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Glasgow and Edinburgh have long competed for the prestige of being the premier city in Scotland. While Edinburgh is the official capital and political centre and has been for many years, Glasgow is the larger of the two, making it the second-biggest city in the UK after London. It is also home to a wide range of businesses and commercial ventures. Regardless of their rivalry, Edinburgh and Glasgow are flourishing, vibrant cities and form the second and third most popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom, respectively. However, there is a continual argument, mostly led by Glaswegians that their city should, in fact, be Scotland’s capital.

Edinburgh

Scotland’s capital is a magnificent city with a great focus on culture and history. Its annual festival, which includes the world-renowned Fringe and Military Tattoo, takes place every August and draws so many visitors and performers that it doubles the city’s population. The castle, which sits on a hill overlooking the city and dates back as a royal residence to the 12th Century, is a grandiose reminder of Edinburgh’s fascinating past and is another key attraction for tourists. Along with a great range of hotels Edinburgh is also popular with visitors because of its pubs and restaurants and the city truly comes alive when night falls.

Glasgow

Situated further north and to the west of Edinburgh, Glasgow is a much larger city. The greater urban area surrounding it is called home by over 40% of Scotland’s total population. It has a very rich heritage and has seen many changes over the years, with the mass industrialisation and subsequent decline generating the well-known images of factories and tenement blocks. However, this is an outdated and narrow image of the true Glasgow. It too has its fair share of culture, especially with regard to live music and nights out in the city are guaranteed to be lively. In addition, more and more travellers are drawn to Glasgow because it is typically warmer (despite its more northern location) and less expensive than Edinburgh.

The Rivalry

The two cities have long competed for prominence within Scotland but this can often detract from the good points that they both have. In reality, their many differences serve better to complement one another rather than try and outdo their ‘opponent’. Some visitors have tastes that will be better catered for in Glasgow than in Edinburgh and vice versa. Edinburgh is ideal for those who wish to have a more relaxing break, indulging in museums, high culture and upmarket dining. Glasgow, on the other hand, is better suited for those who want a lively break complete with vibrant nights out, an exciting atmosphere and practically a guarantee that you’ll meet many new and interesting people.

On the whole, comparing the cities should serve only to emphasise their respective highlights. It doesn’t matter which is the official capital, as both have so much to offer and few people travel to a city as tourists purely because it is the political centre of its country. To summarise, choose Glasgow if you want a lively and exciting time and choose Edinburgh if you prefer culture, history and a more relaxing holiday.