Once known for its somewhat rougher edges, recent decades have seen Glasgow prosper into a major cultural hub – and it’s now a popular tourist destination for young and old alike.
(Photo: CC BY 2.0 DEED via Flickr / CC BY 2.0 DEED)
The Scottish port city on the River Clyde has long been known for its distinctive Victorian art nouveau architecture, a legacy of its former prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. But it has been major investment into the city’s infrastructure and, most starkly, cultural institutions that has led to its modern renaissance. The result is that Glasgow is now more than a match for its eastern counterpart of Edinburgh as a minibreak destination – with tons to see and do for families, in particular. Here are seven great ways to keep your kids entertained in Glasgow on the cheap.
Glasgow Science Centre
Whether your kids go wide-eyed at the weird and wacky world of science, or need a bit of a nudge when it comes to summoning any enthusiasm, the Glasgow Science Centre is unlikely to disappoint. Packed full of exhibits, workshops and live shows, this is perhaps Glasgow’s jewel in the crown when it comes to cultural and educational attractions. Highlights include a planetarium, an IMAX cinema, and a ‘perception’ room that explores the science behind illusions. Meanwhile, various interactive exhibits let visitors try their hand at controlling objects with the power of their mind, building a bespoke rollercoaster, and even looking into the future. Admission is £14 for adults, £11 for children.
50 Pacific Quay / Thurs-Fri 10am-3pm Sat-Weds 10am-5pm
City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
(Photo: City Sightseeing UK / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
Affording the freedom and flexibility to board buses at designated stops as and when you please, hop-on hop-off tours are a great way to see lots of a city with kids without relying on arduous walking, costly taxis or unfamiliar public transport systems. Valid for a choice of 1 or 2 days, the City Sightseeing open-top bus tour in Glasgow encompasses a total of 22 stops, each located near major tourist sights. Complimentary audio guides offer live commentary as you travel between stops. Tickets start at £16 per person, and for the best value you can get a family ticket that covers 2 adults and up to 3 children.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Let’s be honest, the prospect of traipsing around a museum isn’t always your average kids’ idea of fun. But if you’ve got a particularly little one, and you plan your visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to coincide with one of its regular Mini Museum Explorer events, then you might just buck the toddler trend. Suitable for ages 2-5, these events invite parents to accompany their kids to fun-filled one-hour sessions that combine free play with structured activities centred around some of the venue’s best exhibits, including life-sized replicas of elephants, tigers, monkeys and more. Entrance to the museum and its mini explore events are free.
Argyle Street / Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Sun 11am-5pm
Pollok Country Park
Glasgow’s largest park offers the ideal antidote to the hustle and bustle of the city. Located in the city’s southwestern reaches, about 3 miles from the centre, it is particularly popular with bikers who come to traverse the myriad of cycle routes that guide you through the scenic woodlands. The park also offers plenty of animal-watching opportunities, with working horses and Highland cattle a regular sight. Gardens, a playground and an orienteering trail add to the kiddie appeal.
2060 Pollokshaws Road, Bellahouston / Mon-Sun 10am-6pm
The Tall Ship Glenlee
(Photo: Glen Bowman via Flickr / CC BY 2.0 DEED)
If your kids have ever wondered what life was like on the high seas, the Tall Ship Glenlee will transport them back to the golden era of sea-faring. The only remaining steel sailing ship still afloat in the UK, the restored Victorian vessel offers the chance to explore the galley, walk along the weather deck, ring the bell and venture into the tall ship’s depths below deck. An assortment of maritime-themed exhibitions tell the story of what life was like aboard a ship that would often be out at sea for months on end. The ship and its exhibits are free to enter.
150 Pointhouse Place at Riverside
Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre
One of Glasgow’s most original and much-loved attractions, Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre serves up a hugely entertaining – and surprisingly inexpensive – show featuring a huge collection of kinetic sculptures assembled from reclaimed scrap objects, each hand-carved into eye-catching characters. These characters – or ‘kinemats’, as they are dubbed – are displayed against a backdrop of dazzling bespoke lighting and a synchronised soundtrack that tell cross-cultural stories revolving around the power and potential of the human spirit, all designed for the entertainment of kids and adults alike. Tickets are £15 for adults, £8 for children.
103 Trongate
Glasgow Wake Park
(Photo: Glasgow Wake Park)
Glasgow often lives up to its reputation as a rainy city, but, as any hardy outdoor type will tell you, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices. Step forward the blessed wet suit, which has been keeping wake board enthusiasts safe from the frosty waters at Glasgow Wake Park since it opened back in 2015. Located on Port Dundas Canal, about 10 minutes from the city centre, the park offers children aged 11 and up the chance to learn from expert instructors what has been described as “waterskiing’s cooler, youthful, cousin”. Prices start at £15 per session.
75 North Canal Bank Street / Weds-Fri 12pm-8pm Sat-Sun 10am-8pm Closed Mon-Tues
By Paul Joseph