Area Name:

Kelvinside

Part of Glasgow:

West (North of River Clyde)

Postcode:

G12 0__

Kelvinside is a fantastic place to rent particularly if you enjoy a suburban lifestyle but want to be close to the city.

Formed around the River Kelvin and the Botanic Gardens on 3 sides, it is an open and leafy place to live which is popular with families and young professionals.

As a result demand for accommodation is very high particularly during August an September when University based renters start their annual accommodation hunt.

Marks

9 (out of 10)

Kelvinside was designated as a Conservation Area in 1972 and is in the heart of the West End of Glasgow.

Kelvinside is bounded to the South by the Great Western Road to the North by the River Kelvin (with North Kelvinside beyond) to the East by Queen Margaret Drive and to the west by Kelvindale.

Kelvinside is a great location to live. It is predominately residential in nature and consists largely of large villas, terraced townhouses and townhouse conversions. There are also some purpose built flats which date from more recent times located on the areas outer fringes towards Kelvindale.

As with other parts of the West End the quality of the environment is a result of the resident’s dedication to preserving the character of the area through the years. Kelvinside has always had a reputation within Glasgow as being a desirable place to live.

As with its Edinburgh equivalent Morningside, many Glaswegians who do not live in the area believe that its residents speak and act in an “effected” manner.

Stability of local residents and the cache of the area have always been such that there was minimal migration away from Kelvinside in the mid 20^th Century unlike many other areas where the increased mobility of the population encouraged them to seek the suburbs to the west and to the south.

Encouraged by the cache of the area and a stable community, many of the townhouses and villas were of sufficient size and adaptability that its residents simply carried out alterations to property to update it rather than relocate to the suburbs.

The introduction of Repair Grants funded by Glasgow City Council from the mid 1970’s encouraged improvement in any lower quality housing stock and ensured that the architectural heritage of the area would be preserved in to the 21^st Century.

As a consequence today the area is in great demand which is reflected in both purchase and letting prices.  

Marks:

8 (out of 10)

Kelvinside is ideally located to benefit from the many amenities located in the West End as well as the Botanic Gardens and Kibble Palace which is on its south east edge of the area. There are also fantastic walks along the River Kelvin through the Park and beyond to the West.

 There are good transport links into the city by bus, underground, rail or car.

 Byres Road and Ashton Lane in Hillhead provide a rich mix of pubs, clubs and restaurants which attract visitors worldwide.

The city centre is within walking distance as is Gartnavel Hospital further along Great Western Road, Glasgow University on University Avenue, Western Hospital on Dumbarton Road and the BBC on Queen Margaret Drive.

Schools are good and are well above the national average. There are also good quality independent schools in the area which have results in the upper quartile nationally.

Marks:

8 (out of 10)

Kelvinside is a fantastic place to live, particularly for families but also for professionals who enjoy the West End lifestyle but who are wanting to live a few minutes walk away rather than it being right on the doorstep.

As in Dowanhill and Jordanhill, family accommodation is at a premium in the Kelvinside area. There is a much greater demand than there is supply so you will need to consider your move several months in advance if you require a family sized property.

 There are a large number of period conversions available, typically of one or 2 bedrooms. These also rent quickly and are in high demand.

There is also an increasing number of purpose built flats most dating from the 1960’s when the larger villas, built as country estates were removed to accommodate Glasgow’s ever increasing population.

There are also a number of more recent new builds such as Bellshaugh Gardens which provide a more affordable alternative to the period properties.

 The area is more mixed in standards of accommodation than its more glamorous neighbour Dowanhill.  There are a number of more recent additions to the housing stock which have been created from the larger country estates which remained or the larger villas within the area. These are somewhat mixed in quality and are more frequently available on the market.

Population:

The population are predominately well educated younger professionals and middle aged professionals who work in the city or in local employment centres of the hospitals, education or media.

They are generally high earning and choose to live in the area to benefit from its proximity to the city whilst still living in a more suburban environment.

