s1homes introduces the third of six blog posts, to find out what it’s like to live in some of the best places across Scotland.
Once upon a time, Finnieston was the rather down-at-heel Glasgow neighbourhood you would pass through en route from the city centre to the more alluring West End. What a difference a decade makes! Today Finnieston is giving trendy Byres Road a run for its money as the coolest quarter in Glasgow.
After decades of being a rather forlorn and forgotten element of the city, the wide River Clyde is being transformed along both banks and Finnieston is at the heart of this wonderful evolution.
The fabulous new Riverside Museum is a hop, skip and a jump away and the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery remains as big a draw as ever.
The west end of Argyle Street, which cuts through the heart of Finnieston, has always had more than its fair share of fine cafes, restaurants and quirky independent shops. Why not while away a Saturday afternoon in The Hidden Lane, where you can discover boutique shops, galleries and even tailors? Suits you, sir!
In recent years there has also been a boom in the number of top destination restaurants. Choose from a tastebud-tingling array – such as The Gannet with local delicacies such as west-coast razor clams, the Michelin Bib Gourmand-wining Ox and Finch, or Porter and Rye, with its famous and mind-boggling ‘molecular cooking’.
The Skypark development, part of the Clyde Waterfront urban regeneration, has done much to bring new life into the neighbourhood. After all, 3500 new office workers need to eat somewhere and local businesses have risen to the challenge. This has also attracted a wider variety of independent shops to the area and Finnieston now buzzes with creative businesses and start-up companies.
Housing in the area is predominantly sought-after apartments. With the prices of tenement flats traditionally lower than the nearby west end, it has long been a great place for first and second time buyers to get on the ladder. Today, pockets of new-build apartments have appeared in gaps between traditional tenements and new waterfront developments have added to the attractive mix of properties available to buy.
With the much-loved Kelvingrove Park just around the corner and the riverside walkway close by, there are plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy walks or jogging.
In terms of transport links, Finnieston couldn’t be better placed, sitting as it does on a bus corridor. It also boasts a handy train station if you fancy a jaunt to the countryside or a quick trip into town and is on the doorstep of the motorway network.
Perhaps most enticing is the fact it’s a short walk from the city centre, meaning you can enjoy a stroll home from the office on a summer’s night.
In short, Glasgow is once again becoming a “River City” and Finnieston is riding the wave of this fabulous regeneration.
If you’re looking to move to Finnieston search s1homes.com for your next home.