Alexander Thomson Hotel

From its red-brick exterior, this historic hotel has plenty of reasons to draw guests of all stripes, from tourists to business travelers. The Alexander Thomson Hotel's lobby is smartly styled, with a decorative inlaid wooden reception counter, high ceilings, and gold-framed artwork. The on-site Alexander Bar is open until late, with an original varnished wood accent wall, brown antique leather couches and chairs, and large windows. The Alexander Breakfast Room is grand, with opulent ceiling moldings, plaid carpets and matching plaid upholstered high-back chairs (this is Scotland, after all). Arched doorways, gold chandeliers, and bronze satin curtains complete the picture.

The Alexander Thomson Hotel is centrally located, a two-minute walk from Glasgow Central Station and a 12-minute drive to Glasgow Airport. Guests arriving by car are a six-minute walk from discounted parking at Q-Park Jamaica Street. For art enthusiasts, the Gallery of Modern Art is a 10-minute walk and the Center for Contemporary Arts is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Lots of shopping is available on Buchanan Street, lined with major brands and boutique shops, a seven-minute walk from the hotel. For a traditional Glasgow pub, guests are an eight minute walk from the Horseshoe Bar and a six-minute walk from Sloans, which claims to be Glasgow’s oldest bar and restaurant, established in 1797. 

This hotel has 125 budget-friendly, homey rooms, with a multitude of configurations available including Deluxe and Executive Suites, Single, Double, Triple, and Quad rooms. All rooms are generous in size and simply decorated, with wooden headboards, high ceilings, hung artwork, large windows, and ample storage for guest luggage. In addition, some rooms include lounge areas with chesterfield style chairs and sofas. All rooms include satellite channels on flat-screen TVs, ironing facilities, free Wi-Fi, central heating, air-conditioning, and electric kettles. Tan-tiled bathrooms feature shower/tub combos or stand-up showers with rainfall showerheads, wall-mounted hair dryers, limited vanity space, and toiletries. Fixtures are varied, though, and higher category bookings have bathrooms with heated towel racks and bidets. There are some smoking rooms available, and guests worried about lingering smoke smells should check ahead with the hotel about their room. Additionally, noise from neighboring bars and nightclubs may be an issue in some rooms. 

There are lots of freebies at the Alexander Thomson Hotel, including free Wi-Fi and a buffet breakfast with traditional Scottish favorites. Breakfast is served daily in the opulent Alexander Breakfast Room, with original Victorian features and nice decor including tartan rugs and matching tartan upholstered chairs. Lunch and dinner are not served. The cozy on-site Alexander Bar (with lots of leather couches for lounging) is open until late and reception is staffed 24/7. There is no on-site parking, and no business or fitness facilities available. Elevator access is available to all floors, an uncommon feature in historic hotels.