Get your funk on...

... with the Glasgow International Jazz Festival!

Taking place this weekend, the Glasgow International Jazz Festival began in 1987 when Glasgow was bidding to become the European City of Culture for 1990.

Attracting some of the biggest names in jazz over the years, such as; Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Guy, Michael Brecker and Tony Bennett, the Glasgow International Jazz Festival has grown from strength to strength.

With a rich and varied programme providing something for everyone, the Glasgow International Jazz Festival comprises of a whole range of styles, from traditional and Dixie to free jazz, and even blues and hiphop crossovers.

So if you fancy a bit of New Orleans in Glasgow this weekend, or just fancy opening up your eyes to something completely new, the Glasgow International Jazz Festival sounds (excuse the pun!) like just the very thing for you this weekend!

Getting Excited About the Commonwealth Games

I know it's still a year away, but we are already getting excited about the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

The peleton being cheered into Byres Road

Last weekend's epic road cycling race through the streets of Glasgow was fabulous as half of the city came to a halt to admire the physical fitness and endurance of some of the UK's top cyclists.

Glasgow's Tour de France

 This Sunday (23rd) Glasgow plays host to the National Road Race Championships. This is the first time the championships have come to Glasgow and will be brining some of the world's best riders to the city streets.

Alex Dowsett, Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish, Olympic and World champion Laura Trott, 5-time World champion Ed Clancy, Olympic silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead and Scotland’s own David Millar will all be among the peleton on Sunday.

Glasgow's West End Festival

Look out for the costumes at the Mardi Gras Parade

For the month of June Glasgow's West End will play host to Glasgow's biggest festival, The West End Festival!

From Friday 31st May - Sunday 30th June over 100 Glasgow-based organisations, arts groups, local and international artists will deliver a mixture of activities and projects. The festival programme includes; events, exhibitions, performances, talks, tours, workshops and screenings, and many events are free of charge.

Exploring Glasgow's East End

While the West End gets all the hype and all of our hotels and apartments are situated to the west of the city centre, the intriguing East End has plenty to offer the Glaswegian and tourist alike.

The famous Barras market

Venturing past Glasgow Cross in Merchant City you will find the 'Barras' market. Open every Saturday and Sunday, this market hustles and bustles with East End life and is a must for anyone looking for antiques, bargains, or an amazing place to photograph Glasgow in its raw beauty.

Glasgow hosts The European Museum of the Year

European Museum of the Year

We've mentioned before how great the Riverside Museum in Glasgow is, but it seems it is not only us Glaswegians who know about it status.

Glasgow, come rain, hail or snow!

Glasgow in all its summer beauty

It seems that spring and summer have stalled on us and we are stuck in limbo somewhere between cold and Baltic!

Never mind though. If there's one thing the Glaswegians have it's an unshakeable ability to have fun no matter what the weather brings.

When it rains in Glasgow the city's warmth comes out

What to do in Glasgow when it rains

The weather forecast for this coming weekend doesn't look great, but that doesn't mean there is no fun to be had in Glasgow.


Glasgow is awash with culture and history which makes it a great place to explore come sun, rain or shine. The Riverside Museum, Tall Ship and Gallery of Modern Art are great places to explore for all the family and have previously been highlighted on our blog.

Kelvingrove Museum

Today we'll look at the splendour of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Rugby 7s this weekend in Glasgow

Round 8 of the HSBC Sevens World Series

Whether you like rugby, men with big thighs, dressing up like a movie star or just like a good day out, then this weekend's Rugby 7s at Scotstoun are the perfect tonic for your bank holiday weekend.

Top three things to do in Glasgow this weekend

If you're staying in Glasgow this weekend you'll want to know the best things to see and do. With such a vast amount of info out there it can be easy to be overwhelmed with choice, so to make things simple, we're giving you the top three. Yes, only three because quality trumps quantity on any city break.

Win with McQuade every month

Did you know that every month McQuade Hotels give away a night's B+B for two and a meal for two through our Facebook page?

It costs nothing to enter, you just need to follow the simple instructions on our Facebook page and keep an eye out to see if your name comes out of the hat each month.

Come to Glasgow for the World Pipe Band Championships

The World Pipe Band Championships will be held over two days for the first time this summer.

Held in Glasgow Green, the event will be in a brand new two-day format, on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 August. Enjoy a fantastic day in the centre of Glasgow with the air filled with the most Scottish of sounds. It not only makes a great day out for true piping fans, but there's plenty going on for the whole family.

All of this makes the perfect excuse to spend the weekend in Glasgow. Our hotels and serviced apartments are ideally situated in the West End allowing you to access the "Worlds" easily on the Subway or buses, while ensuring you can still 'get away from it' when you want to rest your feet.

Having a coffee on Byres Road?

While staying in Glasgow, no visit would be complete without a wee trip to Byres Road, the centre of the vibrant West End.

On the Byres Road there's a huge range of shops, delis and buildings to set your sense on fire, but more of them in future blog posts.

What to do this Easter in Glasgow with the kids

If you're staying with McQuade Hotels this Easter weekend there's plenty to do with the kids in Glasgow.

Why not head down to the Clyde where two fantastic attractions sit side-by-side.

burns night

Joins us for a wee dram to celebrate Burns night Wednesday 25th January.