Last week I was lucky enough to visit Glasgow for the first time as part of a gifted hotel stay by the lovely people over at Hallmark Hotels. I haven't stayed in a Hallmark Hotel before but I became aware of the hotel chain last year when they were offering free hotel stays for NHS staff, which is amazing! There are various Hallmark Hotels across the country, from beautiful locations in the north west such as Manchester and Chester to London, Cambridge, Derby, Glasgow and many more.
I was very torn between visiting Cambridge or Glasgow, both cities are beautiful and I've wanted to visit them for years but I opted for Glasgow. The majority of my mums family are from Scotland and it's a country that I love to visit so I couldn't wait to visit. There are so many sites to visit within Glasgow itself but we went on a tour to Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and the Glengoyne whisky distillery which you can read about on my blog now.
Thankfully the train from Manchester to Glasgow was very inexpensive, the journey was easy and it was just over three hours, so I think it's a great destination for a weekend away from Manchester. The trains we booked went from Manchester Piccadilly to Glasgow Central and the latter is the perfect location for shopping, sight seeing and it is a short walk from the Hallmark Hotel.From the station entrance and exit on Argyle Street, it is only a ten minute walk to the hotel so the location is absolutely perfect, especially if you have luggage or heavy bags. The location is ideal for a few reasons as not only is it close to the station but it is also close to the motorway if you're driving to the hotel and it is within walking distance of the city centre and the sights. However, it isn't too close to the centre to be affected by city noise or traffic which is something that always keeps me awake at other hotels.
*Hallmark Hotel Glasgow - Classic Twin RoomI was very kindly gifted the hotel stay and we had one of their Classic Twin rooms which came with free wifi, free toiletries, a flat screen tv, tea making facilities, air conditioning and many more additions. The room was a little larger than I thought it would be and it felt instantly very homely which is something I rarely feel within a hotel. The toiletries included, facilities and the room decor itself were perfect and the room was very clean. I'm quite fastidious when it comes to cleanliness but it wasn't something I had to worry about at the Glasgow Hallmark Hotel.
The hotel exterior and the immediate surroundings aren't very...luxurious but I was very pleasantly surprised by the lobby and reception of the hotel which was very clean, sleek and luxurious but also inviting. The exterior of the hotel doesn't match the impressive and grand interior of not only the lobby, bar and reception but the rooms too. However, the interior, the food, the service we received and the amazing location make it a fantastic option near the centre of Glasgow.
Most of the Hallmark Hotel buildings seem to be quite unusual and this one is no different as alongside their classic rooms, such as the classic twin room we stayed in, they also offer a selection of self-catering apartments located in their converted 19th century rice mill which is amazing! One of my favourite things about this hotel is the flexibility and packages offered, for example, you can buy the 'dinner, bed and breakfast' option which is what we were gifted, you can purchase the room only or there are even packages for overnight accommodation, an evening meal, breakfast and a thirty minute spa treatment.
As well as the fancy lobby, clean rooms and variety of packages available, they also have an onsite spa and pool! Right next to the main entrance of the hotel is their spa and pool which features a 15 metre pool (one of the only hotels in the city to have one) and a state of the art gym! The spa has a sauna, whirlpool, steam room and options for beauty treatments from waxing, threading and detoxifying treatments to facials, peels, manicures, massages, non-surgical body lifting treatments and more. The location, spa treatments and inclusive options would make it a fantastic option for a special weekend away, hen party or birthday gift.
Sadly we didn't have time to take advantage of the leisure club, spa or the pool but we were booked in for the dinner and breakfast package. The hotel's restaurant has a great range of options that are included within the package for a range of diets including vegetarian, gluten free and vegan options. With the package we had, we could choose two courses and naturally I opted for a main course and dessert (because who would choose a starter over a dessert!) but you can pay for extras such as drinks or more courses if you wanted to.
You can have a look at the dinner inclusive menu online as well as they Hallmark Grill menu and lounge menu. I had the vegetarian pea, asparagus and leek risotto (which was fantastic and perfect after exploring the rainy city of Glasgow) as well as the vegan strawberry ice cream. My plus one had the crispy calamari, grilled steak and the sticky toffee pudding and she was happy with everything! The food was great, the staff were lovely and helpful and the food arrived very quickly.
We both had a good nights sleep, the beds were very comfortable and there was no outside noise to disturb us, the latter is something I haven't experienced in a hotel for a long time! Included in the stay was breakfast which we had quite early on as we had to meet the coach for our tour in George Square. The breakfast options were great, from cereal, toast and pastries to English breakfast options and fruit. Both dining experiences at the hotel were easy, fuss free and there was a great range of choice. Also all of the staff from the waiting to the reception staff were all very friendly and helpful.
I was very impressed with our stay at the Hallmark Hotel in the gorgeous city of Glasgow. The city itself felt quite like Manchester, the architecture was beautiful and there is so much to see and do within the city (including the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art) as well as in the surrounding areas (such as the Trossachs National Park, Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond). I think the packages available, location and facilities make the Hallmark Hotel within Glasgow an ideal option if you're visiting the city and I do not have any complaints! I cannot recommend this hotel enough and if you're looking to explore a new city or rediscover an old favourite, check to see if there's a Hallmark Hotel nearby as you won't regret it!
For more photos, videos and information about the hotel and the tour, check out my Glasgow 19 highlights on Instagram as well as the Hallmark Hotel website.
Have you stayed in a Hallmark Hotel? Have you visited Glasgow?
*gifted
Oooh what a gorgeous hotel and it looks like you had the most wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteLove, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Sounds like a wonderful stay! I'd love to see more of Scotland one day so I'll definitely be considering this hotel in the future xx
ReplyDeleteTiffany x www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
The hotel looks beautiful! Hope you had a lovely stay xx
ReplyDeleteLooks like a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteCandice
natalyaamour.com
SWOOOON it looks so nice!
ReplyDeleteErin || MakeErinOver
I'd have gone for that risotto too, looks lovely x
ReplyDeleteJenny
http://www.jennyinneverland.com
Looks lovely - I'vee only ever been to Glasgow for work but would love to explore it a bit more!
ReplyDeleteJasmine xx
Jasmine Talks Beauty
Your room looks just divine! I could do with a night in a hotel just to catch up on some sleep x
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning! X
ReplyDeleteOffering free stays for NHS workers is amazing! I've never been to Glasgow (or Scotland in general), your room looks lovely x
ReplyDeleteSophie
The hotel looks lovely, I’ve not stated myself as my dad lives a little outside of Glasgow.
ReplyDeletehttps://littlemissmelanie.com/
Sounds like you had a great time and the hotel looks lovely x
ReplyDeleteit looks so cosy & modern
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