Whats the difference between Glasgow and Edinburgh?

Whats the difference between Glasgow and Edinburgh?
Glasgow (Glaschu in Gaelic; or Glesca/Glesga in colloquial Scots) is the largest city in Scotland and
the third largest in the United Kingdom after London and Birmingham; as well as being the most
populous unitary authority area. It is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central
lowlands. People from Glasgow are known as Glaswegians. Glaswegian is also the name of the local
dialect of Scots, commonly known as the Glasgow Patter.
The city was formerly a royal burgh, and was known as the "Second City of the British Empire" in
the Victorian era. It established itself as a major transatlantic trading port during the Industrial
Revolution. The Clyde was the world's pre-eminent shipbuilding centre, building many revolutionary
and famous vessels such as the Cunard liners RMS Lusitania, RMS Aquitania, RMS Queen Mary,
RMS Queen Elizabeth and the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The city grew in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to a population of over one million people,
peaking at 1,088,000 in 1931. However, with population decline, mainly due to the large scale
relocation of people to new towns like East Kilbride and Cumbernauld on the outskirts of the city,
and successive boundary changes by the Scottish Office and UK governments in an attempt to
reduce the relative size and influence of the city within Scotland, the current population of the City
of Glasgow is 629,501, based on the 2001 census. Approximately 2.1 million people live in the
Greater Glasgow urban conurbation, defined as the City of Glasgow and the Greater Metropolitan
Area [1].
Forming the focal point of commerce, business, industry, media and transport in Scotland, Glasgow
is a bustling and cosmopolitan city. Glasgow is the third most popular foreign tourist destination in
the United Kingdom after London and Edinburgh. The city also has Scotland's largest and most
economically important commerce and retail centre. Glasgow is also one of Europe's top 20 financial
centres and is home to many of Scotland's leading businesses, forming an important part of the
British economy.
Contents [hide]
1 The city's name
2 Coat of Arms
3 Geography and climate
3.1 Climate

3.2 Temperature
4 Demographics
5 History
6 Main districts (Cartiers)
6.1 City Centre
6.1.1 Shopping and theatre district
6.1.2 Merchant City
6.1.3 Old Glasgow
6.1.4 Financial District
6.2 The West End
6.3 The East End
6.4 The Southside
6.4.1 The Burgh of Govan

6.5 North Glasgow
7 Architecture
8 Culture
8.1 Theatres, museums and galleries
8.2 Festivals and exhibitions
8.3 Music scene
9 Sport
9.1 Football
9.2 Rugby
9.3 Sports
9.4 2014 Commonwealth Games bid
10 Religion
10.1 Cathedrals

10.2 Other prominent religious buildings
10.3 Religious rivalry
11 Politics
11.1 Scottish Parliament region
11.2 United Kingdom Parliament constituencies
12 Dialect
13 Education
14 Economy
15 Crime
16 Media
17 Transport
17.1 Public Transport
17.2 River Transport

17.3 Roads
17.4 Airports
18 Suburbs and surrounding district
19 Notable Glaswegians
20 Twinned cities
21 See also
22 Notes and references
23 External links
24 Sources
[edit]
The city's name
It is common to derive the name Glasgow from the older Brythonic glas cau or a Middle Gaelic
cognate, which would have meant green hollow. The settlement probably had an earlier Cumbric
name, Cathures; the modern name appears for the first time in the Gaelic period (1116), as Glasgu.
However, it is also recorded that the King of Strathclyde, Rhydderch Hael, welcomed Saint
Kentigern, and procured his consecration as bishop, which took place about 540. For some thirteen
years Kentigern laboured in the region, building his church at the Molendinar Burn, and making
many converts by his Christian example and his preaching. A large community developed around
him and became known as Glasgu (meaning the dear family). The confusion between the terms is not
wholly resolved (Dear Family vs. Dear Green Place vs. Green Hollow).

Dear Green Place (Glaschu) is often misquoted as a Gaelic translation for the city, but this was
actually Daniel Defoe's description of the city when he visited in the early 18th century; he also
claimed that Glasgow was "the paradise of Scotland and one of the cleanliest and best built cities in
Britain." Another writer of the time said of the River Clyde: "I have never seen before any river
which for natural beauty can stand competition with the Clyde. Never did a stream glide more
gracefully to the ocean or through a fairer region." At that time, the city's population numbered
approximately 12,000, and its structures largely consisted of compact wooden buildings, none of
which remain today.
[edit]
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms of Glasgow as featured in the City Council's logoGlasgow's Coat of Arms dates back
to 1866 when the Lord Lyon first granted the city its patent. The Coat of Arms commemorates
Glasgow's patron saint, Kentigern, more often known as Saint Mungo, and includes four emblems --
a bird, a tree, a bell, and a fish, specifically a salmon with a ring in its mouth. The emblems
represent miracles supposed to have been performed by Mungo and are listed in the following
traditional rhyme:
Here's the bird that never flew
Here's the tree that never grew
Here's the bell that never rang
Here's the fish that never swam
The supporters are two salmon bearing rings, and the shield bearing the four motifs is surmounted
by a castle (or sometimes a helm) above which is St Mungo himself.
The motto of the city, taken from a sermon preached by Mungo, is Let Glasgow Flourish, a shortened
version of Lord, Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the word and the praising of thy name. The
motto was more recently commemorated in a song called "Mother Glasgow" popularised by Hue and
Cry, a musical group from the nearby town of Coatbridge.
[edit]
Geography and climate

See also: Geography of Glasgow
Glasgow is located on the banks of the River Clyde, in West Central Scotland.
[edit]
Climate
Glasgow weather is typical of Scottish weather and often unpredictable.
The summer months (May to September) are often mild but unpredictable. The winds are generally
westerly, due to the warm Gulf Stream. The warmest month is usually July, averaging 19°C (66.2°F).
However, temperature can change suddenly, and is normally a few degrees colder than southern
England. Mornings may be damp and misty, or dreich (a Scottish term for damp and drizzly), but
become sunny and warm by afternoon.
Though there are some rainy and windy days, spring (March to May) is fairly mild and is a popular
time to visit Glasgow. Many of Glasgow's trees begin to flower at this time of the year and the parks
and gardens are filled with spring colour.
Winters can be damp with few sunny days; however the Gulf Stream ensures that Glasgow stays
warmer than other cities at the same latitude. Winds can be chilling and cold, though severe snow
falls are infrequent and do not last. December, January and February are the wettest months of the
year, but can occasionally be sunny and clear.
[edit]
Temperature
Month Max (°C) Min (°C) Mean (°C)
January 6 1 4
February 7 1 4
March 8 2 6

April 11 4 7
May 14 6 11
June 17 9 13
July 19 11 15
August 18 11 14
September 16 9 12
October 12 7 9
November 9 4 6
December 7 2 4
Source: [2]
[edit]
Demographics
The actual city council area of Glasgow peaked in population the 1930s with a population of
1,088,000 people, and for over 50 years was over 1.3 million people. However, after the peak of the
1930s, the population declined, due to relocation to the 'new towns' in clearings of the poverty-
stricken inner city areas like the Gorbals. As Glasgow was at the this period of history one of the
most densely populated cities in the world. In addition, successive boundary changes reduced the
official city boundaries (and hence official population) making direct comparisons difficult as the city
continues to expand beyond the official local council boundaries into surrounding suburban areas;

taking up nearly 400sq miles if all adjoining commuter towns and villages are taken in to account.
See also: Historical Population Data
Due to council boundary changes since the last census in 1991, Greater Glasgow has four distinct
definitions for the population of Glasgow in the 2001 census: the smallest is the new Glasgow City
Council Area (which lost the district of Rutherglen to South Lanarkshire, the slightly larger City of
Glasgow Locality Area (formerly Glasgow District Council Area), the Greater Glasgow Health Board
area (encompassing several NHS Trusts and various healthcare providers), and the Greater Glasgow
Metropolitan Settlement Area (including surrounding localities).
Location Population Area
(km²) Density
(/km²) Area
(mi²) Density
(/mi²)
Glasgow City Council[3] 629,501 175.49 3293 85.75 8,528
City of Glasgow Locality[4] 739,039 162.10 3883 95.58 10,058
Greater Glasgow Health Board 867,150 555.27 1562 290.38 4,044
Greater Glasgow Settlement Area[5] 1,635,270 368.46 3171 350.12 8,212
Source [6]
Since the 2001 census, the population decline has stalled and it is currently forecast to remain the
same (the current population forecast for 2004 the City of Glasgow council area is 629,501)
However taking in the towns in the Glasgow area the population almost triples in number. [7].

Compared to Inner London (22,438 people per sq mile), Scotland's major city has less than half the
current population density of the English capital (8,528), however in 1931, the density was 16,011
highlighting the 'clearances' of the inner city to the suburbs and new towns that were built to empty
one of Europe's most densely populated cities.[8].
[edit]
History
See also: History of Glasgow
Recent years have seen a regeneration of Glasgow's river banks. Salmon and other marine-life have
now returned to the ClydeThe area of Glasgow has long been used for settlement due to the River
Clyde providing a natural area for fishing. Glasgow became important in the 12th century as the site
of a bishopric, reorganized by King David I of Scotland and John, Bishop of Glasgow. There had been
an earlier religious site the exact age of which is unknown. According to doubtful hagiographical
tradition, this ecclesiatical site had been established by Saint Kentigern. The bishopric became one
of the largest and wealthiest in the Kingdom of Scotland, bringing wealth and status to the town.
Somewhere between 1175 and 1178 this position was strengthened even further when Bishop
Jocelin obtained for the episcopal settlement the status of burgh from King William the Lion,
allowing the settlement to expand with the benefits of trading monopolies and other legal
guarantees. Sometime between 1189 and 1195 this status was supplemented by an annual fair,
which survives to this day as the Glasgow Fair.
Glasgow grew over the following centuries, and the founding of the University of Glasgow in 1451
and elevation of the bishopric to an archbishopric in 1492 increasing the town's religious and
educational status. It was not until the 16th century that Glasgow became prominent in international
trading. The city became a hub of trade to the Americas, especially in the movement of tobacco,
cotton and sugar. The industries of Scotland produced textiles, coal and steel, which were exported.
Shipbuilding became a major industry on the Clyde, building many famous ships. By the end of the
19th century the city was known as the "Second City of the Empire" and was producing most of the
ships and locomotives in the world. During this period, the construction of many of the city's
greatest architectural masterpieces and most ambitious civic projects were being funded by its
wealth.
The 20th century showed a great decline in the city's fortunes, especially with the effects of two
World Wars and the Great Depression. The city's industries became uncompetitive, leading to high
unemployment, urban decay and poor health for the city's inhabitants.
However, by the end of the century there had been a significant resurgence in Glasgow's economic
fortunes, finding a new role as a European centre for business and finance, as well an increase in
tourism. The latter due to the legacy of the city's status as European City of Culture in 1990, and the
product of its thriving artistic community. The ongoing regeneration of inner-city areas has led to
people moving back to live in the centre of Glasgow, although some areas of the city remain amongst
the most deprived in the UK.
[edit]

