10 Things to do in Glasgow with Kids

Glasgow is a Scottish city with a wide range of attractions for all ages, making it an ideal destination for travelling with children. You'll find leisure and cultural activities, outdoor experiences and much more. Fun is guaranteed.

Some of the best things to do in Glasgow with kids include Pollock Country Park, the Art Gallery, Kelvingrove Museum and Glasgow Botanic Gardens. Want to know more?

Hampden Park Stadium is a must-see in Glasgow, especially if you love the sport and want to learn about the history of the national football team. Kids will love this visit as there are lots of interactive activities.

During your visit to Glasgow's Hampden Park Stadium you will see the changing room area and walk through the tunnel leading to the pitch. You'll be amazed when you hear the sound of the euphoric fans in the stands. And all this accompanied by a guide, as the stadium does not allow free access.

You will have the opportunity to discover the glory of the Scottish national team in the stadium museum, see the first Scottish Cup, jerseys and medals, among other things . You will also be able to shoot at goal in the interactive area. A thrilling experience indeed.

Useful information

• Price: The approximate price of a stadium tour is €19 per person.
• Duration: The guided tour inside Hampden Park Stadium usually lasts a couple of hours.

Checking out street art is another great thing to do in Glasgow with kids. This is a fun way for the little ones to explore the city and introduce them to the world of street art. They'll be amazed by the colourful artwork, full of detail and creativity.

You can follow the City Centre Mural Trail, which has the largest number of murals, including the following:

• Tennents Caledonian Breweries: consists of a series of different sized beer-themed murals. These are painted on the walls of the historic Tennent's brewery.
• The World's Most Economic Taxi: This work is on Mitchell Street by artist Rogue-One. It is a British taxi elevated by multicoloured balloons.
• Argyle Street Café: You'll see the work of Australian artist Smug, which depicts a bar where the customers are animals.

This street art tour of Glasgow can be done on your own without any hassle. However, if you want to delve deeper into the history of each of the works and learn more about this urban culture, it's best to book a guided activity.

Pollok Country Park is a family-friendly destination in Glasgow where you and the kids can connect with nature and spend a day outdoors with a difference.

When you arrive at this country park, you'll find a vast expanse of greenery made up of woodland and gardens. Take a stroll along the paths, have a picnic on the riverbank and discover the wildlife. You will be amazed to see the friendly and gentle animals in the meadows, such as deer and hairy cows.

You will also find other attractions such as:

• A large play area, where children can run, jump and have fun.
• The Pollok House, an 18th century mansion with a distinct neoclassical architectural style and art collections that include artists such as Rubens and Goya, among others.
• Some cycling routes with different levels of difficulty. If you're keen on cycling, you can also incorporate a cycling tour of Glasgow into your itinerary .

Useful information

• Entry to Pollok Country Park and Pollok House is free.
• Opening times: Pollok Country Park and Pollok House are open to the public daily from 10am to 6pm.

The Glasgow Botanic Garden is the perfect place to go with children. They'll be able to run around, breathe in the fresh air and even feed the squirrels that live there. You'll be able to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy an impressive collection of plants.

The main attractions in the garden include the following:

• The Victorian glasshouses, where you'll see cool-climate plants and other tropical and sub-tropical species.
• The botanical plant area, which includes medicinal species, endangered plants and others native to Scottish lands.
• The themed gardens, consisting of a sensory garden, a Japanese garden and a Chinese garden.

In this botanical garden you will also find rose gardens, some ponds and sculptures. Without a doubt, a destination of peaceful beauty where you can relax, learn about the different plants and take amazing photographs.

Useful information

• Entry to Glasgow Botanic Garden is free.
• Hours: 10:00 am to 3:15 pm daily.

If your kids love football, then a must-see in the city is Celtic Park Stadium. This is a major sporting venue that has been home to Celtic FC since 1892. You will have the opportunity to walk around every corner and feel like a real Scottish player.

This experience is usually on the list of the best tours of Glasgow and to do it you will have to be accompanied by a guide. Celtic Park Stadium does not allow free access throughout the impressive building.

With a tour of Glasgow's Celtic Park Stadium you will get to see the press room, enter the changing rooms and walk through the players' tunnel which leads directly onto the pitch. At the pitch, you will get a breathtaking view of the stands which can hold an average of 60,000 fans.

Useful information

• Price: The average price for a guided tour of Celtic Park Stadium is £24 per person.
• Opening times: Monday to Friday from 11.00am to 1.30pm.

Present in Glasgow since 1901, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum stands out as one of the top attractions in all of Scotland. Children will learn while they have fun, looking at the quirky collections on display here.

