  The superior resolution of HST and the light gathering power of large 8-10m
class telescopes are now providing information on distant globular clusters
(GCs) that is comparable to that obtained in early 1990s for Local Group
systems. Here I summarise what has been learnt from the imaging and limited
spectroscopy of GCs in other galaxies. The GC systems of spirals and
ellipticals reveal remarkable similarities. The vast bulk of GCs appear to have
formed at early epochs, with mergers making a limited contribution to the
overall GC system at later epochs. These observational findings are placed in
the context of galaxy formation.
