Glasgow, Scotland's largest city and third most populous in the United Kingdom, is charming with style and culture, its irresistible blend of internationally acclaimed museums and galleries, stunning architecture, vibrant nightlife, fabulous shopping and superlative wining and dining. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands.

According to the 2007 population estimate, there are 1,750,500 people living in the Greater Glasgow Urban Area. The entire region surrounding the conurbation covers approximately 2.3 million people, 41% of Scotland's population.

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 elaborate Victorian Glasgow City Chambers, headquarters of Glasgow City Council. To the south and west are the shopping precincts of Argyle, Sauchiehall and Buchanan Streets, the latter featuring more upmarket retailers and winner of the Academy of Urbanism 'Great Street Award' 2008.

The city centre is home to most of Glasgow's main cultural venues which are mainly The Theatre Royal, The Pavilion, The King's Theatre, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Film Theatre, RSAMD, Gallery of Modern Art, Mitchell Library, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, McLellan Galleries and The Lighthouse Museum of Architecture, Design and the City. The world's tallest cinema, the eighteen-screen Cineworld is sited on Renfrew Street. The city centre is also home to four of Glasgow's higher education institutions: The University of Strathclyde, The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow Caledonian University.