There is a large proportion of professional and student renters in this area who predominately look for period conversions of townhouses or villas.

Parking:

Permits and meters.

History of Area

The area can be seen as developing from 1840 when the Great Western Road was constructed in order to provide a direct route from the city to the areas to the west of the city for the first time.

This was a result of the rapid expansion within the centre of Glasgow itself in the mid 19^th Century when the rapid increase in population coupled with problems of overcrowding, disease and poor sanitation necessitated expansion to the cleaner air to the west.

Kelvinside developed from the creation of the Turnpike that now is Great Western Road which opened up the western green edge of Glasgow to the rapidly expanding population.

The Botanic Garden with its magnificent Kibble Palace is without doubt the most famous landmark in the area and developed from when they relocated from Blythswood Square.

This initially attracted speculative development on the northern side of the Turnpike road in the mid 1840’s when Charles Wilson one of Glasgow’s most renowned architects of the time was commissioned to design Kirklee Terrace which was eventually constructed between 1847 and 1863.

It was constructed on another one of Glasgow’s smaller drumlins so sits proudly above and well back from the main road into the city.

Local Council:

Glasgow City Council,

Telephone: 0141 287 2000

Website : http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/

Nearest Police Station:

Strathclyde Police 1380 Maryhill Rd, Glasgow ,

Maryhill, Glasgow, G20 9TX

Telephone: 0141 532 3700

Nearest Hospital:

Western Infirmary, Dumbarton Road,

Glasgow G11 6NT

Telephone: 0141 211 2000

Website : http://www.nhsgg.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s2_2&loc_id=14/

Nearest Library:

Hillhead Library,  Byres Road,

Hillhead, Glasgow G
Telephone: 0141

Website:

Main Retail Area:

Byres Road, Great Western Road

Nurseries:

Kelvin Side Day Nursery 17, Lancaster Crescent Lane,

Kelvinside, Glasgow, G12 0RS

Telephone: 0141 334 1124

University of Glasgow Nursery, 28 Hillhead Street
Glasgow, G12 8PZ

Telephone: 0141 334 4650

Website: http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/nursery/

Somerset Nursery,2a & 3 Parkgrove Terrace,

Kelvingrove, Glasgow. G3 7SD

Telephone: 0141 337 6655

Primary Schools:

Dowanhill Primary School, 30 Havelock Street

Dowanhill. Glasgow G11 5JE.

Telephone: 0141 339 0778

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/GoingtoSchool/Findaschool/

Notre Dame Primary School, 66 Victoria Crescent Road,

Dowanhill Glasgow G12 9JL

Telephone: 0141 334 2762

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/GoingtoSchool/Findaschool/

Willowbank Primary School, Willowbank Crescent,

Woodlands Road Woodlands, Glasgow. G3 6NB

Telephone: 0141 332 6281

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/GoingtoSchool/Findaschool/

St. Aloysius, 45 Hill Street,

Garnethill, Glasgow. G3 6RJ

Telephone: 0141 332 3190 (Independent Fee paying school)

Website: http://www.staloysius.org/

The Glasgow Academy Colebrooke Street

Glasgow G12 8HE

Telephone: 0141 334 8558 (Independent Fee paying school)

http://www.theglasgowacademy.org.uk/

Secondary Schools:

Hyndland Secondary School, Lauderdale Gardens

Glasgow G12 9RQ.

Telephone: 0141 582 0130

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/GoingtoSchool/Findaschool/

Notre Dame High School, 160 Observatory Road,

Dowanhill, Glasgow G12 9LN

Telephone: 0141 582 0190

Website: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/GoingtoSchool/Findaschool/

St. Aloysius, 45 Hill Street,

Garnethill Glasgow G3 6RJ

Telephone: 0141 3323190 (Independent Fee paying school)

Website: http://www.staloysius.org/

The Glasgow Academy, Colebrooke Street

Glasgow G12 8HE

Telephone: 0141 334 8558 (Independent Fee paying school)

Website: http://www.theglasgowacademy.org.uk/

Further Education:

