Byres Road is a mixed commercial, shopping and upmarket residential area consisting largely of traditional sandstone tenements with retail premises on the ground floor and three floors of residential flats above.

Murals painted by the notable Glasgow artist Alasdair Gray adorn the Ubiquitous Chip, the Oxfam Bookshop, and the Oran Mor bars.

The oldest pub in the area is the 17th century Curler's, originally sited beside a pond used for curling and, legend has it, given a seven-day licence by King Charles II.

During the period when Hillhead and Partick were independent burghs, Byres Road was known by its original name of Victoria Street.

[citation needed] The northern end of Byres Road is served by Hillhead station on the Glasgow Subway, while the southern end is closer to Kelvinhall on Dumbarton Road.