Glasgow is the place to be, it’s where everything is happening, clearly the busiest city in Scotland - a city for business, music, food and drink like New York - but there’s much more the two cities have in common than you might think at first glance.
Glasgow has more in common with New York than any city in Scotland, or the UK for that matter. From the buildings to the very layout itself - we may be separated by thousands of miles across the Atlantic, but we share a lot of similarities.
Obviously we share a historical link, with so many people departing from Glasgow docks to reach a better life in New York, arriving at Ellis Island. We’d argue that the very essence of the cities are linked, we’re twin souls really.
Though we’re a much older city, there are loads of spots that pay homage to America’s most cosmopolitan city from the blatantly obvious NYC bar and grill and the Sear’s pizza joint in the West End, to the more subtle Anchor Line on St Vincent Place, based in the former booking office for luxury Cunard Liners which ran cruises from Glasgow to New York in the 18th and 19th century.
If you can make it here you can make it anywhere; Glasgow, Glasgow or New York, New York? We have a very similar cultural heritage that can’t be denied - theatres were a massive part of Glaswegian nightlife culture for generations, a similar spirit to that of Broadway, though in times since we’ve changed massively.
Though we’ve not drifted as far as part as you may think.
For more features, retro picture galleries, news, events, and the latest in Glasgow’s food and drink we’re: bringing you the best of GlasgowWorld in a newsletter - sign up for free today.
We’ve put together this list of the eight main reasons why Glasgow and New York are so similar, and how Glasgow is an analogue to New York here in Europe.
1. Grid system
New York's grid system was greatly inspired by the neo-classical new town of Edinburgh, but principally by Glasgow's new (at the time) city centre and Merchant City. Although Glasgow didn't come up with it, the ancient Romans did, designers of New York were impressed by the effectiveness of the grid-iron pattern in Glasgow. | Contributed
2. Culture
While New York drew in immigrants from all over the world in search of a better life, Glasgow welcomed new communities on a much smaller scale from Ireland, the Highlands and other countries. In the last century or so Glasgow has seen an increase in international newcomers to the city, making it the most multicultural city in Scotland. It shares different characteristics with the Big Apple. Think of us as a wee apple. | Contributed
3. Food
Like New York, Glasgow has a buzzing hospitality scene encompassing all types of cuisine from all over the world. Now with the recent opening of Sear's pizza in the West End of the city, who can tell the difference between a New York pizza and Glasgow-New York pizza? Not us anyway. | Sear's Pizza
4. Patter
Glasgow is the home of comedy in Scotland (of course Edinburgh has the Fringe, but that's once a year, get real). Much like New York, we've produced some of the very best comedians on our continent - and have some very well respected, long-standing comedy venues in the city. | Submitted