Main districts (Cartiers)
Glasgow was historically based around Glasgow Cathedral, the old High Street and down to the
River Clyde via Glasgow Cross.
[edit]
City Centre
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 cut a swathe through the Charing Cross and Anderston
areas in the 1960s.
Buchanan Street looking southward.[edit]
Shopping and theatre district
The City Centre is based on a grid system of streets on the north bank of the River Clyde. The heart
of the city is George Square, site of many of Glasgow's public statues and the Glasgow City
Chambers, headquarters of Glasgow City Council. To the south and west are the shopping precincts
of Argyle, Sauchiehall and Buchanan Streets. The main shopping malls are Buchanan Galleries and
the St Enoch Centre, as well as the more specialised, designer malls; Princes Square and the Italian
Centre. The London-based department stores, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols are planning to open in
the city, further strengthening Glasgow's already impressive retail portfolio, which forms the UK's
largest and most economically important commerce and retail sector after London's West End. The
layout of the shopping district of Buchanan Street, Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street has been
termed the "Golden Z" and in October 2005 retail locations in the area were sought after to the
extent that Buchanan Street was reported to have the 7th highest shop rental fees in the world [9].
The city centre is home to Glasgow's main cultural venues: The Theatre Royal (home of Scottish
Opera and Scottish Ballet), The Pavilion, The King's Theatre, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
Film Theatre, RSAMD, GoMA, Mitchell Library, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, McLellan
Galleries and The Lighthouse Museum of Architecture, Design and the City. The city centre is also
home to two of Glasgow's three universities: Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian University.
It also boasts the World's tallest cinema, the 18 screen Cineworld (formerly the UGC Cinema) in
Renfrew Street.
[edit]

Merchant City
To the east is the commercial and residential district of Merchant City, which was formerly the
residential district of the wealthy City Merchants in the late 18th and early 19th Century. Latterly,
due to growing industrial pollution levels, the area fell out of favour with residents, who mostly
moved to the newly developed West End and Southside districts.
However, from the late 1980s onwards, the area has been rejuvenated with luxury city centre
apartments and warehouse conversions. Many new cafes and restaurants have opened. The area
also contains the old Tolbooth, The Tron Theatre, The Trades Hall, and the City Halls.
The area is also home to Glasgow's growing 'Arts Quarter', based around the Saltmarket and
Trongate, and at the heart of the annual Merchant City Festival.
Glasgow's gay district is located within the merchant city. This includes Polo Lounge (with MODA
adjoining, which is located at the far end of Wilson street. It also includes Delmonicas bar and Clone
Zone (adult shop) both on Virginia street, which lies perpendicular to Wilson street.
Recently the city council defined (and perhaps expanded) the area known as Merchant City as far
West as Buchanan Street, marking these boundaries with new, highly stylised metal signage.
[edit]

Old Glasgow
As the Industrial Revolution and the wealth it brought to the city resulted in the expansion of
Glasgow's central area westward, the original medieval centre was left behind. This area, commonly
known as "Old Glasgow" takes in the eastern fringes of the Merchant City and some of the East End.
Glasgow Cross, situated at the junction of High Street, Gallowgate, Trongate and Saltmarket was the
original centre of the city. In the Cross sits the Tolbooth clock tower; all that remains of the original
City Chambers, which was destroyed by fire in 1926. Moving northward up High Street towards
Rottenrow and Townhead lies the 15th Century Glasgow Cathedral and the Provand's Lordship.
[edit]
Financial District
To the western edge of the city centre, occupying the areas of Blythswood Hill and Anderston, and
along the Broomielaw, lies Glasgow's financial district, known as the "square kilometre" or more
officially the International Financial Services District (IFSD). Since the late 1980's the ISFD has
grown to become the third largest financial centre in the UK after the The City and Edinburgh. With
a reputation as an established financial services centre, coupled with comprehensive support
services, Glasgow continues to attract and grow new business. Of the 10 largest general insurance
companies in the UK, 8 have a base or Head office in Glasgow - including Direct Line, AXA and
Norwich Union. Key banking sector companies have also relocated to commercial property in
Glasgow - Abbey, HBOS, National Australia Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Since the late 1980s, this area of the city centre has seen the construction of many ultra-modern
office blocks, a trend which continues into the 21st Century, with a new wave of high rise
developments currently on the drawing board.
[edit]
The West End
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is Glasgow's premier museum and art gallery, housing one of
Europe's great civic art collections.Glasgow's West End refers to the bohemian district of cafés,
bars, boutique hotels, clubs and restaurants in the hinterland of Kelvingrove Park, the University of
Glasgow, BBC Scotland's Headquarters, Glasgow Botanic Gardens and the Scottish Exhibition and
Conference Centre. The district includes the upmarket residential areas of Hillhead, Dowanhill,
Kelvingrove, Partick (originally a relatively working class area), Kelvinside and Hyndland and the
commercial and social area around Byres Road. However the name is now being used to mean
anywhere to the west of Charing Cross. This includes areas like Kelvinbridge, Kelvindale and
Jordanhill. The spire of Sir George Gilbert Scott's Glasgow University main building (the second
largest Gothic Revival building in Britain) is a major local landmark, and can be seen for miles
around, sitting atop Gilmorehill. The University itself is the fourth oldest in the United Kingdom,

after Oxford, Cambridge and St. Andrews. Much of the city's student population is based in the West
End, adding to its cultural vibrancy and unique identity.
The area is also home to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Hunterian Museum, Kelvin Hall
International Sports Arena, Henry Wood Hall (home of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra) and
the Museum of Transport, which is to be rebuilt on an old dockland site at Glasgow Harbour to a
design by Zaha Hadid. The West End Festival, one of Glasgow's biggest festivals, is held annually in
June.
Glasgow is Europe's fastest growing conference and events destination, and the SECC is the UK's
largest exhibition and conference centre. A major expansion of the SECC facilities at the former
Queens Dock by Foster and Partners is currently planned, including a 12,000 seat arena, and a 5
star hotel and entertainments complex.
The area is well served by bus, rail and the Glasgow Subway, which is the easiest way of travelling
to the City Centre and the Southside.
[edit]
The East End
The People's Palace in Glasgow Green.The East End is home to the famous Glasgow Barrowland
market, popularly known as 'The Barras', and Barrowland Ballroom music hall, Glasgow Green, and
Celtic Park, home of Celtic Football Club . Many of the original sandstone tenements remain in this
district. The East End includes some of the most deprived areas in the UK.
The Glasgow Necropolis cemetery was created on a hill above the cathedral of St Mungo in 1831
and is Glasgow's equivalent of Paris's Père Lachaise. Routes curve through the landscape uphill to
the 62 metre high statue of John Knox at the summit, with some tombs designed by prominent local
architect Alexander 'Greek' Thomson. The design creates a dramatic skyline of obelisks, pinnacles
and statues in memory of Glasgow's wealthiest inhabitants. It was described by James Curle as
'literally a city of the dead'. The main entrance is approached by a bridge over what was the
Molendinar Burn towards an impressive set of classical mausolea. The bridge, designed by James
Hamilton, is known as the Bridge of Sighs because it formed the route of funeral processions.
There are two late 18th century tenements in Gallowgate. Dating from 1771 and 1780, both have
been well restored. The construction of Charlotte Street was financed by David Dale, whose former
pretensions can be gauged by the one remaining house, now run by the National Trust for Scotland.
Further along Charlotte Street there stands a modern GKC building of some note. Once a school, it
has been converted into flats. Surrounding these buildings are a series of innovative housing
developments conceived as 'Homes for the Future', part of a project during the city's year as UK City
of Architecture and Design in 1999.
East of Glasgow Cross is the magnificent St Andrews Church, built in 1746 and displaying a
Presbyterian grandeur befitting the church of the city's wealthy Tobacco merchants. Also close by is
the more modest Episcopalian St Andrews-by-the-Green, the oldest post-Reformation church in
Scotland.
Overlooking Glasgow Green is the façade of Templeton's carpet factory, featuring vibrant

polychromatic brickwork intended to evoke the Doge's Palace in Venice.
The extensive Tollcross Park was originally developed from the estate of James Dunlop, the owner of
a local Steelworks. His large baronial mansion was built in 1848 by David Bryce, which later housed
the city's Children's Museum until the 1980s. This is sited within the Forge Shopping Centre at
Parkhead. Today, the mansion is a sheltered housing complex.
The new Scottish National Indoor Sports Arena, a modern replacement for the Kelvin Hall, is
planned for Dalmarnock. If the 2014 Commonwealth Games bid is successful, the area will house the
Athletes' Village, adjacent to the new indoor sports arena.
To the north of the East End lie the two massive gasometers of Provan Gas Works, which stand
overlooking Alexandra Park and a major interchange between the M8 and M80 motorways. Often
used for displaying large city advertising slogans, the towers have become an unofficial portal into
the city for road users arriving from the North and East.
[edit]
The Southside
The Burrell Collection is one of the city's top cultural attractions.Glasgow's Southside, sprawls out
south of the Clyde, and outwith the local council's jurisdiction, covering areas including The Gorbals,
Shawlands, Strathbungo, Mount Florida, Pollokshaws, Nitshill, Pollokshields, Queens Park, Arden,
Darnley, Pollok, Priesthill, Cathcart, Busby, Clarkston, Giffnock, Thornliebank and Newton Mearns.
Although predominantly residential, the area does have several notable public buildings. Charles
Rennie Mackintosh's Scotland Street School Museum, the world famous Burrell Collection in Pollok
Country Park, the National Football Stadium Hampden Park in Mount Florida and Ibrox Stadium,
home of Rangers. The former docklands site at Pacific Quay on the south bank of the River Clyde,
opposite the SECC, is the site of the Glasgow Science Centre and the new headquarters for BBC
Scotland and SMG plc (owner of stv) which are relocating there to a new purpose built digital media
campus.
In addition, several new bridges spanning the River Clyde are currently planned or under
construction, including The Finnieston Bridge and 'Neptune's Way' in Tradeston.
The Southside also includes many great parks, including Linn Park, Queens Park, Bellahouston Park
and Rouken Glen Park, and several golf clubs, including the championship course at Haggs Castle.
The Southside is also home to Pollok Country Park, which is Glasgow's largest park and the only
Country Park within the city boundaries.
[edit]
The Burgh of Govan

