Living in Glasgow

This page provides you with some practical guidance regarding living in Glasgow as a student at Glasgow School of English

Currency and Money

The currency used throughout Scotland and the UK is the Pound Sterling.

Debit and Credit Cards

Most shops, places of entertainment, visitor attractions, bars and restaurants accept payment by debit or credit card. Almost all will accept Visa and Mastercard cards. Some may not accept American Express cards.

Shopping

Glasgow is an excellent city for shopping both in the city centre on Buchanan Street, Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street and at large shopping centres at Braehead and Silverburn. 

Food Shopping

There are many supermarkets all over Glasgow and there will likely be one within walking distance of where you live.

The large supermarkets include: 

• Tesco
• ASDA
• Morrisons
• Sainsburys
• Lidl
• Aldi
• Co-op

The Lidl and Aldi stores tend to be the cheapest while stores like Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons and Sainsburys have the widest range of goods, including clothes, toiletries, electrics, stationery, etc.

You will also find many local grocery shops on main roads all over the city.

Specialist Food Shops

There are a number of specialist food shops around the city where you might find items that are not available in the major supermarkets.

Although the school does not endorse any shops in particular, for information purposes, we list the following:

• Matthew’s Foods, 230-260 Garscube Road, Glasgow, G4 9RR (Foods from China, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Thailand, Japan and South Korea)
• Lupe Pintos, 313 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G4 9HR (Spanish, Mexican and American groceries and deli)
• Polish Taste, 21 Hyndland Street, Glasgow, G11 5QE (Polish grocers)
• House of Halal, 76 Tradeston Street, Glasgow, G5 8EJ (Halal meat and other groceries)
• See Woo, The Point, 29 Saracen Street, Glasgow, G22 5HT (Asian supermarket, including fresh seafood)
• Roots and Fruits, 455 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 8HH (Fruit and Vegetable shop. Also organic deli and wholefoods)
• Holland and Barretts, The Savoy Centre, 125-130 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3DH (Health and wholefoods shop)

More information about living in Glasgow can be found on the other pages on this site under "Student Life" and in the relevant sections of the Student Handbook.