On a quiet street, close to dining and shopping
Less than one block from Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Casual guest rooms with flat-screen TVs and electric kettles
Upgraded units have four-poster beds and handsome armoires
Family rooms add mini-fridges
Charming Victorian breakfast room
Full traditional Scottish breakfast
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Far from attractions in central Glasgow
Some units have shabby decor; not all have private bathrooms
No elevator (the property is three stories)
Fee for self-parking
The two-and-a-half-pearl Clifton Hotel is average property for one in its range, with a smattering of Victorian architectural details that give it some character. Most of its 26 guest rooms are serviceable, with flat-screen TVs and electric kettles, but the decor is old, and some units needs renovating. Also, some rooms have shared bathrooms. It's a basic guesthouse with nothing more than a breakfast room -- not to discount the rich, free Scottish breakfast. It's far from central Glasgow, though there's an underground station nearby and plenty of dining and shopping within walking distance on Byres Road. Travelers who prefer being more central should compare with the Travelodge Glasgow Central.
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Scene
Simple guesthouse with Victorian architecture for budget-minded travelers
The Clifton Hotel occupies a sandstone Victorian townhouse on a quiet, tree-lined street. Most of its neighbors are other townhouses filled with residential apartments. The front door is a few steps up underneath a red neon sign displaying its name. Inside the entryway, a red-carpeted staircase with ornate white railings winds through the center of the three-story building. Beside the stairway, an antique grandfather clock sits in a narrow hall that leads to a reception area and a front desk, where a sole couch sits next to a flat-screen TV. The bay windows, a mahogany hutch, and beautifully ornate cornice ceilings could be inviting, but a glass wall case of cheap souvenirs, with garish florescent lighting does a good job of ruining the atmosphere.
Location
In the West End, close to shopping, dining, and nightlife on Byres Road
The hotel is on a quiet street parallel to Great Western Road, a major thoroughfare that runs through the West End into central Glasgow. The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are less than a block away, and it's conveniently within walking distance of the Mackintosh House and the Hunterian Museum, Scotland's oldest public museum. Byres Road, a two-minute walk from the hotel, is the West End's main strip for eateries, bars, and shopping. Guests can find the closest underground there at the Hillhead subway station, about a seven-minute walk away. Access to the city center sights will require a taxi or subway ride, the former taking about 15 minutes and the latter just a bit longer. Glasgow Airport is about an 18-minute drive, or 43 minutes on public transportation.
Rooms
Casual rooms with flat-screen TVs; some add four-poster beds
The 26 guest rooms here vary widely in size, layout, and the building's original architectural details (some have them, others don't). Short of these ornate flourishes, all have a simple decor with red accents in carpets, fabrics, and some walls are painted red. Standard rooms have double beds, along with small tables and built-in open wardrobe and shelving units. Some have two double beds and larger sitting areas with extra chairs. Upgraded rooms have four-poster beds and handsome wood armoires, and Family Rooms add extra twin beds, along with mini-fridges. Free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and electric kettles come standard. Not all have private bathrooms, and those that do vary widely; with plain or decorative tile, some have bidets, and either walk-in showers or shower/tub combos.
Features
Charming breakfast room, free hot Scottish breakfast, and free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast is served in a charming breakfast room with Victorian decorative accents and two windows facing the tree-lined street. Typical continental breads, cereals, cheeses, and fruit, are accompanied by a Scottish breakfast of beans, mushrooms, sausage, and cooked-to-order eggs. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout, but there's a fee for self-parking. Travelers with limited mobility should be aware that the hotel doesn't have an elevator.
