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GLASGOW: a great place to live
Glasgow is situated in west central Scotland on the famous River Clyde. It is Scotland's largest city with a population of approximately 600,000 and is easily accessible by road, rail and air.
'Glasgow' means 'dear green place' recognising the fact that the city has over 70 parks and open spaces, the richest concentration of parkland in any city in the UK.
Home to three universities and nine Further Education Colleges, Glasgow is the perfect destination for overseas students. In addition, the city offers plenty to see and do for people of all ages and backgrounds. Now the third most popular tourist destination in the UK, there is a fabulous range of shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs to suit all tastes. All of this has helped Glasgow earn the reputation of being the best base for students and young people in the UK.
Culturally, Glasgow has become an international destination by winning the titles of 'European City of Culture' and 'UK City of Architecture and Design' in recent years. The city is also home to Scotland's principal performing arts organisations including Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.
The city's wide range of cultural venues includes the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Royal, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. Over twenty art galleries and museums all with free admission add to a stimulating environment in which the influence of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the world-famous Art Nouveau designer and architect, is often seen.
Since the city's first university was established in 1451, Glasgow has been hailed as a powerful seat of learning. Lord Kelvin, Adam Smith and James Watt are just some of history's great thinkers associated with the city's academic past. Today's educational institutions include:
Glasgow is also an excellent base for exploring the rest of Scotland, the UK and Europe. The city is just 30 minutes from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, one of Scotland's national parks, and one hour from Edinburgh.
Glasgow is served by a major international airport only 15 minutes drive from the city centre. London is only an hour away by plane and discount airlines now offer regular short flights from Glasgow to major European cities such as Dublin, Paris and Amsterdam.
Glasgow is known as the 'friendly city' because of the warm welcome the people of Glasgow give to visitors. Over the years people have come to Glasgow from all over the world to study, live and work.
The city is now home to a significant Asian population and a thriving Chinese community. Minority ethnic groups make up over 5% of Glasgow's total population. Glasgow also provides accommodation, schooling and support for some 6,000 asylum seekers at any one time in the city.
These different nationalities have combined to produce the unique energy and enthusiasm that marks Glasgow as a truly international city attuned to the needs of its communities.
Glasgow integrates its citizens and celebrates its cultural diversity. There are places of worship for people from a variety of religions, for example for Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Islamics, Jews and Sikhs.
Time magazine recently said of Glasgow, "Brimming with style and culture, Scotland's biggest city is a revelation." Glasgow is truly a unique and exciting place to be.
Further information on Glasgow can be found on the following websites:
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