University of Glasgow, University Avenue

Hillhead, Glasgow G12 8QQ

Telephone: 0141 330 2000

Website: http://www.gla.ac.uk/

University of Strathclyde, Cathedral Street,

City Centre, Glasgow G1

Telephone: 0141 582 0190

Website: http://www.strath.ac.uk/

Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road
City Centre, Glasgow. G4 0BA

Telephone: 0800 027 9171 (Independent Fee paying school)

Website: http://www.gcal.ac.uk/

Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew Street,

Garnethill, Glasgow. G3 6RQ

Telephone: 0141 353 4517

Website:  http://www.gsa.ac.uk/

Stow College 43 Shamrock Street

Cowcaddens,  Glasgow G4 9LD

Telephone: 0141-332 1786

Website: http://www.stow.ac.uk/

Nearest Airport:

Glasgow International Airport (5.4 miles)

Abbotsinch, Paisley, PA3 2SJ

Website: http://www.glasgowairport.com/

Underground:

Hillhead Underground Station, Byres Road (0.1 miles)

Hillhead, Glasgow

Website: http://www.spt.co.uk/subway/

Train Stations:

Partick Station (0.6 miles)

Elmbank Crescent, Glasgow, G2 4PR

Telephone: 0845 748 4950

Hyndland Station (0.5 miles)

Queensborough Gardens, Hyndland, Glasgow, G12 9PP

Glasgow Central Station (1.6 miles)
Gordon Street, City Centre,  Glasgow G1 3SL

Telephone: 0141 335 4352
Office Opening hours: 0730-1700 hours Monday – Friday

For train times, ticket information etc.:

First ScotRail – 0845 601 5929
Virgin – 0845 744 3366
GNER – 0845 722 5444

National Rail Enquiries 08457 48 49 50

Bus Station:

Buchanan Bus Station (1.9 miles)

Killermont St, Glasgow, G2 3NW

Telephone: 0141 333 3708

Taxi

Glasgow Taxis

Telephone: 0141 429 7070

Website: http://www.glasgowtaxisltd.co.uk/

Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road,

Glasgow G12 0UE
Telephone: 0141 334 2422

Kibble Palace, Botanic Gardens (1863 by James Cousland)

Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Argyle Street,

Kelvingrove, Glasgow.G3 8AG
Telephone: 0141 276 9599

Website: http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/index.cfm?venueid=4

Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena 1431-1451 Argyle St,

Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, G3 8AW

Telephone: 0141 357 2525

Transport Museum, 1 Burnhouse Rd,

Kelvinhall, Glasgow, G3 8DP.

Telephone: 0141 287 2720

Website: http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/index.cfm?venueid=7

Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew Street,

Garnethill, Glasgow. G3 6RQ

Telephone: 0141 353 4517

Website:  http://www.gsa.ac.uk/

Area Landmarks:

Grosvenor Terrace, 1855 by J T Rochead (Grade A Listed from 15/12/1970)

Great Western Terrace Masterplan (1855-1867 by Decimus Burton)

Former Kelvinside Parish Church, 731 Great Western Road

BBC Queen Margaret Drive, (1869 by JT Rochead)

Scots College, BBC Queen Margaret Drive (1895 by John Keppie & Charles Rennie Mackintosh)

North Park Terrace, Hamilton Drive, Hillhead ( 1866 by Alexander "Greek" Thomson)

Belgrave Terrace, Great Western Road

Buckingham Terrace, Great Western Road

Western Baths, Cranworth Street, Hillhead

Curler's Tavern, Byres Road (dating from 18th Century)

Botanic Gardens Garage, (now Arnold Clarks) Vinicombe Street, Hillhead

The Salon Cinema (1912-1913 by Brand & Lithgow) Vinicombe Street, Hi

Nearby Landmarks:

Mitchell Library,  North Street,

Charing Cross, Glasgow G3 7DN
Telephone: 0141 287 2999

Website: http://www.mitchelllibrary.org/

Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Argyle Street,

Kelvingrove, Glasgow.G3 8AG
Telephone: 0141 276 9599

Website: http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/index.cfm?venueid=4