Kelvingrove is home to some 22 galleries with around 8,000 exhibits. For example, you'll see some dinosaur skeletons, Egyptian sarcophagi, medieval armour and a World War II aircraft, among other things. You'll also see a range of furniture by Scottish designer and architect Rennie Mackintosh and an art gallery with works by iconic artists such as Van Gogh, Dalí, Botticelli, etc.

In addition, in the museum's central hall you'll find an antique pipe organ. And if you look up at the ceiling, you will see a series of heads hanging from it. Each of them depicts different moods: happiness, anger, hunger, sadness...

Useful information

• Price: free.
• Opening hours: from 10:00 to 17:00 (Monday to Thursday and Saturday) and from 11:00 to 17:00 (Friday and Sunday).

A great plan to incorporate into your itinerary with children during your 1 day or longer stay in Glasgow is a visit to the city's revolving tower. It's a unique experience where you and the kids can learn about the city and get a bird's eye view of it.

You'll climb to a height of approximately 127 metres and get an incredible 360º panoramic view of iconic landmarks such as the Cathedral, the River Clyde, the University of Glasgow and the backdrop of the city's surrounding mountains, among other things.

In addition, in the Glasgow Tower you will enjoy an interesting exhibition that will allow you to learn about the gradual evolution of the Scottish city from its beginnings to the present day through a series of photographs, posters and some models.

Useful information

• Price: The entrance fee to the Glasgow Tower is around £14 (adults) and approximately £7 (children).
• Opening hours: from 10:00 to 17:00 (Wednesday to Sunday). Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Another great thing to do in Glasgow is to visit the Hard Rock Café. This popular franchise has a family-friendly atmosphere that kids will enjoy, as well as a special Messi menu designed just for them . As for you, you can satisfy your taste buds with some cult dishes:

• The Tupelo Chicken Tenders, which adapts its name from Elvis Presley's hometown of Tupelo Mississippi. It is a battered chicken fillet.
• Classic nachos, with cheddar cheese, jalapenos and beans.
• The Original Legendary Burger: was the first recipe marketed by the restaurant. Beef, bacon, tomato, cheddar cheese and onion rings.

Meanwhile, the little ones will have the Messi children's menu, with hamburgers, hot dogs, chocolate milkshake and much more. It's ideal if the kids are fans of the world's best football player, Leonel Messi.

After lunch, you can browse the souvenir shop and why not buy the iconic T-shirt with the franchise's logo on it. Bear in mind that this restaurant is a busy place and you may find it full, so it's best to pre-book your visit to Hard Rock Café Glasgow with lunch included.

Useful information

• Price: Access to Hard Rock Café Glasgow is free. You will only have to pay for the products consumed on site.
• Opening hours: Every day from 12:00 to 00:00 hours.

At the Glasgow Police Museum children will have an interesting adventure with a fun and educational approach. They will discover the evolution and importance of policing in this Scottish city from 1812 to the present day through a series of exhibits and interactive areas.

On arrival at the museum you will find highlights from the 19th and 20th centuries including:

• Collection of police uniforms, which will allow you to observe the evolution of their clothing over the years.
• Forensic equipment, with a series of tools used to collect evidence in some criminal investigations.
• Vintage cars and motorbikes, used decades ago by the police, which will make you feel like you've travelled back in time.

You will enjoy audio-visuals and interactive activities related to road safety, crime prevention and more. In addition, you will have access to a library with archives, books, photographs and other documents that will help you understand the importance of the police to Glasgow society.

Useful information

• Entryfee to the Glasgow Police Museum is approximately £5 (adults) and around £3 (children).
• Opening hours: 10:00 to 16:30 (Monday to Saturday) and 12:00 to 16:30 (Sunday).

The Glasgow Science Museum is the ideal destination to inspire children in an interactive and highly entertaining way. Be amazed by the exhibits, activities and other experiences on offer.

Once at the museum, you will enjoy a range of attractions including:

• Live demonstrations. You'll see the museum's experts perform a series of experiments to explore scientific concepts, chemistry, physics and more.
• The BodyWorks exhibition, where you will learn about the detailed workings of the human body.
• The Space Zone exhibition, with interesting planetary models.

You can also enjoy an immersive experience in the IMAX Cinema by watching documentaries on space, technology and nature, as well as action and adventure films. And we can't forget the planetarium with projections about the solar system, constellations, astronomical phenomena such as black holes, eclipses and more.

Useful information

• Price: The price at the Glasgow Science Museum depends on the area you are visiting. For example, access to the planetarium and IMAX costs an average of €3. Access to the science area is around €10 (adults) and around €8 (children).
• Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday from 10:00 to 15:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.