There are plenty of things to do in Glasgow with kids, whatever the weather or the day of the week. The city and its surrounds are full of museums, playgrounds, and kid-friendly nature spots that will keep your little ones happy and occupied all day! We’ve compiled a few of the best.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museums
Price: Free
The Kelvingrove is a museum of nature, history, and art, so there’s something for everyone! Kids will enjoy the whimsical displays of birds and beasties in the main atrium, as well as larger stuffed animals and even a suspended spitfire! Older children might enjoy the eclectic art collection, and the rooms dedicated to Scottish history. The whole family will definitely love the grand building, built from the proceeds of the 1888 International Exhibition, it’s packed full of history and character. Just be careful with little ones zipping along the marble floors!
The museum has a dedicated children’s area, where younger children can dress up, play with replica items, and generally run safely amuck. There is also a cafe on-site, as well as a fancier restaurant downstairs. And an extra bonus: every Friday from 11:30 to 12:00 is toddler time! You can relax for half an hour as weans (that’s Glaswegian for kids!) are treated to songs, stories and art by museum staff. The museum is located just across the road from Kelvingrove Park, where there is a lovely river, a duck pond, a children’s playground and a skate park. On a nice summer day, you could finish your museum adventure with an ice cream and a go on the swings!
HuntFun Glasgow
Price: £5.99-£14.99
Starting at the central column in George Square, HuntFun is a treasure hunt around the city. This is a great way to get kids sightseeing without complaints, and a variety of types of a hunt are available. HuntFun will even customise itineraries for you and your family! You will want to order ahead to be posted the printed HuntFun booklets, but there is also a smartphone download option.
Hunts are a loop around the city centre and will get the family up and active. There are questions throughout the treasure hunts which will help both kids and parents learn about the city. It’s almost like a guided tour, but with puzzles thrown in and the option to go at whatever pace you (and the kids) want! All the questions encourage curiosity, and by the end of one of these treasure hunts, you’ll be a group of Glasgow experts.
Scotland Street School Museum
Price: Free
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Masterful Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed Scotland Street School, so it’s a treat for adults as well as children. Before it was converted into a museum, the school was functioning right up until 1979. It tells the story of 100 years of Scottish education. School-age kids will have a great time comparing Scottish classrooms of times gone by to their own. The museum is an immersive experience, and children can try on uniforms, have a go at writing on slates, and generally have fun playing make-believe. Don’t worry though, there’s strictly no caning at Scotland Street School Museum!
There are various tours available, and if you’re lucky you might catch a special workshop like Sketch-and-Destress or a Make a Paper Animal Sculpture. There are a cafe and a gift shop on site.
Jurassic Jungle
Price: £2.50-£4.50
This is one for younger kids, perhaps when you’re ready for a sit-down or want to tire them out!
Jurassic Jungle is a unique, dinosaur themed soft play located in Glasgow’s suburbs. Children can enjoy all the usual soft play delights — ball pits, slides, a bouncy castle, ladders and slides — but with a dino twist! Watch your kiddos clamber all over a stegosaurus or cuddle a t-rex and relax in the cafe. Tea and coffee are served, as well as healthy food, and plenty of snacks for when the kids get hungry. Children up to 12 years old are welcome to play at Jurassic Jungle, and there is also a dedicated toddlers’ area.
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Glasgow Science Centre and IMAX
Price: £11.50 for adults, £9.50 for children 3 and over. Children under 3 enter free. Additional costs for IMAX and Glasgow Tower.
Glasgow Science Centre is located right on the riverside. This state of the art centre is one of the best science museums in the UK, and possibly the best of Glasgow’s Children’s attractions. Though it isn’t free like many of Glasgow’s museums, it’s definitely worth the entry price!
Whatever your little one’s current obsession, the Science Centre can cater to it. There’s a walk-through solar system, a chance to explore the human body from within with the current interactive Body Works exhibition. The whole area dedicated to exploring power sources of the future. For younger children, there’s The Big Explorer, a children’s area designed as a ship with an excitable and underage crew of little visitors! As well as keeping the ship running smoothly and operating its machinery, kids can put on under-the-sea puppet shows, hang out in a giant bubble, or mess about with a musical shark. There’s even a soft play area for toddlers 18 months and younger, so everyone can play safely.
There is also an IMAX attached to the Science Centre which has an evening programme of films like any other cinema, but in the day it’s given over to documentaries. For £2.50 on top of your ticket, you can see whatever is playing the day you visit.
Eating Out in Glasgow With Kids
Scotland may not always have been known for its cuisine, but that’s changing. Glasgow has a bustling restaurant scene, and eateries tend to be very kid-friendly. With children’s menus offering safe kiddy classics and half portions of adult plates so that everyone can try something new!
At The Bothy, on Ashton Lane, you can find traditional Scottish fare. A few doors down is Ketchup, an excellent burger joint. Also on the Ashton Lane, you’ll find The Lane, which not only has a kids’ menu but also a play area! DiMaggio’s has a play area for kids too, as does Hillhead Bookclub, a trendy bar and restaurant situated in an incredible west end building with double-height ceilings and beautiful crown molding. And you’ll be able to enjoy it all, and maybe even a cocktail because the kids will be occupied!
These suggestions are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things to do in Glasgow with kids, so stop putting it off and take that family trip! Glasgow is an incredibly child-friendly city. It is the friendliest city in the UK after all, and that doesn’t just apply to adults.