15 Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Reviewed by
Lesley Gillilan
Set in a hidden garden square, close to leafy Kelvingrove Park, 15 Woodside Place is a handsome relic of Glasgow’s Victorian hey-day. When it was built in 1834, the city was one of the richest in Europe. And this was the heart of its merchants’ quarter, where wealthy industrialists built terraces of lavish houses on which no expense was spared.
Today, spacious rooms with high ceilings and ornate plaster cornices have been carefully restored. Pillars frame the grand entrance where a glazed front door opens onto a mosaic-tiled threshold flanked by Corinthian columns. In the evening, glittering chandeliers cast pretty patterns on the hallway’s soft grey walls, hung with modern art and antique mirrors. A cantilevered staircase floats upwards past panels of stained glass to 5 fabulous guest rooms with super-kingsize beds, big squashy sofas and walk-in monsoon showers. With its wow-factor interiors, this place serves up a real sense of Glasgow’s decadent period style, but it’s cool and cosy, too - and you don’t have to be wealthy to stay here.
Today, spacious rooms with high ceilings and ornate plaster cornices have been carefully restored. Pillars frame the grand entrance where a glazed front door opens onto a mosaic-tiled threshold flanked by Corinthian columns. In the evening, glittering chandeliers cast pretty patterns on the hallway’s soft grey walls, hung with modern art and antique mirrors. A cantilevered staircase floats upwards past panels of stained glass to 5 fabulous guest rooms with super-kingsize beds, big squashy sofas and walk-in monsoon showers. With its wow-factor interiors, this place serves up a real sense of Glasgow’s decadent period style, but it’s cool and cosy, too - and you don’t have to be wealthy to stay here.
Highs
- Ideal location for exploring dynamic Glasgow, within walking distance of the shops and restaurants of Buchanan Street and the museums and galleries of the upmarket West End
- Glasgow architecture at its best: this palatial house is Grade A listed and surrounded by grand terraces
- Gorgeous bedrooms mix original features and contemporary furniture - we particularly liked the voluminous Charles Rennie Mackintosh with its fireplace and cornicing
- Breakfast is served in your room (in bed if you want), so instead of rushing downstairs you get an extra hour to slob around in your bathrobe
- Informal and homely, with a welcoming lounge where you can curl up with a book plus a garden square that's ideal for picnics
Lows
- There’s no restaurant so you’ll have to go out for lunch and dinner
- No bar or drinks service, though i-escape guests get a free bottle of wine and there are tea- and coffee-making facilities in every room
- Outdoor shoes are not allowed past the entry hall, so bring slippers or some will be provided
- This is a small operation and there's no round-the-clock reception; let them know in advance what time you plan to arrive
- Ages 5+ only
Best time to go
Glasgow is a year-round destination with lots to see and do, but like all of Scotland it gets a bit nippy in winter (expect frost, sleet and bitter winds). One of the city’s biggest events is Celtic Connections, an international music festival which takes place in January. The Glasgow Film Festival happens in February, and Aye Write, the city’s book festival, takes place in November.
Our top tips
Leave the car at home and take the train or plane. From 15 Glasgow it’s an easy walk to most of the city’s main attractions, taxis are cheap and plentiful, and there’s good public transport (including the Glasgow Subway metro system and suburban railway networks).