Govan is a district and former burgh in the south-western part of the city. It is situated on the south
bank of the River Clyde, opposite Partick. It was an administratively independent Police Burgh from
1864 until it was incorporated into the expanding city of Glasgow in 1912.
Govan has a great legacy as an engineering and shipbuilding centre of international repute and is
home to one of two BAE Systems shipyards on the River Clyde and the precision engineering firm,
Thales Optronics. It is also home to the Southern General Hospital, one of the largest teaching
hospitals in the country, and the maintenance depot for the Glasgow Subway system.
[edit]
North Glasgow
North Glasgow extends out from the north of the City Centre towards the affluent suburbs of
Bearsden, Milngavie, Bishopbriggs and Lenzie in East Dunbartonshire. However, it also contains
some of the city's poorest residential areas. Possilpark is one such area, where levels of
unemployment and drug abuse continue to be above the national average. Much of the housing in
areas such as Possilpark and Hamiltonhill had fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years. This
has led to large scale redevelopment of much of the poorer housing stock in North Glasgow. This has
also led to the wider regeneration of many areas, such as Ruchill, which have been transformed,
with many of its run-down tenements now refurbished or replaced by modern Housing estates.
Much of the housing stock in North Glasgow is socially rented accommodation, managed by the
Glasgow Housing Association. In parts of the North of the city, such as Springburn, there are many
high-rise tower blocks. These buildings were constructed in the 1960s and 1970s and were viewed
as the answer to Glasgow's inner-city slum problems, but are now widely discredited as being poorly
built and unsuited to traditional urban living, and are held responsible by many for the social
alienation that exists in the poorest parts of the city today.
Not all areas of North Glasgow are of this nature however. Maryhill for example consists of well
maintained traditional sandstone tenements. Although historically a working class area, as it borders
the upmarket West End of the city, it is relatively wealthy compared to the rest of the North of the
city, containing affluent areas such as Maryhill Park and North Kelvinside. Maryhill is also home to
Firhill Stadium, home of Partick Thistle since 1909, and since 2005, the professional Rugby Union
team, Glasgow Warriors. The junior team, Maryhill F.C. are also located in this part of North
Glasgow.
The Forth and Clyde Canal flowing through the North Glasgow district of Ruchill.The Forth and
Clyde Canal flows through this part of the city, at one stage forming a vital part of the local
economy. It was for many years polluted and largely unused after the decline of heavy industry, but
recent efforts to regenerate and re-open the canal to navigation have seen it rejuvenated.
Sighthill is home to Scotland's largest asylum seeker community. This large resettlement of people
had brought about some tensions in the area, with incidents of racist violence initially reported.
More recently however, there has been widespread praise about how this diverse new community

has been able to successfully integrate with the existing native communities.
A huge part of the economic life of Glasgow was once located in Springburn, where the engineering
works and locomotive workshops employed many Glaswegians. Indeed, Glasgow dominated the
manufacturing of locomotives, with 25% of all the world's trains being built in the area at one stage.
It was home to the headquarters of the North British Locomotive Company. Today the engineering
group Alstom operate a railway maintenance facility in the area - all that is left of the industry in
Springburn.
[edit]
Architecture
The western façade of Templeton's Carpet FactoryUnlike Edinburgh, very little of medieval Glasgow
remains, the two main landmarks from this period being the 14th century Provand's Lordship and
Glasgow Cathedral. The vast majority of the city as seen today dates from the 19th century. As a
result, Glasgow has an impressive heritage of Victorian architecture, the Glasgow City Chambers,
the main building of the University of Glasgow, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, and the
Glasgow School of Art, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, being outstanding examples.
Another architect who had a great and enduring impact on the city's appearance was Alexander
Thomson, who produced a distinctive architecture based on fundamentalist classicism that gave him
the nickname "Greek". He was described as a "quiet, stay-at-home Victorian behind whose buttoned-
up facade there seethed a kind of stylistic corsair who plundered the past for the greater glory of the
present".
The buildings reflect the wealth and self confidence of the residents of the "Second City of the
Empire". Glasgow generated immense wealth from trade and the industries that developed from the
Industrial Revolution. The shipyards, marine engineering, steel making, and heavy industry all
contributed to the growth of the city. At one time the expression "Clydebuilt" was synonymous with
quality and engineering excellence. The Templeton's Carpet Factory on Glasgow Green was
designed to resemble the Doge's Palace in Venice. The allusions to another great trading city, seem
appropriate.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Glasgow School of ArtMany of the city's most impressive buildings
were built with red or blond sandstone, but during the industrial era those colours disappeared
under a pervasive black layer of soot and pollutants from the furnaces.
Tenements were built to house the workers who had migrated from Ireland and the Scottish
Highlands in order to feed the local demand for labour; these tenements were often overcrowded
and unsanitary, and many developed into the infamous Glasgow slums, the Gorbals area being one of
the most notorious.
The Glasgow Science CentreIn recent years many of these buildings have been cleaned and restored
to their original appearance. Others were demolished to make way for large, barrack-like housing
estates, and high-rise flats in tower blocks. The latter were built in large numbers during the 1960s
and early 1970s; and indeed, Glasgow has a higher concentration of high-rise buildings than any
other city in the British Isles. At 31 stories, the Red Road flats in the north of the city were for many
years the highest residential buildings in Europe. These housing estates, known as "schemes", are
widely regarded as unsuccessful: many, such as Castlemilk, were just dormitories well away from

the centre of the city with no amenities ("deserts wi' windaes" [deserts with windows], as Billy
Connolly put it), and their establishment led to the split up of long established community
relationships. Some of the high-rise developments were poorly designed and cheaply built and
became magnets for crime. Over time some have become as bad as the slum areas that they
replaced, though at the time of construction they were largely welcomed. On 7 March 2003, the
Glasgow Housing Association took ownership of the housing stock from the city council, and has
begun a programme of demolishing the worst of the tower blocks.
Modern buildings in Glasgow include the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and along the banks of the
Clyde are the Glasgow Science Centre and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, whose
Clyde Auditorium was designed by Sir Norman Foster, and is affectionately known as the
"Armadillo". Zaha Hadid has won a competition to design the new Museum of Transport, which will
move to the waterfront. Shopping centres include the Buchanan Galleries, the glass pyramid of the
St Enoch Centre, and the upmarket Princes Square.
Given the history of high rises in Glasgow, the council's policy of allowing new tall buildings has
attracted some controversy. The 39-story Elphinstone Place mixed-use skyscraper in Charing Cross,
will be the tallest building in Scotland, and is scheduled to begin construction in mid 2006 [10].
Much development is taking place along the banks of the Clyde. Glasgow Harbour, which neighbours
Partick is one of the largest residential developments. The second phase was unfavourably compared
to the Red Road flats [11], but was granted planning permission.
[edit]
Culture
GoMA is the second most visited contemporary art gallery in the United Kingdom outside LondonSee
also: Culture in Glasgow
The city has many amenities for a wide range of cultural activities, from curling to opera and from
football to art appreciation; it also has a large selection of museums that include those devoted to
transport, religion, and modern art. The city even has the largest public reference library in Europe
in the form of the Mitchell Library.
[edit]
Theatres, museums and galleries
Glasgow is home to a variety of theatres including The Kings Theatre, Theatre Royal and the Citizens
Theatre and is home to many municipal museums and art galleries, the most famous being the
Burrell Collection, GoMA and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
[edit]

Festivals and exhibitions
See also: Glasgow Festivals
The city has hosted many exhibitions over the years, including being the European Capital of Culture
1990, National City of Sport 1995-1999 and European Capital of Sport 2003.
In addition, unlike the Edinburgh Festival (where all Edinburgh's main festivals occur in the last
three weeks of August), Glasgow's festivals virtually fill the entire calendar, from January through to
December. Major festivals include the Glasgow Comedy Festival, Glasgow Jazz Festival, Celtic
Connections, Glasgow Film Festival, West End Festival, Merchant City Festival, Glasgay, and the
World Pipe Band Championships.
[edit]
Music scene
Glasgow has one of the most exciting music scenes throughout the whole of Europe, with a plethora
of live music pubs, clubs and venues.
Some favourite venues are the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference
Centre and King Tut's Wah Wah Hut where Oasis were spotted and signed by Glaswegian record
mogul Alan McGee. Another favourite is The Barrowlands, a historic ballroom, converted into a
mecca of live music. In the more alternative scene, the Cathouse often hosts gigs from a variety of
Punk, Metal and Industrial bands. Glasgow is also home to a thriving electronic music scene, with a
particurlarly strong reputation for techno and house music. Clubs like The Arches, The Sub Club and
record labels such as Soma and Glasgow Underground have supported this strong underground
movement for the past 2 decades in the city.
Famous exports include:
Angus Young and Malcolm Young of AC/DC
Belle and Sebastian
Bis

The Delgados
Simple Minds
Jimmy Somerville
Patrick Doyle
Aztec Camera
Teenage Fanclub
Del Amitri
Deacon Blue
The Blue Nile
Orange Juice
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
Texas
Travis

Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits
Mogwai
Lulu
Bobby Gillespie of The Jesus Mary Chain and Primal Scream
Franz Ferdinand
Alex Harvey of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Wet Wet Wet
Brian Robertson former guitarist of Thin Lizzy, Wild Horses and Motörhead
Camera Obscura
Sons and Daughters
[edit]
Sport
See also: Sport in Glasgow

