Glasgow, city, western Scotland, on the Clyde River. Glasgow is the largest city and leading industrial center of Scotland. It has an excellent harbor and modern port facilities. Major imports include petroleum, grain, and timber; exports are largely manufactured goods. The city is located near important coalfields and is a major steel-producing center. Other industries include shipbuilding and printing and the manufacture of textiles, carpets, aircraft engines, electronic equipment, chemicals, alcoholic beverages, and processed foods.
Relatively few buildings in Glasgow predate the 18th century; the most prominent of these are Saint Mungo's Cathedral (begun about 1136 and completed in the mid-15th century) and Provand's Lordship (circa 1471), the city's oldest house. Glasgow is an educational center; the University of Glasgow (1451), the University of Strathclyde (1796), the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (1847), Glasgow School of Art (1845), and several technical colleges are located here. The extensive collections of the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum are among the finest in Britain. Also of note in the city are the Hunterian Museum (1807), the botanic gardens, and a zoo.
