Terry’s Tattoos

Chisholm Street, Glasgow, www.terrystattoostudio.com
This family business has been going for a whopping 55 years (way back when tattoos weren’t quite so cool), so you know you’re in safe hands. The Terry of the title (whose son now runs the shop) established the International Tattoo Artist’s Association in the 1970s.

Old Town Tattoos

Blackfriar Street, Edinburgh ,www.myspace.com/oldtowntattooscotland
Sleek, beautiful little red, gold and leopardprint tats ‘n’ piercings store run by a very slinky inked French lady (Mam'Zelle Nane La Rose, piercer extraordinare), and the multi-award-winning tattoo artist Max MacAndrews, who introduced the air-powered tattoo machine to the UK.

Tribe

Bank Street, Glasgow; West Nicholson Street & Broughton Street, Edinburgh, www.tribetattoo.co.uk
Quite literally a tribe of quality inking shops spanning both cities. Tribe also offer a removal and cover-up service for anyone who’s only just realised that a tattoo isn’t just for Christmas.

Forever More Tattoos

Hope Street, Glasgow, www.myspace.com/forevermoretattoo
Thoroughly respectable rockabilly establishment which recently absorbed Land Ahoy Tattoos, formerly of Flip. Resident artists Kenny Mitchell and Dave Pozo (both also well-known local musicians) and piercer Fiona McKay are all respected around the city, and they manage to pull in some intriguing guest artists, too.

Studio XIII

Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh, www.stxiii.com
No appointment necessary at this parlour-cum-gallery, although you can get gift vouchers. The artists also exhibit their non-tattoo work on the walls, alongside a strange collection of mystical objects. T-shirts, tattooed bowling balls and henna skin work also available.