Glasgow has a long sporting history, with the world's first international football match held in 1872
at the West of Scotland Cricket Club's Hamilton Crescent ground in the Partick area of Glasgow. The
match was between Scotland and England and resulted in a 0-0 draw. It is the only city to have had
two football teams competing in European finals in the same season: in 1967 Celtic were in the
European Cup final while at the same time Rangers were in the Cup Winners' Cup final.
[edit]
Football
The city is home to Scotland's largest football stadia: Celtic Park (60,832 seats), Ibrox Stadium
(50,411 seats) and Hampden Park (52,670 seats), which is Scotland's national football stadium.
Hampden Park holds the European record for attendance at a football match: 149,547 saw Scotland
beat England 3-1 in 1937, in the days before British stadiums became all-seater.
Glasgow has three professional football clubs: Celtic and Rangers, which together make the Old
Firm, and Partick Thistle. A fourth club, Queen's Park, is an amateur club that plays in the Scottish
professional league system. It had two other professional clubs in the late 20th century: Clyde,
which moved to Cumbernauld, and Third Lanark, which went bankrupt. There are a number of
Scottish Junior Football Association clubs within the city as well, such as Pollok, Maryhill and
Petershill, as well as countless numbers of amateur teams.
The history of football in the city, as well as the status of the Old Firm, attracts many visitors to
football matches in the city throughout the season. It is the only city in Europe with three stadia
each with a capacity of at least 50,000 seats. Hampden Park and Ibrox have also been awarded
UEFA 5 star status, meaning that they are capable of hosting the final of the Champions League and
Celtic Park has recently completed upgrades which will allow it to achieve 5 star status after an
official UEFA inspection.. Hampden has hosted the final on three occasions, most recently in 2002.
Hampden will also host the UEFA Cup finals in 2007 The Scottish Football Association, the national
governing body, and the Scottish Football Museum are based in Glasgow, as are the Scottish
Football League, Scottish Premier League, Scottish Junior Football Association and Scottish Amateur
Football Association.
Club Sport League Venue Logo
Rangers Association Football Scottish Premier League Ibrox Stadium
Celtic Association Football Scottish Premier League Celtic Park
Partick Thistle Association Football Scottish Football League Firhill Stadium

Queen's Park Association Football Scottish Football League Hampden Park
[edit]
Rugby
Glasgow also boasts a professional rugby team, the Glasgow Warriors, which plays in the Celtic
League alongside teams from Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
In the Scottish Club leagues, Glasgow Hawks was formed in 1997 by the merger of two of Glasgow's
oldest clubs: Glasgow Accademicals and Glasgow High Kelvinside (GHK). Despite the merger, the
second division teams of Glasgow Accademicals and Glasgow High Kelvinside re-entered the
Scottish Rugby League in 1998.
Club Sport League Venue
Glasgow Warriors Rugby Union Celtic League Firhill
Glasgow Hawks Scottish Rugby Union BT Premier League Old Anniesland
GHA Scottish Rugby Union BT Premier League Braidholm
Glasgow Academicals Scottish Rugby Union BT National League New Anniesland
Glasgow High Kelvinside (GHK) Scottish Rugby Union BT National League Old Anniesland
[edit]
Sports

Major international sporting arenas include the Kelvin Hall and Scotstoun Sports Centre. In 2003
the National Academy for Badminton was completed in Scotstoun. In 2003 Glasgow was also given
the title of European Capital of Sport.
Smaller sporting facilities include an abundance of outdoor playing fields, as well as golf clubs such
as Haggs Castle and artificial ski slopes. Between 1998 and 2004, the Scottish Claymores American
football team played some or all of their home games each season at Hampden and the venue also
hosted World Bowl XI.
Befitting its strong Highland connections as the City of the Gael Baile Mòr nan Gàidheal, Glasgow is
also one of five places in Scotland which hosts the final of the Scottish Cup of Shinty, better known
as the Camanachd Cup. This is usually held at Old Anniesland. Once home to numerous Shinty clubs,
there is now only one senior club in Glasgow, Glasgow Mid-Argyll, as well as two university sides
from Strathclyde University and Glasgow University.
[edit]
2014 Commonwealth Games bid
Glasgow is currently bidding for the Commonwealth Games in 2014, to be based around a number of
existing and new-built sporting venues across the city, including; a revamped Hampden Park with a
Commonwealth Games village planned for the East End. This will be Glasgow's first bid for the
Games, and would be Scotland's third Games. The previous two were held in Edinburgh in 1970 and
1986. [12]
Although London has just won the 2012 Olympic Games, because the Home Countries are classed as
separate nations within the Commonwealth, this should not adversely affect Glasgow's bid.
[edit]
Religion
Glasgow Cathedral marks the site where St. Mungo built his church and established GlasgowThe
city is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic community with diverse religions.
The Central Mosque in the Gorbals district is the largest mosque in Scotland, and with 12 other
mosques in Glasgow, they together cater for the city's estimated 30,000 Muslim population. Glasgow
also has seven Synagogues. It has the fourth largest Jewish population in the UK but once had a
large Jewish population second only to London. Additionally, Glasgow also has a Hindu Mandir and a
new Sikh Temple is due to open in 2007.
[edit]

Cathedrals
The city has four cathedrals:
Glasgow Cathedral (Church of Scotland)
St. Andrew's Cathedral (Roman Catholic)
St. Mary's Cathedral (Scottish Episcopal)
St. Luke's Cathedral (Greek Orthodox)
[edit]
Other prominent religious buildings
Caledonia Road Church - designed by Alexander "Greek" Thomson
Queen's Cross Church - home of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society

St. Andrew's Church
St George's-Tron Church
St. Vincent Street Free Church - designed by Alexander "Greek" Thomson
Renfield - St. Stephen's Church
Wellington Church
Glasgow Central Mosque
Several Modernist Catholic Churches by Gillespie, Kidd Coia
Glasgow also has the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art which is the only religious multi-
faith museum in the world.
[edit]
Religious rivalry
Main article: Sectarianism in Glasgow
Some sectarian rivalry still exists among certain elements of the population. Nowadays this is largely
limited to the sporting rivalry between the supporters of Celtic and Rangers. The majority of
Rangers supporters are nominally Protestant, while the majority of Celtic supporters are nominally
Catholic.
[edit]

Politics
The City Chambers is the seat of local government in GlasgowSee Also: Politics of the City of
Glasgow
Glasgow has a long history of supporting socialist ideas and politics. The city council has been
controlled by the Labour Party for 30 years. Its socialist roots emanate from the city's days as an
industrial powerhouse, and endure through the previously mentioned levels of relative poverty
amongst many Glaswegians. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, the city's frequent strikes
and revolutionary fervour caused serious alarm at Westminster, with one uprising in January 1919
prompting the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George to deploy 10,000 troops and tanks onto the city's
streets. A huge demonstration in the city's George Square on January 31 ended in violence after the
Riot Act was read.
Later, industrial action at the shipyards gave rise to the "Red Clydeside" tag. During the 1930s,
Glasgow was the main base of the Independent Labour Party. Towards the end of the 20th century it
became a centre of the struggle against the poll tax, and then the main base of the Scottish Socialist
Party, a left wing party in Scotland. The British Communist Party also have a notable following in the
city of Glasgow in particular.
[edit]
Scottish Parliament region
See also: Glasgow Scottish Parliament region.
The Glasgow electoral region of the Scottish Parliament covers the Glasgow City council area, a
Rutherglen area of the South Lanarkshire council area and a small eastern portion of the
Renfrewshire council area. It elects ten of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituency
members and seven of the 56 additional members. Both kinds of member are known as Members of
the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). The system of election is designed to produce a form of proportional
representation.
The first past the post seats were created in 1999 with the names and boundaries of then existing
Westminster (House of Commons) constituencies. In 2005, however, the number of Westminster
Members of Parliament (MPs) representing Scotland was cut to 59, with new constituencies being
formed, while the existing number of MSPs was retained at Holyrood.
The ten Scottish Parliament constituencies in the Glasgow electoral region are:-
Glasgow Anniesland
Glasgow Baillieston

Glasgow Cathcart
Glasgow Govan
Glasgow Kelvin
Glasgow Maryhill
Glasgow Pollok
Glasgow Rutherglen
Glasgow Shettleston
Glasgow Springburn
[edit]
United Kingdom Parliament constituencies
See also: United Kingdom constituencies.
Following reform of constituencies of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Parliament
(Westminster) in 2005, which reduced the number of Scottish Members of Parliament (MPs), the
current Westminster constituencies representing Glasgow are:-
Glasgow Central
Glasgow East

Glasgow North
Glasgow North East
Glasgow North West
Glasgow South
Glasgow South West
[edit]
Dialect
See also: Glasgow Patter
Glaswegian, otherwise known as The Glasgow Patter is a local, anglicised variety of Scots.
Glaswegian is a rich and vital living dialect which gives a true reflection of the city with all its
virtues and vices. It is more than an alternative pronunciation; words also change their meaning, e.g.
"away" can mean "leaving" as in A'm awa, an instruction to stop being a nuisance as in awa wi ye, or
"drunk" or "demented" as in he's awa wi it. Cannae means "can't". Pieces refers to "sandwiches".
Ginger is a generic term for carbonated soft drink, generally in a glass bottle (A boatal a' ginger).
Then there are words whose meaning has no obvious relationship to that in standard English:
coupon means "face", via "to punch a ticket coupon". A Headbutt has come to be know in many parts
of Britain as a "Glasgow kiss".
A speaker of Glaswegian might refer to those originating from the Scottish Highlands and the
Western Isles as teuchters, while they would reciprocate by referring to Glaswegians as the keelies.
A (rather old-fashioned) Glaswegian insult is hieland, which means "awkward" and is Scots for
"Highland". Example: that wean's got an awful hieland wey o haudin that knife meaning "that child
has a very awkward way of holding that knife".
The TV series Chewin' the Fat and Rab C. Nesbitt capture the humour of the Glaswegian patois and
sensibilities while Billy Connolly has done a lot to make Glaswegian humour known to the rest of the
world.

