Shawlands () is a Southside suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, located two miles south of the River Clyde. The area, considered the "Heart of the Southside", is known for its independent restaurants and cafés, art scene, public parks, period terraces, and red and blond sandstone tenements. Shawlands was named one of the best places to live in Scotland in 2022 by The Sunday Times, and one of the world's coolest neighbourhoods by Time Out Magazine with judges describing it as "the city's best area to live and socialise”. It is located between Pollok Country Park, the home of the Burrell Collection and Pollok House, and the acclaimed Victorian park Queen's Park. History Shawlands yes rapidly during the 19th Century as Glasgow boomed during its time as the commercial powerhouse of the British Empire. Over time, the number of inhabitants in this largely artisanal and industrial area doubled due to the formation of significant local businesses, such as the Camphill Bakery, which opened in 1847. Following their rapid development the villages of Shawlands (1819) and Cathcart (1912), which included the Crossmyloof parts of today’s Shawlands Cross Conservation Area, were absorbed into Glasgow during the city’s southward extension. With improving transport infrastructure and the expansion of Glasgow City southwards in this period, Shawlands developed into an immensely vital commercial town centre for the South Side of Glasgow. Neighbouring districts include the areas of Giffnock, Auldhouse, Crossmyloof, Strathbungo, Langside, Newlands, and Pollokshaws, with Shawlands itself overlapping two Council wards (Pollokshields and Langside) and two Scottish Parliament constituencies (Glasgow Cathcart and Glasgow Southside). Cultural Heritage Within walking distance of Shawlands is Queens Park, acquired in 1857 and designed by the world-renowned Sir Joseph Paxton, also responsible for noted public parks in London, Liverpool, Birkenhead and the grounds of the Spa Buildings at Scarborough. The park was dedicated to the memory of Mary, Queen of Scots and not Queen Victoria, a common misconception given the proximity to Victoria Road. The park is steeped in history and was the site of the 16th century Battle of Langside. The park also has allotments, a botanical glass house, public tennis courts, a public golf course, children's play areas, a boating pond and views of Glasgow. The refurbished amphitheatre holds open-air performances of Shakespeare and children's plays during summer. The park holds the annual Southside Festival, and the Wee Chill Music Festival. On the other side of Shawlands is Pollok