If you only get the chance to visit one Scottish castle, make sure it's this one
Edinburgh castle is located right at the top of the Royal Mile and dominates the city's skyline. Situated on volcanic rock, it's a breathtaking sight both during the day as well as at night. Visiting the castle isn't cheap but I've visited many and I would say if you're planning to visit only one in Scotland, then this is the one that you should put your hand in your pocket for. You can also see some spectacular views from the castle right over the whole city of Edinburgh and as far as the sea.
Once you're in the grounds there are many buildings to discover including the Great Hall, the room where James VI was born (who was Mary Queen of Scots' son as well as the first king of Great Britain), St Margaret's chapel as well as the room which houses Scotland's crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny which has played an important role in Scotland's history.
In keeping with good old Scottish tradition, the castle is said to have a ghost of a headless drummer and a piper playing on the battlements. Try to time your visit so you're around for the 1 o'clock gun going off (a ceremonial process that takes place daily). There are lots of history lessons here and the audio headset is quite good, although there are also lots of placards around the place so there's no need for the headset if you'd rather be sociable with the one you're with.
Don't let the price put you off; this is a must-see for anyone visiting Edinburgh. It's also well worth visiting in August when the tattoo is on which takes place in the area right in front of the castle. The tattoo also coincides with the Edinburgh festival.
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This is Scotland's oldest medieval church and dates back from around the 560AD. It's the only cathedral to survive the reformation in Scottish mainland and is a beautiful building. Although Scotland isn't particularly renowned for it's cathedrals like some of our European neighbours, it's definitely worth a visit as it can confidently compete with many which are much more well-known.
It is said to be located where Saint Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow, built his first church and his tomb is included within the cathedral. The building is fairly large with a number of distinct rooms and even a separate church underneath. The lower church houses the tomb of St Mungo and the pretty Blacader Aisle has a very light and airy feel from the imposing cathedral building above. There are a number of very large and impressive stained glass windows, in addition to many more smaller ones, including the millennium window which was unveiled in 1999.
Entry is free to the cathedral although there is supposed to be a charge to go to a separate room which is made up of impressive carved seats and sculptures. There wasn't anyone to take the money on the day we went there so we got in for free and this is also worth a visit even if you do have to pay.
While you're in the area, it's worth popping over to the necropolis which is a fairly striking graveyard. From here you can get a fantastic view of the cathedral on one side and Glasgow on the other.
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No need to be silent here!
This is worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Dublin. Unlike the majority of recommended places to go in Dublin, you won't find this in the Temple Bar area but right in the heart of the shopping district.
This bar/restaurant/club is set in a reformed church and is pretty impressive. Many of the main attractions are still intact including a fairly large pipe organ but it doesn't feel stuffy in the slightest. It's a place to go to see and be seen in without being overly pretentious. It's as good as any reformed church/court room/bank that I've seen in Britain.
The club is open til three in the morning from Thursday to Sunday and there's also a nice area for sitting outside in the good weather/for the smokers which is lit up with fairy lights.
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Experience Glasgow's answer to Gaudi
This is a truly unique venue which is based on a design by local Glasgow architect, Charles Rennie MacKintosh. This architect is Glasgow's answer to Antonio Gaudi in Barcelona and there are various buildings designed by him dotted throughout the west of Scotland.
This house is located inside Bellahouston park and was designed by the architect in 1901. Just like Gaudi, however, its design appears contemporary even today. It's a beautiful light and airy building and is more than worth a visit not only for the architecture but also for the interior design. The house is classed as a museum and there is an entry fee but it is definitely worth putting your hand in your pocket for just for the music room alone which is stunningly beautiful.
I've been here various times at the cafe which is striking in itself due to its simple design and use of white throughout with a simple flower on every table. It's a great place to meet up with a friend for lunch (not open for evening meals) and you would hardly believe that you're in the middle of Glasgow.
I've also been here for a wedding which made for a really memorable day. Particularly when the weather is nice and you can take your drinks out to the impressive gardens outside the house. There is also a small shop where you can buy Rennie MacKintosh goods as well as local handmade products so great for original presents.
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Thai Cafe and Noodle Bar
+44 871 9717696
346 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield
saved by one person: there is one review
Noisy but nice
This is a gem of a place if you find yourself in the Wimbledon area of London. One of the great things about the restaurant is that you can bring your own bottle and pay for the corkage which results in you having a really nice meal at a really nice price.
We got two platters of starters between the four of us and then each had a main for £15 each which is pretty good almost anywhere in London but especially when the food is top notch.
If you like spicy food then this is the place to go. You get handy chillies on the menu to give you a guide as to how hot you're choosing. The drunken noodles were spicy and delicious.
