Music

Glasgow has many live music pubs, clubs and venues. Some of the city's main venues include the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the SECC, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut (where Oasis were spotted and signed by Glaswegian record mogul Alan McGee), the Queen Margaret Union and the Barrowland, a ballroom converted into a live music venue. The sub club and arches are two of the largest clubs in Glasgow and the arches was one of the first venues where Calvin Harris performed.

In recent years, the success of bands such as Franz Ferdinand, Belle and Sebastian, and Biffy Clyro has significantly boosted the profile of the Glasgow music scene, prompting Time Magazine to liken Glasgow to Detroit during its 1960s Motown heyday. More recent successes include The Fratellis and Glasvegas.

Fashion

The City Centre is the largest shopping zone outside London and contains all the big high street chains as well as a wealth of the unusual. From designer clothes and lively cafe-bars at the Italian Centre or Princes Square to Europe's largest glass covered mall at St Enoch Square or Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street the city has it all.

In the East End, just minutes from the shopping centres and cafes is the Barras - Glasgow's very own 'flea market'. Alive every weekend with colourful market traders the Barras is the original Glasgow shopping experience. Nearby is Paddies market, which is even more down market than the Barras. It's great fun though with treasures to be found amidst the tack. In the West end of the city a host of unusual and specialist outlets can be found. ?The West End of Glasgow is worth at least a day or two of exploration.

The main shopping street is Byres Road, which starts at the Botanical Gardens and heads south; walk down the road for about 30 minutes and you eventually reach the Clyde. Byres Road is served by several tube stations, the most convenient being Hillhead and Kelvinhall.

Byres Road is filled with great shops selling just about everything. It's eclectic mix of shops doesn't contain too many chains, which is a relief. There are some great cafes and bars here too, so you can rest a while with a pint or a cappuccino, take your pick.

Just off the main road is Ashton Lane. One guide book calls it 'one of the most attractive streets in the West End, and indeed all of Glasgow'. Perhaps they mean that there's no traffic in this cobbled side street. Ashton Lane contains a cinema as well as several pubs and restaurants, several of which appear in various "Best of Scotland" eating guides.

Mr Ben

Hellfire

Watermelon

Lupe Go Lightly

Mandors

VV Rouleaux

Urban Outfitters

American Apparel

New Look

The Arches

Sub Club

Pink Poodle

Handbags & Gladrags