Finding Spaces in the (Not-So) Big City
Free Wifi and where to find it... Plus, a U.S. perspective on a Scottish Night Out
Most of my Valentine’s Day was spent resetting my apartment from a friend’s visit. Before Harrison left, he mentioned being excited to look at his neighborhood in Los Angeles with a fresh perspective. This week, I’ve felt much the same way about my home here in Glasgow. When a guest leaves for home, you get to look at your own space with fresh eyes.
Here are a few of the small things I’ve likely taken for granted since moving here, and some tips for getting by not only in Glasgow but in other cities as well.
Quick Hits
Tips for a Scottish Night Out
Photos from Harrison’s Visit
How to Find Free WiFi Here and Elsewhere
Order of Operations
Not every night is a bar crawl, but there are strong distinctions in Glasgow between different types of bars, and that determines how late they’re open. Pubs generally open at noon and close at midnight, but they tend to limit their kitchens to different hours, closing down dinner orders by 10p. Bars like NQ64 or Market (where a few friends conveniently work) tend to open a bit later but stay open until late in the night. For the true party animals, clubs like Cathouse, The Box, or Sub Club pump dance tunes until 3a, but that party usually doesn’t kick off until around midnight. If you time it just right, you can hit dinner, a pub, a bar, and a club in perfect flow.
Eat Before You Go
When in doubt, always default to Freshman year of College rules— that’s the buddy system, charging your phone, sensible shoes, and eating a substantial meal before you go out.
Expect to Uber
Major bus routes, trains, and subways out of downtown stop at midnight, so if you’re expecting to be out late, be sure to download the Glasgow Taxis app or budget for an Uber after your drinks. Otherwise, you might be in for a long, cold walk back to wherever you’re staying.
Through Harrison’s Lens— Photos of Scotland
I asked Harrison to share some of the photos he took during his time in Inverness and Glasgow. Harrison works in Los Angeles as a filmmaker and sound engineer. You can find more of his work here.
Free Spots to Work Remotely
I can’t stress enough that working out of coffee shops is unsustainable, and most coworking spaces are a bit rich for my blood. I’ve worked remotely for the past two years. I’m no stranger to finding new work spots without spending money. With a friend from the states in town, we had to hop from hotspot to hotspot as he operated without a phone plan. If you’re visiting a new city and want to bring your laptop outside of your accommodations, check out galleries, museums, and libraries. They’re usually quiet and free to the public, meaning they’re good places to start.
Glasgow Life Venues
This arts venue in Southside is attached to the Hidden Gardens, a performance hall, and a cafe. It’s operated in coordination with Glasgow Life, which operates public spaces across Glasgow, including tons of Libraries and Museums around the city. All of Glasgow Life’s venues offer wifi after a short registration screen. They also have a list of all their facilities online, which has been super helpful for exploring the city from hotspot to hotspot.
The Burrell Collection
Museums generally provide guest wifi access, but the Burrell Collection provides comfortable seating and a ton of different secluded corners. It’s one of the few free museums where I’ve felt like I could hang out and work all day without being in the way or overstaying my welcome. Plus, their extensive and beautiful collection is a nice palette cleanser between work tasks, and I like drawing there from time to time.
Centre for Contemporary Arts
Just off Sauciehall Street, the CCA Glasgow provides a public art space and galleries Tuesday through Saturday. The building hosts workshops and houses an artist residency program. There are two cafes in the building, one of which has a terrace space (which the wifi reaches), but the building also provides a few galleries and workspaces.
Glasgow Zine Library
Southside is home to this community center which houses a collection of zines from all over the world. Zines are a form of small press, often hand-assembled publications. They were super popular in the 80s and 90s. Since college, I’ve noticed that they’ve trended back into public relevance. The Glasgow Zine Library, open Fridays and Saturdays, offers a space for the community to learn more about zines, sit for a read, or just hang out for a bit and work on their own creative project. I also have recently joined their volunteer list, which has helped me learn about them as a community resource.