If you’re a Eurovision fan like me you’ve probably watched the new Netflix movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga already and hopefully had as much fun watching it as I did.
It’s silly, crazy fun, so taps right into that special Eurovision energy on that one. But one thing I’m baffled by is why they moved the Hydro Glasgow to Edinburgh.
At first I thought maybe I’d missed something in all the excitement and maybe they’d popped over to Glasgow for a few minutes. But no, they’d somehow made Edinburgh the host city and Glasgow’s Hydro the host venue, and there towards the end they’ve even waved a digital wand to put the Hydro at the end of a street in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
It’s the sort of thing no one who has ever been to the Hydro would miss. And that’s a whole lot of music lovers.
As one of the top ten busiest venues in the world, Glasgow’s SSE Hydro is where you can catch some of the biggest acts on the planet in a venue that looks like a glamorous UFO has come in to land.
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The Norman Foster designed building is covered in lights that can shine in 16 million colour combinations, and inside it has features I love including a Prince mural with the artist and the words “You don’t have to be cool to rule my world” in chain mail. Seriously, how good is that?
Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, Kylie, Paul Simon and Paul McCartney are just a few who have taken to the Hydro Glasgow stage and as much as I love Glasgow cabbies for being some of the friendliest on the planet, when those concerts finish I know I’d much rather be able to walk back to my hotel room than have to join a queue for a taxi.
Long before that strange Eurovision movie hiccup, I spent some time looking into the best places to stay when you’re heading to the Hydro, and with 1458 hotel rooms within a five minute stroll of the venue there’s a lot to choose from.
So let’s take a look at your hotel choices, shall we….
Radisson RED
When Glasgow’s Radisson RED opened in 2018 it became the first purpose built Radisson RED in Europe, and they not only picked a great position near the SSE Hydro, they clearly had a lot of fun with the hotel itself.
The hotel’s rooftop RED Sky Bar looks directly over the Hydro Glasgow and Scottish Event Campus (SEC), and there’s only a ride in the lift and a short walk across the road separating your room from the venue.
The hotel has 174 studios spread across eight floors, including 16 corner suites and one studio suite, with superheroes flying over Glasgow landmarks on the walls, and shipyard cranes on the tiles in the bathroom, along with a full size one outside.
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And when you’re not at the show or exploring the neighbourhood, there’s a gym and three events and games studios with high-speed broadband and foosball tables if you prefer to play offline.
The hotel is also pet friendly and welcomes dogs under 15kg. But you do have to stay with your dog at all times, so you’ll need to have a pet sitter come in while you’re over the road having fun at the show.
Crowne Plaza Glasgow
Don’t want to deal with a queue for the cloakroom at the Armadillo? The Crowne Plaza Glasgow is not only near SEC Glasgow, it’s fully attached to the Armadillo so you don’t have to go outside.
While The Hydro holds 13,000 people, the other Norman Foster designed building in the SEC, the Armadillo, holds 3,000, and is considered one of the best lives music venues in the city, with the Pet Shop Boys, Miranda Lambert and Jules Holland among the acts that have taken to its stage.
The Crowne Plaza Glasgow has more of a business hotel vibe going on and if you’re clever enough to mix a business trip with one of your favourite bands playing next door, the hotel has enough meeting space for you to host a get together with up to 800 people.
There are 283 rooms including 36 Club bedrooms and 15 suites, which include access to Club Lounge with views over the city.
Village Hotel Glasgow
Ultra modern and reasonably priced, the award winning Village Hotel group’s Glasgow hotel is found on the south bank of the Clyde River, just a five minute stroll from the SSE Hydro Glasgow, Armadillo and SEC Centre.
After checking in on a touch screen you can head to the hotel’s pub, spa or gym, and take a splash in their 20-metre heated swimming pool.
The gym has more than 140 pieces of state of the art gym equipment, a spin studio with 40 bikes, and separate studios for yoga and LesMills high energy classes.
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I’m told on good authority by someone who works at the Hydro that the Village Hotel’s spa is an excellent choice, and the next time I’m in town I’ll be sure to lie back and be pampered with ESPA and St Tropez products.
The 120 rooms have comfy beds and Freeview on the TVs, and they also have kettles for tea and coffee and an iron and a safe.
They’re also the first hotel I’ve seen to feature something that I’d like to see a lot more of – a Gender Pay Gap Report. Hats off to them for sharing that one and here’s hoping other companies do the same someday. Hopefully before I’m 102.
Hilton Garden Inn
It may have won the Scottish Business hotel of the year, but as it’s part of the SEC Campus along with the Hydro and Armadillo, the Hilton Garden Inn is also nice and close to that concert action.
The hotel’s 164 rooms all feature 42-inch screen TVs, mini refrigerators and complimentary WiFi. And if you do want to do some work there’s a large desk with an ergonomic chair.
The restaurant and bar serves contemporary, locally sourced food and guests can eat inside or in the fresh air on the outdoor terrace space, which comes complete with heaters for those colder days and nights.
If you want to get the blood pumping their high-tech Precor gym is free of charge, 24 hours a day, and you can freshen up those sweaty clothes in the hotel’s guest laundry.
Campanile
And finally, if you’re looking for a budget friendly hotel near Hydro Glasgow, the Campanile may be just what you’re looking for.
There are 55 standard double bedrooms, 44 standard twin bedrooms, and five easy access bedrooms where the doors are at least 32 inches to allow for wheelchair access. The easy access bedrooms also have emergency pull cords in the bedroom and bathroom as well as low grab bars to assist with lifting.
All hotel rooms have flat screen TVs, tea and coffee making facilities, WiFi, and with security bolts and viewfinders for added security.
And when it comes to fueling up for the night ahead, the Campanile’s unlimited buffets have you covered.
This hotel may be on the basic side, but it’s also very busy and is professionally run by friendly staff so has a great atmosphere.
And as it’s right next door to the SSE Hydro you’ll not only be saving money on your hotel room, there’s no need to pay for taxis either.
After all those savings, you’ll be able to treat yourself to a little merch souvenir or three from the show.
But which show will you be going to? Check out the options on the SSE Hydro website and don’t forget to move fast on the hotel you want as soon as you know your show dates. You wouldn’t want to be one of those people waiting in line for a taxi, now would you.
This post contains some affiliate links, so if you click on a link and book something I will get a little something to help pay those blogging bills, but don’t worry, it’s no extra cost to you. You can find out how and why I use travel affiliate programs here.
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