Glasgow University, University Avenue,

Hillhead, Glasgow. G12 8QQ

Telephone: 0141-330 2000

Website: http://www.gla.ac.uk/

Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay
Finnieston Glasgow. G51 1EA

Telephone: 0871 540 1000

Website: http://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/

Armadillo, SECC,

Finnieston Glasgow G3 8YW
Telephone: 0141 248 3000

Website: http://www.secc.co.uk/

Tickets Website: http://www.secctickets.com/

Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew Street,

Garnethill, Glasgow. G3 6RQ

Telephone: 0141 353 4517

Website:  http://www.gsa.ac.uk/

Eating Out:

Room at One Devonshire Gardens, Great Western Road,

Hyndland, Glasgow. G12 0UX

Telephone: 0141 339 2001

http://www.onedevonshiregardens.com/

Two Fat Ladies (Fish), 88 Dumbarton Road,

Kelvinhall, Glasgow. G11 6NX

Telephone: 0141 339 1944

http://www.twofatladies.org/

The Ubiquitous Chip, (Scottish) 12 Ashton Lane
Hillhead, Glasgow G12 8SJ
Telephone: 0141 334 5007

Website: http://www.ubiquitouschip.co.uk/

Ashoka, 19 Ashton Lane,

Hillhead, Glasgow. G12 8SJ

Phone: 0141 337 1115

Website: www.harlequinrestaurants.com/

Little Italy, 205 Byres Road
Dowanhill Glasgow. G12 8TN

Telephone: 0141 339 6287

Website: http://www.littleitalyglasgow.com/

Tinderbox, 189 Byres Rd

Partick, Glasgow, G12 8TS
Telephone: 0141 339 3108

No.16, (Modern and European) 16 Byres Road
Kelvinhall, Glasgow G11 5JY
Telephone: 0141 339 2544

The Sisters Kelvingrove, (Modern and European) 36 Kelvingrove St
Kelvingrove, Glasgow.
Telephone: 0141 564 1157

Bars & Pubs:

Oran-Mor, Byres Road, (opposite Botanic Gardens)

Hillhead, Glasgow G12 8QX

Telephone: 0141 357 6201

Website: http://www.oran-mor.co.uk/

Jinty McGuinty's, 23 Ashton Lane

Hillhead, Glasgow G12 8SJ

Telephone: 0141 339 0747

Tennents Bar, 191 Byres Rd

Dowanhill, Glasgow G12 8TN

Telephone: 0141 341 1021

The Rock, 205 Hyndland Rd

Dowanhill, Glasgow G12 9HE

Telephone 0141 334 6977

Cottiers, 36 Kelvingrove Street
Hillhead, Glasgow.
Telephone: 0141 564 1157

Vodka Wodka, 31, Ashton Lane,

Hillhead, Glasgow. G12 8SJ

Tel: 0141 341 0669  

The Lismore, 206 Dumbarton Rd,

Partick, Glasgow G11 6UN

Telephone: 0141 576 0103

Booly Mardy's, 28 Vinicombe Street
Hillhead, Glasgow G12 8BE,

Tel: 0141 560 8004

Website: http://www.bloodymarys.co.uk/

Bar Budda, 8 Cresswell Lane
Dowanhill, Glasgow

Telephone: 0141 221 5279

Website: http://www.barbudda.com/

Nicos Café Bar, 379, Sauchiehall St,

City Centre, Glasgow, G2 3HU

Tel: 0141 332 7438  

Food & Drink:

