Glasgow

Concierge.com's insider take:

In a review of the first Glasgow International Art Fair (www.glasgowinternational.org) in April 2005, the Guardian critic declared that "Glasgow is the only city in Britain that has a strong enough community of resident artists to approach an international standing independent of London." The number and quality of galleries and museums bears this out.

The Burrell Collection has just over 9,000 pieces bequeathed to the city by shipping magnate Sir William Burrell in 1944. Works include Degas, Cézanne, and Rodin, plus medieval tapestries and silverwork (Pollok Country Park; 44-141-287-2550; www.glasgowmuseums.com). Expanded, revamped, and reopened in 2006, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is the most-visited museum in Scotland. Exhibits range from Dalí's haunting Christ of St. John of the Cross to a Spitfire buzzing over the top of a stuffed giraffe. It has all the Titian, Rembrandt, and Impressionist paintings that a serious art buff could wish for, but it wears its learning lightly and an unexpected atmosphere of fun pervades the place (Argyle St.; 44-141-276-9599; www.glasgowmuseums.com).The unmissable Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) is in a beautiful neoclassical building in the city center. It has featured work by Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Grayson Perry, and Rachel Whiteread (Royal Exchange Square; 44-141-229-1996; www.glasgowmuseums.com). The cutting-edge Centre for Contemporary Arts features visual art, performance, film, and music. There's also a rather excellent café-bar (350 Sauchiehall St.; 44-141-352-4900; www.cca-glasgow.com; closed Sundays and Mondays). The Sharmanka Kinetic Gallery and Theatre hosts a fascinating, eccentric show of Russian artst Eduard Bersudsky's automatons made of everything from carved wood to tiny bits of old scrap metal. Call or check the website for performance times—they need to be seen in action (64 Osborne St.; 44-141-552-7080; www.sharmanka.com; closed Saturdays). Of the scores of independent galleries, many of them centered on Parnie and King streets, the Glasgow Print Studio (48 King St.; 44-141-552-0704; www.gpsart.co.uk; closed Sundays and Mondays) and the Transmission Gallery (45 King St.; 44-141-552-7141; www.transmissiongallery.org; closed Sundays, Mondays, and throughout August) are notable as crucibles of the late-20th-century scene. If you are planning to visit in April, then look out for the annual Glasgow Art Fair held in George Square: The largest event of its kind in the U.K. outside London, it attracts big-name international artists and dealers (www.glasgowartfair.com).