Best Western Garfield House Hotel

A large, tile-roofed stone structure, this branch of the Best Western family looks like an aristocratic country manor. Inside, the mix of modern and classic furniture aims for a vibe that’s just as inviting; tufted gray sofas paired with black and red cushions offer comfortable seating in the lobby’s large lounge area, which seems constantly full of people working on their laptops. Crystal vases and antique statues add a refined touch to the warmly lit restaurant and bar areas. Thick, patterned carpeting spreads throughout the reception and on the staircases, which feature stained-glass windows on the landings. While the interiors look both elegant and homey, the hotel is the first to note that as a popular site of corporate conventions and weddings, its spaces can get noisy, and are best suited for travelers on business or in large parties.

Just off a highway in the countryside of Stepps in northeast Glasgow, the hotel’s rural location is beautiful but far removed from the city center, and can be inconvenient for leisure travelers without a car. A ScotRail station is a nine-minute walk from the hotel, and 30 minutes on the train will reach central Glasgow. Most must-see spots will also be reachable by the train: the Glasgow Cathedral is a 25-minute train ride from the hotel, while the shopping destinations of Buchanan Street are a 30-minute ride away and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a 45-minute ride away. 

Glasgow Airport is a half-hour car ride from the hotel, while Edinburgh Airport is a 50-minute drive away.

Rooms at the Best Western Garfield House Hotel are large and pleasant, decorated in rich dark blues, grays, and browns. Carpeting in all rooms, along with the floral-patterned drapes with matching valances and bedspreads, creates a cozy atmosphere despite the simple wood furniture. Comfy leather chairs and rectangular work desks provide several seating options, and there’s ample closet and dresser space. Large windows, most providing charming countryside views, and multiple mirrors make the spaces seem even bigger. 

Standard Twin and slightly larger Executive Twin Rooms come with two single beds. Standard Double Rooms come with one double bed. Executive Double Rooms provide one king bed. Suites add living areas with sofas and dining tables. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, coffee-and tea-making facilities, trouser presses, and free Wi-Fi. No safes or mini-fridges are provided.

Bathrooms in all rooms are wrapped in large white tiles and include shower/tub combos with fixed showerheads noted by guests for their powerful jets. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided. Extra cribs or beds can be requested in advance for extra fees. 

The hotel provides a few basic amenities, but none stand out as extraordinary. The on-site Bar & Grill restaurant, a somewhat old-fashioned space furnished in cream carpeting, off-white leather chairs, and lots of soft lighting, serves classic Scottish meals and bistro fare. It's open for three meals a day, including cooked or continental breakfast choices. Breakfast isn't included in room rates, but can be purchased as part of a room package. The menu is also available for room service. A swankier lounge bar in the reception area, with herringbone wood floors and granite countertops, provides a pleasant space for mingling.

Guests can take advantage of services like shoe shining, ironing, dry cleaning, and packed lunches for additional fees. The hotel can also organize full-scale weddings, complete with catering and entertainment services, plus honeymoon suites. 

With six meeting rooms that can accommodate anywhere from 12 to 150 people, the hotel has plenty of options for conferences. However, for a hotel catering to travelers on the job, the business center, consisting of just one computer, is surprisingly inadequate. Property wide Wi-Fi is free. There is ample on-site parking available at no charge.