[edit]
Education
Glasgow University is amongst the largest and most prestigious educational institutions in the
United Kingdom.See also: University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian
University, and University of Paisley
Glasgow is also a major education centre with four universities within 10 miles (16 km) of the city
centre: the 15th-century University of Glasgow (which has one of the highest ratios of students who
continue living at home), the University of Strathclyde, the Glasgow Caledonian University, and the
University of Paisley; as well as teacher training colleges, teaching hospitals such as the Glasgow
Royal Infirmary, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow School of Art, and ten
other further education colleges. The University of Glasgow is a member of the Russell Group of
elite British Universities [13] and is a founding member of the organisation Universitas 21, [14] an
international grouping of universities dedicated to setting world-wide standards for higher
education.
Glasgow is home to a student population in excess of 168,000, the largest in Scotland, the majority
of them living in the West End of the city, near the University of Glasgow's main campus on
Gilmorehill.
[edit]
Economy
Glasgow is the largest and most dynamic economy in Scotland and is at the hub of the metropolitan
area of West Central Scotland which has a total population of around 2.3 million, nearly half of
Scotland's total population. The city itself sustains more than 410,000 jobs in over 12,000
companies. The wider area of Glasgow Greater Glasgow sustains over 900,000 in 40,000 companies.
Over 153,000 jobs have been created in the city since 2000 - a growth rate of 32%. [15] The city now
outstrips most of its European counterparts and rivals most North American cities in terms of
growth. 55% of the residents in the Greater Glasgow area commute to the city every day.
Manufacturing industries such as shipbuilding and heavy engineering have been gradually replaced
by a modern mixed economy, supported by public and private investment and a skilled workforce.
Glasgow's economy is now dominated by key tertiary sector industries such as financial and business
services, communications, biosciences, creative industries, healthcare, retail and tourism. Between
1998 and 2001, the city's burgeoning financial services sector grew at a rate of 30%.
Although diminished from its early 20th century heights, shipbuilding remains an important part of

the city's technologically advanced manufacturing base.The city retains a strong link to the
manufacturing sector which forms the fourth largest manufacturing centre in the UK, accounting for
well over 60% of Scotland's manufactured exports, with particular strengths in shipbuilding,
engineering, food and drink, printing, publishing, chemicals and textiles as well as new growth
sectors such as optoelectronics, software development and biotechnology. Glasgow forms the
western part of the Silicon Glen high tech sector of Scotland. A growing number of Blue Chip
financial sector companies are basing major operations or headquarters in Glasgow, including;
Abbey, National Australia Group, Royal Bank of Scotland, HBOS, Ernst Young, AXA, Aviva, Standard
Life, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Barclays Bank and Lloyds TSB. These names rub shoulders with
other well established firms operating in the city, which represent other sectors of Glasgow's
economy, including; Diageo, William Grant Sons, Pernod Ricard, Chivas Regal, Whyte Mackay [16],
Tennent Caledonian Breweries, AG Barr, House of Fraser, Hilton Group, Trespass [17], MacFarlane
Group [18], SMG, HarperCollins, John Menzies, BAE Systems, Thales, Alstom, Linn, Rolls-Royce,
Albion Automotive, Corus, British Energy, Scottish Power, Thus, BT, NTL, Centrica, British Airways,
First Group, Loganair, Flyglobespan, BAA, Imperial Chemical Industries, Armitage Shanks, Jacobs
Engineering Group, Norit [19], Weir Group, Babcock, Balfour Beatty, Arup, AMEC, and Aggreko
Engineering. Glasgow-based Scottish Power is one of three Scottish companies to be included on the
Fortune Global 500 rankings.
Over the last two decades Glasgow has been dramatically transformed and is an attractive city in
which to live and work. Major corporate developments have helped promote its reputation as a
leading European centre for business and commerce. [20]
Glasgow is the second most popular foreign tourist destination in Scotland. The city also has the
UK's second largest and most economically important commerce and retail district. Glasgow is one
of Europe's top 20 financial centres and is home to many of Scotland's leading businesses, forming
an important part of the British economy.
[edit]
Crime
In the ten year period 1995/96 to 2004/05, the area with the highest average annual homicide rate
was Glasgow (53 victims per million population). This compared with an overall rate for Scotland of
22 victims per million. Over three-fifths (61 per cent) of homicide cases recorded in 2004/05 took
place in the [Strathclyde police force] area. [21] In an effort to reduce crime, swords have been
outlawed [22].
[edit]
Media
See also: Media in Glasgow

The city is home to the Scottish national media. It is home to the headquarters of BBC Scotland as
well as stv (formerly Scottish Television). The Scottish press publishes various newspapers in the
city such as the Evening Times and The Herald. Scottish editions of Trinity Mirror and News
International titles are also printed in the city. SMG plc is a Glasgow-based media conglomerate with
interests in Television, Radio, Cinema, Advertising and Publishing. ITV plc is believed to own a
significant stake in SMG. Amongst others, SMG owns and operates both Scottish ITV franchises
(Central Scotland and Grampian), both now branded stv, Virgin Radio, Pearl Dean, and Primesight -
who sell outdoor advertising sites such as billboards.
Various radio stations are also located in Glasgow. Scottish Radio Holdings dominates commercial
radio in Glasgow with 9 digital radio stations including: Clyde One and Clyde Two (which can reach
over 2.3 million listeners), WestSound Radio, and Real Radio amongst others. In 2004, SMG plc sold
its 27.8% stake in Scottish Radio Holdings to the broadcasting group EMAP for £90.5m.
[edit]
Transport
Glasgow Central station is the northern terminus of the West Coast Main LineSee also: Transport in
Glasgow
[edit]
Public Transport

Glasgow has a large urban transportation system, mostly managed by the Strathclyde Partnership
for Transport (SPT), part of Transport Scotland. Until 2006 it was known as Strathclyde Passenger
Transport and was the only Passenger Transport Executive in Scotland. SPT is formed and financed
out of the twelve unitary authorities in the Greater Glasgow area including Glasgow City Council. It
has responsibility for local train services, the Subway, certain ferries and buses.
The city has many bus services, almost all provided by private operators since bus deregulation in
1986, however SPT fund services where there is public need but no service. SPT also own and run
the principal bus station in Glasgow, Buchanan Bus Station, which is a terminus point for many long
distance intercity coach services as well as local journeys. A number of controversial 'bus corridors'
have been invested in by Glasgow City Council focusing on main bus routes with real time
information, and bus priority measures at a significant cost. The Greater Glasgow Passenger
Transport Executive (GGPTE), formerly the municipal transport operator, is as a result of bus
deregulation now privately owned by First Group, who operate a vast bus network in the city. Other
large operators in Glasgow are Arriva and Stagecoach with a number of smaller operators catering
to individual districts including First Stop Travel and many others.
Map of the Glasgow Subway NetworkGlasgow has the most extensive urban rail network in the UK
outside of London, with rail services travelling to a large part of the West of Scotland. All trains
running within Scotland are operated by First ScotRail, who own the franchise as determined by the
Scottish Executive. This company is part of the First Group that runs the majority of bus services in
the country. There are two main railway terminals which provide train services throughout the
United Kingdom: Central Station and Queen Street Station. Local trains within Glasgow are however
run by First Scotrail to the specification and requirements of SPT, who provide rolling stock in the
distinctive SPT livery of Carmine and Cream. The city's suburban network is currently divided on
both sides of the River Clyde. Many have long pressed for a link which will join the two halves of the
urban railway network together, making possible through journeys via the central area without
having to disembark at either Central or Queen Street and traverse the city centre by foot or road.
The Glasgow Crossrail initiative has been proposed as a solution and is currently awaiting funding
from the Scottish Executive.
As well as the suburban rail network, SPT also run UK's only completely underground metro system,
the Glasgow Subway (nicknamed by journalists the 'Clockwork Orange' after its 1970s renovation
due to the new orange livery of the trains and its single, circular line). The Subway is best for
avoiding city centre traffic when travelling to the Southside and West End. A single ticket is £1, and
a return £2, however after 0930 a "discovery" day ticket can be purchased for £1.90.
[edit]
River Transport
A number of ferries used to link opposite sides of the Clyde in Glasgow. However these have steadily
disappeared, mainly due to the construction of new bridges and tunnels including the Erskine
Bridge, Kingston Bridge, and the Clyde Tunnel, which rendered them obsolete. The only remaining
crossings are the Renfrew Ferry in Renfrewshire, and the Kilcreggan Ferry in Inverclyde, both run
by SPT but outwith the city boundary. The paddle-steamer PS Waverley, the last operational sea
going paddle-steamer in the world, still provides services from Glasgow City Centre, mainly catering

to the pleasure cruise market. A regular service by Pride of the Clyde waterbuses link the City
Centre with Braehead in Renfrewshire, some 30 minutes downstream.
The M8 motorway passing under Charing Cross in Glasgow[edit]
Roads
The city is the focal point of Scotland's road network and has extensive road connections to other
cities. The main M8 motorway passes through the city centre, allowing road transport to Edinburgh
and Glasgow's two airports. The M8 crosses the Clyde via the Kingston Bridge, and connects to the
M77, M73, and M80 motorways that lead throughout Scotland and to England. The M8 is the only
motorway to pass through the centre of a major city in the UK. The M74 runs directly south towards
Carlisle and currently terminates in the East End suburb of Tollcross, but the highly controversial
M74 Completion scheme will extend the motorway into the Tradeston area to join the M8 south of
the Kingston Bridge. After decades of bitter opposition from various quarters, a legal challenge to
stop the extension from being built was withdrawn in 2006, and the road is now scheduled for
completion by 2010.
Other road proposals include the East End Regeneration Route, which aims to complete the original
post-war masterplan for the Glasgow Inner Ring Road around the city, and provide better access to
deprived areas of the East End.
[edit]
Airports
The city has two international airports: Glasgow International Airport (GLA) in Paisley, Renfrewshire
(13 km west of the city) and Glasgow Prestwick International Airport (PIK) in Prestwick, Ayrshire (46
km to the south-west). It is anticipated that by 2008, both airports with be served by a direct rail link
from Glasgow Central station on completion of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project at Glasgow
International Airport.
[edit]
Suburbs and surrounding district
See: List of places in Glasgow, Scotland
[edit]

Notable Glaswegians
Main article: List of Glaswegians
Billy Connolly (comedian)
Charles Rennie Mackintosh (architect)
John Maclean (socialist politician)
[edit]
Twinned cities
Glasgow has been twinned with various cities around the world including [23]:
Havana, Cuba
Turin, Italy
Nuremberg, Germany
Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Marseille, France [24]
- Dalian, People's Republic of China

- Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories
[edit]
See also
List of famous Glaswegians
List of places in Glasgow, Scotland
Culture in Glasgow
Media in Glasgow
Sport in Glasgow
Religious rivalry in Glasgow
Photographs of Glasgow
Timeline of Glasgow history
Glasgow Fair holiday
Scottish Refugee Council
Gang rivalry in Glasgow

Glasgow's miles better
Scottish Daily News
Largest cities of the European Union by population
[edit]
Notes and references
^ [1] national urban population statistics
^ Glasgow Weather weather.com
^ The official population of Glasgow City Council unitary authority.
^ 2001 Census, www.gro-scotland.gov.uk Localities are sub-divisions of 2001 Settlements that are
based on 1991 Locality boundaries.
^ The Greater Glasgow Settlement Area or Metropolitan Area was created from groups of
neighbouring urban postcodes grouped so that each group of postcode unit contains at least a given
number of addresses per hectare and the group contains at least 500 residents.
^ 2001 Census www.scrol.gov.uk
^ Census Excel file www.gro-scotland.gov.uk

