twenty financial centers and is home to many of Scotland's leading businesses. Glasgow is also ranked as the 57th most livable city in the world. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Glasgow grew to a population of over one million and was the fourth-largest city in Europe, after London, Paris and Berlin. The entire region surrounding the conurbation covers approximately 2.3 million people, 41% of Scotland's population.
The city centre is bounded by the High Street to the east, the River Clyde to the south and the M8 motorway to the west and north which was built through the Townhead, Charing Cross, Cowcaddens and Anderston areas in the 1960s. The city centre is based on a grid system of streets, similar to that of Barcelona or American cities, on the north bank of the River Clyde. The heart of the city is George Square. To the western edge of the city centre, occupying the areas of Blythswood Hill and Anderston, lies Glasgow's financial district, known officially as the International Financial Services District
Glasgow is also a major centre of education and academic research, with four universities within 10 miles (16 km) of the city centre:
University of Glasgow
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University of Strathclyde
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Glasgow Caledonian University
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University of the West of Scotland
There are also a number of further education colleges in the city, including Anniesland College, Glasgow Metropolitan College, Cardonald College, Central College, Stow College and the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies as well as a number of teacher training colleges, and teaching hospitals such as the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Scotland's national conservatoire, and the Glasgow School of Art are based in the city. Glasgow is home to a student population in excess of 168,000, the largest in Scotland and second largest in the United Kingdom. The majority of those who live away from home are found in Shawlands, Dennistoun and the West End of the city |
