Popular cities to visit in Scotland for architecture advice, Best Scottish buildings tips
Popular Cities To Visit In Scotland For Architecture Guide
19 May 2022
Scotland is well known for its kilts, bagpipes, whiskey, and the Loch Ness monster. However, it is also home to a lot of classic architecture, and the buildings are in excellent condition. In fact, many buildings are still in service today and are home to a wide range of modern attractions. While it is a small country, it has an incredibly rich history. Despite its turbulent history, a lot of these historic monuments are still in fantastic condition today.
If you are in the UK, Scotland is a destination that will offer a completely unique experience. Everything, from the food to the sites to the language to the drinks, is completely different from anything else you will find in the region. If you are into architecture and classical buildings then this is a gold mine. Let’s look at some of the best places to visit in Scotland if architecture is your poison.
1. Edinburgh
The capital of the country is one of the most popular tourist destinations and for good reason. It is home to some excellent classic buildings from as late as the medieval era to as recent as the 18th century. One of the most popular locations in the city is Edinburgh Castle. It is open to visitors and right nearby is the Royal Mile. This is a local pedestrian-friendly bazaar that has shops for everything you could think of. These two locations give you a glimpse of what the city must have looked like a few centuries ago during the middle ages.
To get a slightly more recent view of the city you can head over to the New Town area. Most of New Town was built in the late 17th and 18th centuries. One of the most interesting features of New Town is the classical Georgian townhomes. These really show the architectural design of that period along with what life was like, since most of the buildings have all the basic things that were required back then. From the inside, these homes have been renovated to meet modern needs, but there is still much to learn from the structures of these buildings.
2. Glasgow
The next biggest city in the region is Glasgow. It is home to some fantastic buildings, and these buildings are also venues for some of the best events in Europe. For instance, you have some of the best art museums in Glasgow such as the Riverside Museum. There is the iconic Glasgow Cathedral and the well-known Glasgow School of Art. Another unique thing in Glasgow is that there is a completely rebuilt replica of various homes and shops from the 1930s. You will also find a huge collection of local transport-related historical artifacts such as steam engines, buses, carriages, cars, and even boats and ships.
The city is also situated on the Clyde River and just a little upstream and out of the city, you get some excellent spots to explore the wilderness of the area. You can get fantastic packages on Hot tub cottage holidays and spend these out in the northern parts of Scotland where there is no one to disturb you and a huge area to explore. The great thing is that the main cities such as Glasgow are just an hour or two away so you can very easily enjoy the best of both worlds.
3. St. Andrews
The sport of golf was born in St. Andrews. To date, it is one of the most sought-after locations for golfers from around the world. It is home to the Ancient Golf Club which was founded in the mid-18th century. If you enjoy golf and you enjoy architecture, just the golf clubhouse on its own is worth a trip to St. Andrews. It is a magnificent building, but it’s one that you can only enjoy from the outside.
However, if you happen to be there on the right day of the year, you can get access to the interior for a quick view around the ground floor. Even on this special day, you can’t get access to the entire building, but it is still well worth a visit even if it’s just a walk around the main rooms on the ground floor.
Another architectural wonder located nearby is the Golf Museum. This is home to some of the most iconic artifacts related to golf that has been played in St. Andrews as well as globally. Also, St. Andrews is a university town and the university campus is also home to some spectacular buildings.
Many of these buildings are very old, but thanks to excellent renovations and top-quality upkeep, they are still used today and have been preserved in their original forms. For some older history, be sure to have a look at the ruins of St. Andrews castle and the town’s old cathedral while you are there.
4. Inverness
When exploring the Scottish Highlands it would be a sin to not pay Inverness a visit. This cozy little city is home to some fantastic local scenery, such as the beautiful lake, but it is also home to some outstanding buildings and structures. The most prominent of these is the Inverness Castle.
Right opposite the castle is the St. Andrews Cathedral. This is another very old structure that is open to the public and definitely worth exploring. As you move towards the old city center you will come across even more architecture ranging from many different time periods. In the old city center, you can also find the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery which holds a lot of information about the general Scottish Highland region as well as about Inverness.
The great thing about Scotland is that it is a relatively small place. You can easily travel from the West to the East, from the South to the North, even if you are there just for a few days. However, the dense history and the depth of the experience demand that you spend a good amount of time really understanding what the place and its history are all about.
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Architecture
Rowanbank Gardens, Corstorphine, Edinburgh
Rowanbank Gardens Edinburgh Housing
West Town Vision
image courtesy of architects practice
West Town Edinburgh Property Vision
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