^ Glasgow: Population Density 1891-2001 www.demographia.com
^ Retail capital Buchanan St is world No.7 for shopping www.eveningtimes.co.uk
^ Elphinstone Place: Glasgow - Tallest Building in Scotland glasgowarchitecture.co.uk
^ Tower blocks plan 'too like city in 1960s' www.eveningtimes.co.uk
^ Glasgow 2014, Commonwealth Games Candidate www.glasgow2014.com
^ The Russell Group Homepage, retrieved 22 April 2006
^ Universitas 21 - Member Institutions, retrieved 22 April 2006
^ Jobs boom on Clyde reverses decline Guardian Online
^ Whyte Mackay www.whyteandmackay.com
^ Jacobs Turner www.trespass.co.uk
^ MacFarlane Group www.macfarlanegroup.net
^ Norit
^ Glasgow - Scottish Enterprise www.scottish-enterprise.com

^ Statistical Bulletin: Homocide in Scotland Scottish Executive
^ Sale of swords to be outlawed under new measures to fight blade crime The Scotsman
^ Glasgow City Council - Twin cities of Glasgow
^ BBC News - Glasgow 'twinned' with Marseille
Map sources for Glasgow
[edit]
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
GlasgowWikiSatellite view of Glasgow at WikiMapia
Glasgow travel guide from Wikitravel
Glasgow City Council pages
Glasgow City Council
History of Glasgow

Twin Cities
Famous Glaswegians
Glasgow Visitors Map
[edit]
Sources
Glasgow Cathedral history
Preceded by:
Paris European City of Culture
1990 Succeeded by:
Dublin
Coordinates: 55°51?40?N, 04°15?00?W
Glasgow
History History - Timeline
Places City of Glasgow - Districts and suburbs

Greater Glasgow - River Clyde - Photographs
Topics Culture - Festivals - Geography - Media - Sport - Transport
Rivalry Gang rivalry - The Old Firm - Sectarianism
People Famous Glaswegians - Glasgow patter edit
Places with City status in Scotland
Aberdeen | Dundee | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Inverness | Stirling
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow"
Categories: Glasgow | Scottish names | 6th century establishments
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Edinburgh (pronounced ['?d?nb(?)r?]; Dùn Èideann ([tu:n 'e:t??n]) in Scottish Gaelic) is the capital of
Scotland and its second-largest city.
It is situated on the east coast of Scotland's central lowlands on the south shore of the Firth of Forth
and forms the City of Edinburgh council area. (The city council area includes urban Edinburgh and
more rural areas.) It has been the capital of Scotland since 1437 and is the seat of the country's
devolved government. The city was one of the major centres of the enlightenment (see Scottish
Enlightenment), led by the University of Edinburgh. The Old Town and New Town districts of
Edinburgh were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. In the census of 2001, Edinburgh
had a total resident population of 448,624, making it the 7th largest city in the United Kingdom.
Edinburgh is well-known for the annual Edinburgh Festival, actually a collection of independent
festivals held annually over about three weeks from early August, when the population of the city
doubles. The most famous of these events are the Edinburgh Fringe (the largest performing arts
festival in the world), the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the
Edinburgh International Film Festival. Another famous event is the Hogmanay street party.
The city is one of Europe's major tourist destinations, attracting roughly 13 million visitors a year,
and is the second most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom, after London.
Contents [hide]
1 Etymology
2 Other names

3 The Centre
3.1 Geography
3.2 Areas of the Centre
3.3 Old Town
3.4 New Town
4 Leith
5 Viewpoints
6 Climate
7 Culture
7.1 Edinburgh Festivals
7.2 Celebrations
7.3 Music, Theatre and Film
7.4 Visual arts

7.5 Letters
8 Sports
9 Demographics
10 Economy
11 Government and politics
11.1 Local Government
11.2 Scottish Parliament
11.3 Parliament of the United Kingdom
12 Transport
13 Education
13.1 Universities and Colleges
13.2 Schools
14 Health

14.1 Hospitals
15 Places of worship
15.1 Churches
15.2 Mosque
15.3 Synagogue
16 Famous residents
17 Twinned cities worldwide
18 See also
18.1 Museums and libraries
18.2 Other features of interest
19 References
20 External links
[edit]
Etymology

The origin of the city's name is understood to come from the Brythonic Din Eidyn (Fort of Eidyn)
from the time when it was a Gododdin hillfort.
In the 1st century the Romans recorded the Votadini as a Brythonic tribe in the area, and about 600
the poem Y Gododdin, using the Brythonic form of that name, describes warriors feasting "in Eidin's
great hall".
After it was besieged by the Bernician Angles the name changed to Edin-burh, which some have
argued derives from the Anglo-Saxon for "Edwin's fort", possibly derived from the 7th century king
Edwin of Northumbria. However, since the name apparently predates King Edwin, this is highly
unlikely. The burgh element means "fortress" or "group of buildings", i.e. a town or city and is akin
to the German burg, Latin parcus, Greek pyrgos etc.
The first evidence of the existence of the town as a separate entity from the fort lies in an early 12th
century royal charter, generally thought to date from 1124, by King David I granting land to the
Church of the Holy Rood of Edinburgh. This suggests that the town came into official existence
between 1018 (when King Malcolm II secured the Lothians from the Northumbrians) and 1124.
Edinburgh is clearly labeled on this T and O map from ca. 1300. (North lies roughly in the direction
of the upper left corner.)The charter refers to the recipients (in Latin) as "Ecclisie Sancte Crucis
Edwinesburgensi". This could mean that those who drafted the charter believed Edwin to be the
original source of the name and decided to derive the Latinisation from what they believed to be the
ancient name. It could also mean that at some point in the preceding 600 years the name had altered
to include a w. If the latter scenario was the case then it was soon to change; by the 1170s King
William the Lion was using the name "Edenesburch" in a charter (again in Latin) confirming the
1124 grant of David I.
Documents from the 14th century show the name to have settled into its current form; although
other spellings ("Edynburgh" and "Edynburghe") appear, these are simply spelling variants of the
current name.
[edit]
Other names
View over Edinburgh from the castleThe city is affectionately nicknamed Auld Reekie, Scots for Old
Smoky. This is because when the only fuels available were coal and wood, all the chimneys would
spew lots of smoke into the air. Auld Reekie also referred to the less than sanitary living conditions
that would lead to a strong odour covering the city. "Reek" means "smell" in modern Edinburgh.
Some have called Edinburgh the Athens of the North for a variety of reasons. The earliest
comparison between the two cities showed that they had a similar topography, with the Old Town of
Edinburgh performing a similar role to the Athenian Acropolis. Both of them had flatter, fertile
agricultural land sloping down to a port several miles away (respectively Leith and Piraeus).
Although this arrangement is common in Southern Europe, it is rare in Northern Europe. The 18th
century intellectual life, referred to as the Scottish Enlightenment, was a key influence in gaining
the name. Such beacons as David Hume and Adam Smith shone during this period. Having lost most
of its political importance after the Union, some hoped that Edinburgh could gain a similar civilising
influence on London as Athens had on Rome. Also a contributing factor was the later neoclassical

architecture, particularly that of William Henry Playfair, and the National Monument. Tom
Stoppard's character Archie, of Jumpers, has said, facetiously, that the "Reykjavík of the South"
would be more appropriate![1]
Edinburgh has also been known as Dunedin, deriving from the Scottish Gaelic, Dùn Èideann.
Dunedin, New Zealand, was originally called "New Edinburgh" and is still nicknamed the "Edinburgh
of the South".
The Scots poets Robert Burns and Robert Fergusson sometimes used the city's Latin name, Edina, in
their work. Ben Johnson described it as Britaine's other eye, and Sir Walter Scott referred to the city
as yon Empress of the North.
Some Scots-speakers refer to the city informally as Edinburrie or Embra.
[edit]
The Centre
Edinburgh Castle viewed from Princes Street
Alternate view[edit]
Geography
Some 320 million years ago, the cores of several volcanic vents in the area cooled and solidified to
form tough basalt volcanic plugs, then, during the last ice age, glaciers eroded the area, exposing
the plug as a rocky crag to the west, and leaving a tail of material swept to the east. At the same
time, the glacier gouged out ground to each side, leaving the ravine of the Grassmarket and
Cowgate to the south, and the swampy valley of the Nor Loch to the north. The resulting crag and
tail landform now forms the Castle Rock, and the narrow steep sided ridge which the Royal Mile
follows. The ridge declines in height over a mile, meeting general ground level at Holyrood.
This formed a natural fortress, and recent excavations at the castle found material dating back to the
Late Bronze Age, as long ago as 850 BCE.[2]
The map co-ordinates of the centre of Edinburgh are approximately 55°57?N 3°11?W.
Looking east across part of Princes Street Gardens, the monument to Sir Walter Scott is prominent
in the background to the left. The Balmoral Hotel is in the centre, with the North Bridge to its right
above Waverley station.[edit]

Areas of the Centre
The historic centre of Edinburgh is divided into two by the broad green swath of Princes Street
Gardens. To the south the view is dominated by Edinburgh Castle, perched atop the extinct volcanic
crag, and the long sweep of the Old Town trailing after it along the ridge. To the north lies Princes
Street and the New Town. The gardens were begun in 1816 on bogland which had once been the
Nor Loch.
To the immediate west of the castle lies the financial district, housing insurance and banking
buildings. Probably the most eyecatching building is the huge circular sandstone building that is the
Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
[edit]
Old Town
The Royal Mile in the Old Town during the Edinburgh Festival.Main article: Old Town, Edinburgh
The Old Town has preserved its medieval plan and many Reformation-era buildings. One end is
closed by the castle and the main artery, the Royal Mile, leads away from it; minor streets (called
closes or wynds) lead downhill on either side of the main spine in a herringbone pattern. Large
squares mark the location of markets or surround major public buildings such as St Giles Cathedral
and the Law Courts.
View up George IV BridgeOther notable places of interest nearby include the Royal Museum of
Scotland, Surgeons' Hall, the University of Edinburgh, and numerous underground streets and
vaults, relics of previous phases of construction. The street layout, typical of the old quarters of
many northern European cities, is made especially picturesque in Edinburgh, where the castle
perches on top of a rocky crag, the remnants of a dormant volcano, and the main street runs down
the crest of a ridge from it.
Due to the space restrictions imposed by the narrowness of the "tail" the Old Town became home to
some of the earliest "high rise" residential buildings. Multi-storey dwellings were the norm from the
1500s onwards.
[edit]
New Town
A panorama of Edinburgh published by the Illustrated London News in 1868. The grid pattern of
New Town appears in the foreground. Edinburgh Castle is on the hill centre right, and the Royal
Mile can be traced leading down from it to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The hill at the top left is
Arthur's Seat.Main article: New Town, Edinburgh