Peckhams, 100 Byres Road,

Kelvinhall, Glasgow G12 8TB

Telephone: 0141 357 1454

http://www.peckhams.co.uk/

I. J. Mellis, Cheesemonger, 492 Great Western Road,

Kelvinbridge, Glasgow. G12 8EW

Telephone: 0141 339 8998

Website: http://www.ijmellischeesemonger.com/

Roots and Fruits, Byres Road,

Dowanhill, Glasgow. G12 8AU

Telephone: 0141 339 5164

Website: http://www.rootsandfruits.co.uk/

Delizique, 66 Hyndland Street,

Partick, Glasgow G11 5PT

Telephone: 0141 339 2000

Il Cappuccino, 491 Great Western Road,

Kelvinbridge. Glasgow G12 8HL

Telephone: 0141 337 3001

Lupe Pintos - 313 Great Western Road,

Woodlands, Glasgow

Telephone: 0141 334 5444

Heart Buchanan, 380 Byres Road,

Hillhead, Glasgow

Telephone: 0141 334 7626

Website: http://www.heartbuchanan.co.uk/heartbuchanan/

Polish Taste, 21 Hyndland Street,

Glasgow G11 5QE.

Telephone: 0141 338 6899

Theatre:

The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall St, ,

City Centre, Glasgow, G2 3NY

Telephone: 0141 353 8000

Website: http://www.grch.com/

Mitchell Theatre, 6 Granville St,

Sandyford, Glasgow. G3 7DR

Telephone: 0141 287 5005

King's Theatre, 297 Bath Street,

City Centre, Glasgow, G2 4JN

Telephone: 0141 248 5332

Website: http://www.theambassadors.com/kings/

Grosvenor Cinema, 24 Ashton Lane,

Hillhead, Glasgow. G12 8SJ

Telephone: 0141 339 8444

Website: http://www.grosvenorcinema.co.uk/

Public Facilities:

Scotstoun Leisure Centre &

National Badminton Academy, Danes Drive

Jordanhill, Glasgow. G14 9HU
Telephone: 0141 959 4000

Western Baths, 12 Cranworth Street,

Hillhead, Glasgow. G12 8BZ
Phone: 0141 576 0294

Website: http://www.thewesternbaths.co.uk/

Private Gyms:

Greens Health and Fitness, 141 Finnieston Street
Glasgow. G3 8HB

Telephone: 0141 243 2200

Website: http://www.greensonline.co.uk/

Golf Clubs:

Pollok Golf Club, 90 Barrhead Road
Glasgow. G43 1BG

Telephone: 0141 632 1080

Website: http://www.pollokgolf.com/

Haggs Castle Golf Club, 70 Dumbreck Road

Dumbreck, Glasgow. G41 4SN

Telephone: 0141 427 1157

Website: http://www.haggscastlegolfclub.com/

Milngavie Golf Club, Laighpark
Milngavie, Glasgow. G62 8EP,

Telephone: 0141 956 1619

Website: http://www.milngaviegc.com/

Best Streets:

Kirklee Terrace (formerly Windsor Terrace)

Tips:

Kelvinside is a wonderful place to rent a flat. Points to watch out for are as follows:

Limited wheelchair access / provision: As in the Park Area many of the streets are on inclines. This coupled with the steps to the raised ground floors of many properties mean that the area is less suitable for wheelchair users or anyone with physical impairment.

Flat Hunting: Try to avoid the peak periods of August and September if possible. November and December is quieter. If possible try to look for property in May or June when there is a downturn in demand from students and lecturers in particular.

Great Western Road: We particularly like the accommodation located to the northern side of the Great Western Road within the Kelvinside boundary. As with the blocks in neighbouring Dowanhill they are well set back from the main thoroughfare and also offer southerly views of the Dowanhill. Accommodation is also generally of a particularly fine standard.

Best Buy: Consider more recently constructed properties to rent in the edge of Kelvinside or further out in Kelvindale.

Family Homes: Whilst not as costly in terms of purchase cost than its neighbour Dowanhill, the cost of family homes in the area is still high. The large demand for family houses in this area means that this type of accommodation is in very short supply. If you do not wish to wait for such a property then consider the Kelvindale area where property is slightly more affordable and more readily available.

Further Reading:

External Links:

Mitchell Library: http://www.mitchelllibrary.org/virtualmitchell

Glasgow Guide: http://www.glasgowguide.co.uk/images_kelvingrove.html

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