Southside Glasgow’s Southside is a world unto itself: a sprawling, densely populated, vibrant part of the city, as well known for its history of community-minded activism as it is for its parks, restaurants and bars. This cosmopolitan corner of Glasgow is where the historic Rent Strikes of 1915 first began and, in 2001, where a local community occupied a swimming pool to prevent its closure (the Govanhill Baths is now a grassroots community organisation, due to reopen as a swimming pool in 2022).
THE SKINNY
Including some of Scotland’s most diverse neighbourhoods, the Southside is also home to an incredible range of restaurants, cafes, shops and takeaway hole-in-the-walls. Cuisines from all over the world can be found in Govanhill’s packed, bustling streets, where 40% of local residents are from ethnic minorities and 32 languages are spoken within a span of just 13 tenement blocks. For a slightly quieter vibe, visitors can head to neighbouring districts Mount Florida, Strathbungo and Pollokshields – here you’ll find quiet pubs and cosy cafes, dotted along widely spaced, residential streets that feature some of Glasgow’s most beautiful architecture.
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