We went on a Friday evening and the place was jumping. It has a good atmosphere but is pretty loud so not really the place to go for a deep and meaningful but a pretty good place to go for a fun and cheap night out.
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A sophisticated bar right in the heart of the city
With chandeliers and swanky interior decoration, this is a place to go to see and be seen. It's extremely well kitted out with a smoking patio to get round the smoking ban. Although you might find yourself hanging out there anyway as it's pretty nice too - especially in the summer when there is a (slim) chance that the air is slightly warmer.
The karaoke room is an excellent novel idea. It's your chance to be a star without a pub full of people grimacing at you (well maybe that's just me that has that effect on them!). It's supposedly soundproof but be careful if you get carried away as there is a porthole and the whole bar can see you bopping away.
The cocktails are pretty nice but go easy on the wine; I ordered a couple of glasses and got pennies back from a tenner.
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Step back in time
This 70-year-old Glasgow institution is fitted out with Art Deco fixtures modelled on the original Queen Mary ocean liner which was built in the Glasgow docks on the river Clyde. This is a wonderful place to eat and drink and you'll find the bartenders add to the atmosphere of twenties decadence, with perfectly mixed cocktail classics. The restaurant is particularly renowned for delicious oysters and fish dishes and its clientèle are mainly 40-50 something divorcees, business-people and people who lunch, who are all impeccably dressed.
If you want this sort of class, however, then you have to pay for it. It has the reputation of being one of the best but also one of the most expensive restaurants in Glasgow. If you're not looking to splash out so much on a meal, however, it's worth popping in during the day for a cappuccino which is served in a large cup with a piece of tablet and at a more reasonable price and in much more luxurious surroundings than the Starbuck's next door!
There is also a terrace bar outside which is popular with smokers and non-smokers alike and a good place to be seen right on the edge of the Merchant City.
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November
+44 014 12210303
Princes Square, Unit 54, 48 Buchanan St
saved by one person: there is one review
Originally called October Café and then changed to November (I'm not quite sure why they decided to do that as in my opinion October's the second worst month and November's the worst!). This bar is located on the rooftop level of Princes square which is a really impressive luxurious shopping mall right in the heart of Buchanan Street and it's pretty stylish both inside the bar as well as in the seats slightly outside looking onto the shopping mall. Sitting out there you can see what's going on in the whole mall and have all the advantages of being outside although you don't have to bear the Glasgow elements.
The prices are fairly reasonable and they've got a fairly good cocktail menu where you can get them by the pitcher. There's also food although I've never tried it. It's quite a nice place to pop into during the day for a coffee if you happen to be in town and also a good option if you're entertaining someone from outside the city as it's situated in a location that is quite different from anywhere else I've ever been in Britain proving that Glasgow does have a bit of class after all!
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This spacious lounge bar and restaurant is located in the picturesque Ashton Lane in the West End and is kitted out with lots of cinema artefacts although it still has a very modern feel to it. It's also a pretty big place and is quite popular so it's normally got a fairly good atmosphere with DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.
The bar is also filled with massive projection screens to keep you entertained and they're popular during the day for sporting events. They also have a pre-theatre menu which is a pretty good deal before heading out down to the cinema (if you don't have a theatre performance to go to!).
They do a 2 for 1 on pizzas and pastas at lunchtime during the week. The Grosvenor cinema is located below and there are also often quite a few deals on meal and cinema ticket combinations.
As it's situated in Ashton Lane, it has a good student/professionals mix and normally has a fairly good atmosphere with a decent number of people most nights during the week.
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Duck Bay Hotel & Restaurant
+44 013 89751234
Arden, Loch Lomond
Arden ( United Kingdom )
saved by one person: there is one review
Idyllic location with stunning views
Located on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond, this hotel/bar/restaurant couldn't be better situated. Not even half an hour from Glasgow city centre by car, it's the ideal place to take anyone who is visiting Scotland or to pop along with friends or family if you fancy going for a wee run.
The bar/restaurant has recently been renovated and it is now very swish. The food in the restaurant is of a very high quality and you couldn't ask for more spectacular views during the summer (as it's Scotland, it's pitch black about 4pm in the winter so you can't appreciate the scenery), however it's fairly luxurious anyway even if you're just popping in for a coffee at the bar.
You can also sit outside right next to the loch during the day or in the summer (just watch out for those damn midges!). If it's a sunny day (yip the odd one has been known) then it's the perfect place to sit back and relax and watch the odd jet ski skimming across the loch. They have quite a nice gift shop too where you can pick up quite a number of original gifts.
I've also been here for an evening wedding reception which was fine although you don't get any views from the function rooms and this is what really makes this place so attractive.
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