If you’re looking for a pre-Christmas getaway then look no further. Glasgow is the place to go. I flew over recently (approx. £25 return with Ryanair) for a press trip to experience the city at Christmas and to discover more of what it has to offer. The Glasgow Loves Christmas team had a jam-packed itinerary for us as soon as we arrived and we could not wait to get going. From festive dining and Christmas markets to bauble shopping and all things fashionable…here is what we got up to!
Breakfast at Kimbles
Mei Ling, Nirina and I caught an early flight to Glasgow so we had worked up an appetite before breakfast. Our first stop was Kimble’s. This is family business that offers two traditions: the finest quality Belgian chocolates coupled with beverage drinking at its best. Their Chocolate Cafe & Deli has carved out an ever growing
reputation as a regular meeting point for customers. I ordered a latte and a stack of the most AMAZING pancakes. I’ts never too early for sweet treats, especially during the festive months. We couldn’t leave without having a browse through their Christmas treats and chocolates. Such a nice spot. I wanted to buy everything!
House of Frasers Tour
House of Fraser was our next stop. The entire store was completely decked out in all things sparkly and festive. Fraser has been on a mission to meet people’s desires for more than 150 years. From a Drapery Shop in Victorian Glasgow to an internationally inspirational department store, they have come a long way and are still making history. The girls and I were lucky enough to get a tour around the store but not before a little beauty pampering in Charlotte Tilbury. Frasers has all the gift, fashion, beauty, home and garden essentials you could possibly need. An absolute must if you’re in Glasgow and in the mood for a spot of shopping.
Christmas Markets at George Square
Who doesn’t love a good Christmas market? The Glasgow Christmas Markets are a must if you’re passing through. There was such a festive atmosphere on St Enoch’s Square and George Square. It was easy to get into the holiday spirit by strolling through the wooden chalets filled with handcrafted goods, international cuisine and bespoke local products. You can warm up with a ‘hug in a mug’ hot glüwhein and enjoy any number of delicious treats including Bratwurst sausage, Dutch pancakes, Italian chocolate and French pastries. Of course Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without children and the Christmas Market has something for them too with a unique Advent calendar in George Square which opens a new door each day to reveal a special gift. There is also a great variety of toys and delicious sweets in both locations.
Afternoon Tea at Cup Tea Lounge Virginia Court
The Cup Tea Lounge is located in Virginia Courtyard in the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City. Serving 40 hand blended teas and a variety of afternoon tea menus to choose from, including gluten-free, children’s and vegetarian. We stopped by for the nicest afternoon tea after our tour of HOF. Lots of sweet and savory treats and I had the nicest rose flavoured pot of tea. YUM!
Christmas Bauble shopping at John Lewis
John Lewis is synonymous with Christmas, with their TV advert always highly anticipated. After our afternoon tea we walked to John Lewis to do a spot of Christmas Bauble shopping. One of the shop assistants talked through this year’s most sought after Xmas decoration trends for 2017! I took home a beautiful gold and glass bauble! It’ll go nicely with my gold theme this Christmas.
Visit the Nespresso Pop-Up Boutique
Step inside the colourful world of Nespresso at Buchanan Galleries. Here, we got a chance to discover the wide range of Grand Cru coffees, all with distinctly individual characters and aromatic profiles. We spoke to a Coffee Specialist and of course, we tried a few shots of their newest flavours. It was just what we needed to get us through the day as we had such an early start. If you’re a coffee lover then this boutique is definitely worth stopping into.
Make your own Body Scrub at The Beauty Kitchen
Make your own 100% natural body scrub in this indulgent experience. You will have an introduction to The Beauty Kitchen’s 100% natural ingredients and what has been locally sourced. Their qualified aromatherapist talked us through a variety of scents and ingredients which we then used to personalise our own body scrubs. The Beauty Kitchen team were so lovely and this was a lot of fun! It’s not every day you get to make your own body scrub!
Christmas Cocktails and Dinner at The Restaurant Bar and Grill
Located in the beautiful and sophisticated Princes Square, The Restaurant Bar & Grill in Glasgow is a premier eating and drinking destination. They are all about classic and inspired seasonal cooking, amazing steaks and brilliant cocktails to match. I ordered a liver pate starter and steak for dinner and they did not disappoint. We were also treated to a glass of prosecco and Christmas cocktails. The perfect way to end a great day! If you’re a foodie and you love your steak then definitely pop in here.
Until next time Glasgow…!
Thanks for reading!
Until next time…