The New Town was an 18th century solution to the problem of an increasingly crowded Old Town.
The city had remained incredibly compact, confined to the ridge running down from the castle. In
1766 a competition to design the New Town was won by James Craig, a 22-year-old architect. The
plan that was built created a rigid, ordered grid, which fitted well with enlightenment ideas of
rationality. The principal street was to be George Street, which follows the natural ridge to the north
of the Old Town. Either side of it are the other main streets of Princes Street and Queen Street.
Princes Street has since become the main shopping street in Edinburgh, and few Georgian buildings
survive on it. Linking these streets were a series of perpendicular streets. At the east and west ends
are St. Andrew's Square and Charlotte Square respectively. The latter was designed by Robert Adam
and is often considered one of the finest Georgian squares in the world. Bute House, the official
residence of the First Minister of Scotland, is on the north side of Charlotte Square.
The National Gallery of Scotland viewed from the south in front of the Royal Scottish Academy and
Princes Street.Sitting in the glen between the Old and New Towns was the Nor' Loch, which had
been both the city's water supply and place for dumping sewage. By the 1820s it was drained. Some
plans show that a canal was intended, but the Princes Street Gardens were created instead. Excess
soil from the construction of the buildings was dumped into the loch, creating what is now The
Mound. In the mid-19th century the National Gallery of Scotland and Royal Scottish Academy
Building were built on The Mound, and tunnels to Waverley Station driven through it.
The New Town was so successful that it was extended greatly. The grid pattern was not maintained,
but rather a more picturesque layout was created. Today the New Town is considered by many to be
one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture and planning in the world.
[edit]
Leith
Main article: Leith
Leith is the port of Edinburgh. It still retains a separate identity from Edinburgh, and it was a matter
of great resentment when, in 1920, the burgh of Leith was merged into the county of Edinburgh.
Even today the parliamentary seat is known as 'Edinburgh North and Leith'. With the redevelopment
of Leith, Edinburgh has gained the business of a number of cruise liner companies who now provide
cruises to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Leith also boasts the Royal
Yacht Britannia, berthed behind the Ocean Terminal shopping centre.
See also: Granton, Newhaven
[edit]
Viewpoints

View of Edinburgh from the Scott Monument on Princes Street, showing Waverley Station in the
foreground and Arthur's Seat beyond.The varied topography of the city includes several summits
which command sweeping views over Edinburgh.
To the southeast of central Edinburgh stands the eminence known as Arthur's Seat, overlooking
Holyroodhouse and the Old Town beside it. The crag is a collection of side vents of the main volcano
on which Edinburgh is built. The volcano slipped and tipped sideways, leaving these vents as the
highest points for miles around. Arthur's Seat is now part of Holyrood Park, originally owned by the
monarch and part of the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It contains the UK's largest
concentration of geological SSSIs, as well as providing the people of Edinburgh with spectacular
views of and from Arthur's Seat and somewhere to relax after a long day in the city.
To the northeast, overlooking the New Town, is Calton Hill. It is topped by an assortment of
buildings and monuments: two observatories, Nelson's Monument (a tower dedicated to Admiral
Horatio Nelson), the old Royal High School (once almost the home of a devolved Scottish Assembly),
and the unfinished National Monument, which is modelled on the Parthenon from the Athenian
Acropolis and is nicknamed "Edinburgh's Disgrace". The nickname of the city, "Athens of the North",
also hails partly from this monument. Calton Hill plays host to the Beltane Fire Festival on May 1.
The Royal Observatory rests on Blackford Hill, the third and Southernmost viewpoint of the city.
Panoramic view of Edinburgh from the top of Arthur's Seat.[edit]
Climate
Like much of the rest of Scotland, Edinburgh has a temperate maritime climate, which is relatively
mild despite its northerly latitude. Winters are especially mild given that Moscow and Labrador in
Newfoundland lie on the same latitude, with daytime temperatures rarely falling below freezing, or
0C (32F). Summer temperatures are comparatively cool, with daily upper maxima rarely exceeding
23C (73F). The proximity of the city to the sea mitigates any large variations in temperature or
extremes of climate. Given Edinburgh's position between the coast and hills it is renowned as a
windy city, with the prevailing wind direction coming from the south-west which is associated with
warm, unstable air from the Gulf Stream that gives rise to rainfall. Winds from an easterly direction
are usually drier but colder. Rainfall is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. Vigorous
Atlantic depressions - sometimes called European windstorms can affect the city between October
and March.
Climate Table Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum temperature (°C) 6.2 6.5 8.7 11.1 14.2 17.3 18.8 18.5 16.2 13.2 8.1 6.9 12.1
Mean daily minimum temperature (°C) 0.3 0.0 1.5 3.1 5.7 8.7 10.3 10.2 8.4 5.9 2.1 0.9 4.8

Mean total rainfall (mm) 57 42 51 41 51 51 57 65 67 65 63 58 668
Mean number of rain days 17.2 13.6 16.2 14.0 14.4 13.3 13.1 15.2 16.5 16.7 16.3 16.3 182.8
Source: World Meterological Organization
[edit]
Culture
[edit]
Edinburgh Festivals
Culturally, Edinburgh is best known for the Edinburgh Festival, although this is in fact a series of
separate events, which run from the end of July until early September each year. The longest
established festival is the Edinburgh International Festival, which first ran in 1947. The
International Festival centres on a programme of high-profile theatre productions and classical
music performances, featuring international directors, conductors, theatre companies and
orchestras.
The International Festival has since been taken over in both size and popularity by the Edinburgh
Fringe. What began as a programme of marginal acts has become the largest arts festival in the
world, with over 1800 shows being staged in 2005, in 247 venues. Comedy is now one of the
mainstays of the Fringe, with numerous notable comedians getting their 'break' here, often through
receipt of the Perrier Award.
Alongside these major festivals, there is also the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the
Edinburgh Jazz Festival, and the Edinburgh International Book Festival. T on the Fringe, a popular
music offshoot of the Fringe, began in 2000, replacing the smaller Flux and Planet Pop series of
shows. Tigerfest is an independent music festival which ran concurrently with the Fringe in 2004
and 2005 before moving to a May slot in 2006.
Running concurrently with the festivals, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo occupies the Castle
Esplanade every night, with massed pipers and fireworks.
[edit]

Celebrations
A Viking longship being burnt during Edinburgh's annual Hogmanay celebrations.Equally famous is
the annual Hogmanay celebration. Originally simply a street party held on Princes Street and the
Royal Mile, the Hogmanay event has been officially organised since 1993. In 1996, over 300,000
people attended, leading to ticketing of the main street party in later years, with a limit of 100,000
tickets. Hogmanay now covers four days of processions, concerts and fireworks, and the event
regularly attracts a lot of people.
On the night of the 30th April, the Beltane Fire Festival takes place on Edinburgh's Calton Hill. The
festival involves a procession followed by the re-enactment of scenes inspired by pagan spring
fertility celebrations.
[edit]
Music, Theatre and Film
Outside festival season, Edinburgh continues to support a number of theatres and production
companies. The Royal Lyceum Theatre has its own company, while the King's Theatre, Edinburgh
Festival Theatre, and Edinburgh Playhouse stage large touring shows. The Traverse Theatre
presents a more contemporary programme of plays. Small student and amateur productions are
staged at the Bedlam Theatre, Church Hill Theatre, and the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh.
The Usher Hall is Edinburgh's premier venue for classical music, as well as the occasional prestige
popular music gig. Other halls staging music and theatre include The Hub, the Assembly Rooms and
the Queen's Hall. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is based in Edinburgh. The silent revolution are
also based in Edinburgh and are pioneering modern acoustic rock.
Edinburgh has two repertory cinemas, the Edinburgh Filmhouse, and the Cameo, as well as the
usual range of multiplexes.
Edinburgh has a healthy popular music scene, despite the recent closure of The Venue and the
attempted closure of Studio 24. Occasional large gigs are staged at Murrayfield, the Liquid Rooms,
Meadowbank, as well as the relatively new Edinburgh Corn Exchange.
[edit]
Visual arts
Edinburgh is home to Scotland's five National Galleries. The national collection is housed in the
Scottish National Gallery, located on the Mound, and now linked to the Royal Scottish Academy,
which holds regular major exhibitions of painting. The contemporary collections are shown in the
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, and the nearby Dean Gallery. The Scottish National Portrait

Gallery focuses on portraits and photography.
The city council-owned City Arts Centre shows regular art exhibitions. Across the road, the
Fruitmarket Gallery offers touring exhibitions of contemorary art.
[edit]
Letters
Edinburgh has a long literary tradition, going back to the Scottish Enlightenment. Writers such as
James Boswell, Robert Louis Stevenson and Walter Scott all lived and worked in Edinburgh. More
recently, Edinburgh has become associated with the crime novels of Ian Rankin.
Edinburgh's Enlightenment also produced philosopher David Hume and the pioneer of economics,
Adam Smith. Further scientific and philosophical enquiry was discussed at The Poker Club in the
city.
[edit]
Sports
Edinburgh has two professional football clubs: Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian. They are known
locally as Hibs (or the Hibees) and Hearts (or the Jambos). Both teams play in the Scottish Premier
League: Hibernian at Easter Road Stadium near Leith and Hearts at Tynecastle Stadium in Gorgie.
There are a few other reputable non-league sides such as Spartans and Edinburgh City. Edinburgh
also formerly was home to Meadowbank Thistle, although they moved to nearby Livingston in 1995,
shedding their old name. Although Edinburgh is Scotland's capital, the Scottish national team
usually play at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland's largest city.
Scotland's national rugby team's base is Murrayfield Stadium. Rugby union internationals and "home
internationals" (i.e. Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales) are played at Murrayfield, owned by the
Scottish Rugby Union. (Murrayfield is also used as a venue for other events, including music
concerts.) Edinburgh's professional rugby team, the Edinburgh Gunners, play in the Celtic League at
Murrayfield.
The Scottish cricket team represent Scotland at cricket internationally and in the CG Trophy and
play their home matches at The Grange in Stockbridge.
The Edinburgh Capitals are the latest of a succession of ice hockey clubs to represent the Scottish
capital. Previously Edinburgh was represented by the Murrayfield Racers and the Edinburgh Racers.
The club play their home games at the Murrayfield Ice Rink and are currently the sole Scottish
representative in the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Edinburgh has also hosted various national and international sports events including the World
Student Games, the 1970 British Commonwealth Games, the 1986 Commonwealth Games and the
inaugural 2000 Commonwealth Youth Games. For the Games in 1970 the city built major Olympic
standard venues and facilities including the Royal Commonwealth Pool and the Meadowbank
Stadium.
The Scottish Claymores played American football from 1995 - 2004, with some matches taking place
at Murrayfield, others in Glasgow at Hampden.
The Edinburgh Marathon has been held in the city since 2003 with over 13,000 taking part annually.
[edit]
Demographics
Population of Edinburgh 1755 1791 1811 1821 1831 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891
57,195 81,865 82,624 112,235 136,054 138,182 160,511 168,121 196,979 228,357 261,225
1901 1911 1921 1931 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2005
316,837 320,318 420,264 439,010 466,761 468,361 453,575 425,575 418,914 448,624 457,830
Population of Leith included. Sources: City of Edinburgh Council and Edinphoto
As of 2005, the General Register Office for Scotland estimated that the City of Edinburgh council
area had a resident population of 457,830[3]. The 2001 UK census reported the population to be
448,624, making the city the seventh largest in the United Kingdom[4]. The General Register Office
also reported that this resident population was split between 220,094 males and 237,736 females.
Whilst Edinburgh's population is ageing a very large and transient population of young students
studying at the universities in the city offset this demographic problem somewhat. The population of
Edinburgh is expected to grow significantly over the next 20 years, with the number of residents
expected to have reached 500,000 by 2024[5].There are estimated to be around 100,000 students
studying at the various Higher Education institutions in the city[6]. Edinburgh also has one of the
highest-educated populations in Europe, with more university graduates per head of population than
any other European city.[7]
[edit]

