Bristol or Glasgow?

Neither city is a place to swim, and beach life shouldn't shape the choice. What differs is the kind of seaside outing. From Bristol it means a cold dip in a tidal pool such as Clevedon's Victorian marine lake, or a walk on Weston-super-Mare's sands while the tide is far out. From Glasgow it is a train ride to a Clyde resort like Largs or Ayr, with chilly water and views across to Arran.

The two eat about equally well, and neither has a defining local dish. They differ in what they do best. Bristol is a city for grazing, with stalls in St Nicholas Market, harbourside container kitchens and West Country cider and craft beer in old warehouse taprooms.

Glasgow's strength is its long curry-house tradition and the Italian cafés and chip shops behind it, plus Finnieston for west coast seafood, game and whisky. In both cities it pays to eat in the neighbourhoods rather than the centre.

Glasgow has the richer cultural stay. It has grand Victorian sandstone streets, two outstanding free collections in Kelvingrove and the Burrell, and the buildings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, an architect whose work you won't find in the same depth anywhere else.

Bristol's sights are fewer but distinctive. They include Brunel's SS Great Britain, the Clifton Suspension Bridge above the gorge, St Mary Redcliffe, M Shed's honest account of the slave trade and Banksy's early street art. Each city takes two or three days.

The two are evenly matched for going out, but the nights feel different. Bristol's identity is sound-system culture, with bass-heavy club nights in railway arches near Temple Meads and on a boat moored in the harbour.

Glasgow's nights centre on loud, friendly pubs that fill up early, and on basement techno and house clubs that bring in European DJs. Most clubs close around 3am, so the night is short and intense.

Glasgow has the stronger outdoors by some distance, because the Highlands begin so close by. Loch Lomond, Ben Lomond and the Trossachs are under an hour away, the West Highland Way starts in Milngavie, and Arran's rugged peaks are a ferry ride off.

Bristol's countryside is gentler. There is climbing in the Avon Gorge, deer and mountain-bike trails at Ashton Court, the cycle path to Bath and caving in the Mendips. Real upland walking means a two-hour drive to the Brecon Beacons or Exmoor.

Both are excellent bases, with plenty to fill a week of outings. Bristol's are packed close together, with Bath a quarter of an hour by train, Wells and Glastonbury to the south, and the prehistoric stones of Stonehenge and Avebury. A car helps for the Cotswold villages.

Glasgow's trump card is Edinburgh, under an hour away, with Stirling Castle, Linlithgow Palace, New Lanark and Culzean Castle adding Scottish history and Rothesay and Arran adding island days.

Children are well catered for in both cities, but the attractions differ. Bristol has animals close at hand, with an aquarium beside the science centre, a spacious wildlife park on the northern edge and harbour ferries that turn getting about into an outing.

Glasgow has no zoo or aquarium in town. Instead it relies on free, hands-on museums, such as the Riverside Museum with its trams and tall ship and Kelvingrove with its hanging Spitfire. Steep streets will test pushchairs in either city.

Glasgow is easier to get around. A grid-plan centre, the little circular Subway and a large suburban rail network reach the West End, the South Side and the coast without a car, though bus fares from several operators can confuse a visitor.

In Bristol you walk the compact core and take the yellow harbour ferries, but beyond the centre the only option is buses that get stuck in traffic. The climb to Clifton is hard on the legs.

Glasgow is the clear choice for shopping. The pedestrian loop of Buchanan, Sauchiehall and Argyle Streets has the big names and department stores, Princes Square and the jewellers of the Argyll Arcade add Victorian settings, and Byres Road and the Barras cover vintage clothes and bargains.

Bristol has Cabot Circus for chain stores, while its character lies in the independent shops along Gloucester Road and the galleries in Clifton's arcades. That makes a pleasant afternoon, not a reason to visit.

Glasgow is the easier city on a budget. Its hotels generally cost less, and curry houses and pub lunches keep meals down. Bristol's hotels rise sharply at weekends, which makes it manageable rather than cheap.

Both cities offer free entry to most of their major museums, so sightseeing costs little in either. In Glasgow the expense to watch is train fares for day trips. In Bristol, market stalls and walking the centre help the most.

Glasgow is much stronger for live performance. It has the Barrowland Ballroom and one of Britain's deepest gig circuits, folk sessions in pubs and the Celtic Connections festival in winter. Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and two symphony orchestras are all based in the city.

Bristol has the Old Vic, the oldest continuously working theatre in the English-speaking world, fringe Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory and plenty of small music venues. It has no resident opera company or major orchestra.

Bristol is the better place to unwind, largely thanks to Bath. Britain's only natural hot springs are a short train ride away, and the heated lido behind Clifton's terraces makes a restful half day.

Glasgow's Victorian Turkish baths in the West End are mainly for members, which leaves visitors with hotel spas. For a calmer day, head out to the parks or the lochs.