Glasgow Garden Festival

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The Glasgow Garden Festival was the third of the United Kingdom's five National Garden Festivals, and the only one to take place in Scotland. It was held in Glasgow between April and September 1988.

[edit] The Festival Site

The festival site was on the south bank of the River Clyde at Govan, on land reclaimed from the partial filling-in of Prince's Dock. Features included the 240 feet high Clydesdale Bank Anniversary Tower, the Coca-Cola Roller roller coaster and a miniature railway. A new bridge, Bell's Bridge, had been constructed across the river to link the Garden Festival to the SECC. The official opening ceremony took place on April 29 and was conducted by Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

[edit] After the Garden Festival

After the end of the Garden Festival, the site remained derelict for many years, prior to being redeveloped for the Glasgow Science Centre and also Pacific Quay, which includes a media campus that will provide the new headquarters of BBC Scotland and Scottish Television. The Clydesdale Bank tower was dismantled and re-erected in Rhyl in North Wales, however its spiritual successor came in the form of the Glasgow Millenium Tower as part of Science Centre complex, which stands on approximately the same spot.