Economy
Edinburgh viewed from Arthur's Seat. See also this picture for a panoramic view from Holyrood Park
towards Ocean Terminal.Main article: Economy of Edinburgh
The economy of Edinburgh is largely based around the services sector centred around banking,
financial services and tourism. Unemployment in Edinburgh is low at 2.2%, which has been
consistently below the Scottish average [8]. The city is one of the most prosperous parts of the
country and has the strongest economy of any city in the UK except London[9].
Banking has been a part of the economic life of Edinburgh for over 300 years, with the establishment
of the Bank of Scotland by an act of the original Parliament of Scotland in 1695. Today, together
with the burgeoning financial services industry, with particular strengths in insurance and
investment underpinned by the presence Edinburgh based firms such as Scottish Widows and
Standard Life, Edinburgh has emerged as Europe's sixth largest financial centre[10]. The Royal
Bank of Scotland, which is the fifth largest in the world by market capitalisation, opened their new
global headquarters at Gogarburn in the west of the city in October 2005.
Manufacturing has never had as strong a presence in Edinburgh when compared to Glasgow,
however brewing, publishing, and nowadays electronics have maintained a foothold in the city.
Whilst brewing has been in decline in recent years, with the closure of the McEwan's Brewery in
2005, Caledonian Brewery remains as the largest, with Scottish and Newcastle retaining their
headquarters in the city.
Tourism is an important economic mainstay in the city. As a World Heritage Site tourists come to
visit such historical sites as Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Georgian New
Town . This is augmented in August of each year with the presence of the Edinburgh Festivals,
which bring in large numbers of visitors, generating in excess of £100m for the Edinburgh
economy[11].
As the centre of Scotland's devolved government, as well as its legal system, the public sector plays
a central role in the economy of Edinburgh with many departments of the Scottish Executive located
in the city. Other major employers include NHS Scotland and local government administration.
[edit]
Government and politics
The Scottish Parliament, with Calton Hill in the background.
Coat of arms of EdinburghMain article: Government and Politics of the City of Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a centre of national as well as local government. The national unicameral legislature of

Scotland - the Scottish Parliament is located in the Holyrood area of the city, with the new Scottish
Parliament Building opening in September 2004. A number of key government buildings are to be
found within the city, with the devolved government of Scotland - the Scottish Executive having
offices at St Andrew's House on Calton Hill in the city centre, and Victoria Quay in Leith. Bute House
on Charlotte Square is also the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland.
The city has hosted a number of international events, such as Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting and the Council of Europe. Nominally there are three tiers of government administering
Edinburgh - the city council, the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament.
[edit]
Local Government
On a local level Edinburgh constitutes one of the 32 Scottish council areas, and as such is governed
by the Edinburgh City Council, a local authority composed of 58 elected councillors each
representing an electoral ward in the city. The current Lord Provost of Edinburgh is Cllr Lesley
Hinds, who replaced Cllr Eric Milligan on May 8, 2003. In Scotland the Lord Provost fulfils many
similar roles to that of a Mayor in some other countries.
Elections to the City Council are held every 4 years. The next elections will take place in May 2007.
The council is composed of 58 elected members with the administration being run by the Labour
Party for a number of years now. Of the 58 elected councillors in Edinburgh, 30 members of the
council, including the Lord Provost and current Majority Leader of the Council Donald Anderson, are
from the Labour Party. There are 14 councillors from the Scottish Liberal Democrats, 13 from the
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and one member from the Scottish National Party.
At the elections in May 2007, the electoral boundaries will change and the Council will be elected by
Proportional Representation.
[edit]
Scottish Parliament
In elections to the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood), the city area is divided between six of the nine
constituencies in the Lothians electoral region. Each constituency elects one Member of the Scottish
Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post system of election, and the region elects seven additional
MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation.
Five of the six Edinburgh constituencies, Edinburgh North and Leith, Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh
Pentlands, Edinburgh South and Edinburgh West, are entirely within the city area. Musselburgh, in
East Lothian, is included in the sixth, Edinburgh East and Musselburgh.

Boundaries date from 1999, and the creation of the Scottish Parliament itself.
[edit]
Parliament of the United Kingdom
In elections to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster), the
city area is divided between five first past the post constituencies, all entirely within the city area,
and each electing one Member of Parliament (MP): Edinburgh South, Edinburgh West, Edinburgh
South West, Edinburgh North and Leith, and Edinburgh East.
Boundaries date from 2005.
[edit]
Transport
Main article: Transport in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Waverley railway station - the principal mainline station in Edinburgh viewed from
Edinburgh Castle.Edinburgh is a major transport hub in east central Scotland, and is the focus for
many arterial road and rail routes that connect the city to the rest of Scotland and with England.
Most passenger transport trips in Edinburgh are taken by bus, with Lothian Buses and First Bus
operating an extensive system connecting most parts of the city, suburbs and surrounding city
region. In early 2007, construction will begin on the Edinburgh Tram Network - a light rapid transit
system of trams that will connect the airport and western suburbs with the city centre. Another loop
will connect the city centre and the northern waterfront areas of Leith and Granton -- areas which
are currently undergoing major regeneration and redevelopment.
Edinburgh Waverley is the main railway station for the city. It is on the East Coast Main Line and is
a through station as well as a terminus for many services to and from London Kings Cross operated
by GNER and Virgin Trains, as well as services from within Scotland operated by First Scotrail.
Haymarket Station is a smaller station located to the west of the city centre.
Edinburgh is served by Edinburgh Airport (EDI), located approximately 8 miles to the west of the
city, with connections to many cities in Europe and an expanding international long-haul route
network. Construction of a rail link to the airport is due to commence in 2007 and be operational by
2009 [12]. The airport will also be served by the Edinburgh Tram Network.
Traffic congestion, especially at peak times, is viewed as a problem. The rise in car use in the city
caused commuting trips to grow by 72% in Edinburgh between 1981 and 2001 [13]. Various
initiatives have been put in place to combat this, with park and ride facilities provided at Ingliston on

the western outskirts of the city, as well as in Fife. "Greenways", dedicated bus lanes on primary
routes into the city centre with strict traffic regulations, have been initiated in recent years.
Improvements to the bus network have included guided busways in the west of the city and major
improvements to bus services, such as clearer ticketing arrangements and better provision of bus
stops.
[edit]
Education
[edit]
Universities and Colleges
The University of Edinburgh was founded by Royal Charter in 1583, and is the fourth oldest
university in Scotland, after St Andrews, Glasgow and Aberdeen. The Old College on South Bridge
opened in the 1820s. As the institution continued to expand, new buildings were constructed around
George Square, where the heart of the university remains. Development of the college's buildings
continues in the 21st century. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of
Physicians of Edinburgh were also established by Royal Charter, in 1506 and 1681 respectively. The
Trustees Drawing Academy of Edinburgh was established in 1760, an institution that became, in
1907, Edinburgh College of Art.
In the 1960s Heriot-Watt University and Napier Technical College were established. Heriot-Watt
traces its origins to 1821, when a school for technical education of the working classes was opened.
Heriot-Watt continues to have a strong reputation in engineering, and is based at Riccarton, in the
west of the city.
Napier College was renamed Napier Polytechnic in the 1980s, and gained university status in its
own right in 1992; the mass conversion of other polytechnic higher education establishments only
began several months later in the same year. Napier University now has several campuses in the
south and west of the city, including the former Craiglockhart Hydropathic (of Siegfried Sassoon and
Wilfred Owen fame) and Merchiston Tower (the family home of John Napier). The University
contains a number of highly specialised research centres (in timber engineering and teledemocracy,
for example) and has one of the largest business schools of any university north of the border. The
School of Computing at Napier University is also the largest computing department in Scotland.
Queen Margaret University College was founded in 1875 as a women's college, and today specialises
in healthcare, media, hospitality and business.
Other colleges offering further education in Edinburgh include Telford College, opened in 1968, and
Stevenson College, opened in 1970. Basil Paterson offers courses in languages and teaching. The
Scottish Agricultural College also has a campus in south Edinburgh.

[edit]
Schools
Main article: List of schools in the United Kingdom#City of Edinburgh
Notable schools in Edinburgh include the Royal High School, (a state run school) considered to be
the oldest in Scotland, and Donaldson's College, for deaf students. Private schools include Edinburgh
Academy, Fettes College, George Heriot's School, George Watson's College, the Mary Erskine
School, Merchiston Castle School and Stewart's Melville College.
[edit]
Health
[edit]
Hospitals
Main article: List of hospitals in Scotland#City of Edinburgh
Notable hospitals in Edinburgh include the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, which includes Edinburgh
University Medical School, and the Western General Hospital, which includes a large cancer
treatment centre. There is one private hospital, BUPA's Murrayfield Hospital.
[edit]
Places of worship
[edit]

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