Things to do in Glasgow with kids
The Riverside Museum with its tall ship, the Science Centre and Kelvingrove’s dinosaurs and Spitfire are the bankers; Pollok Park adds cows and space to run.
11 picks that fit, best first. The order follows the live forecast and the time of day.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
West End
Dali, a Spitfire, dinosaurs and a daily organ recital in a red sandstone palace, free.
Indoors, so the rain doesn't matter. Free.
- Free
- Indoors
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Riverside Museum and the Tall Ship
Pointhouse Quay
Trams, locomotives, a recreated 1900s street and a three-masted ship moored outside, all free.
Indoors, so the rain doesn't matter. Free.
- Free
- Indoors
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Glasgow Science Centre
Pacific Quay
Three floors of hands-on science, a planetarium and an IMAX in a silver shell on the Clyde.
Indoors, so the rain doesn't matter.
- £10 to £25
- Indoors
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Glasgow Botanic Gardens and Kibble Palace
West End
A Victorian glasshouse of tree ferns and statues in a free riverside garden at the top of Byres Road.
Mostly under cover. Free.
- Free
- In and out
- Under 2 hours
- Fine in rain
- Good with kids
Celtic Park stadium tour
Parkhead
Behind the scenes at Paradise, with the trophy room and a walk out of the tunnel.
Mostly under cover.
- £10 to £25
- In and out
- Under 2 hours
- Fine in rain
- Good with kids
Ibrox stadium tour
Ibrox
The marble staircase, the trophy room and the pitch at Rangers’ listed stadium.
Mostly under cover.
- £10 to £25
- In and out
- Under 2 hours
- Fine in rain
- Good with kids
City Centre Mural Trail
City centre
Two dozen giant murals on gable ends around the centre, from St Mungo to a taxi full of tigers.
Wet right now, so save this for a dry spell.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Under 2 hours
- Good with kids
Kelvingrove Park
West End
The West End’s Victorian park along the Kelvin, between the museum and the university.
Wet right now, so save this for a dry spell.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Under 2 hours
- Good with kids
Pollok Country Park
Pollokshaws
Woodland, a river, a stately home and a fold of Highland cattle, ten minutes by train from the centre.
Wet right now, so save this for a dry spell.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Loch Lomond from Balloch
Day trip
Fifty minutes by train to the bonnie banks: boat trips, lochside walks and the start of the Highlands.
Wet right now, so save this for a dry spell.
- Under £10
- Outdoors
- A full day
- Good with kids
Free; train fare, cruises ticketed
Glasgow Green
Calton
The oldest park in the city, along the Clyde, with the Doulton Fountain and the Templeton carpet factory.
Wet right now, so save this for a dry spell.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Under 2 hours
- Good with kids
Good to know
What is there to do in Glasgow with children?
The Riverside Museum with its tall ship, the Science Centre and Kelvingrove’s dinosaurs and Spitfire are the bankers; Pollok Park adds cows and space to run. This list keeps 11 places that work with kids and moves the indoor ones up when it is raining.
Which of these are free for families?
Look for the "Free" label. Most cities have at least a couple of free museums and a big park on this list, which makes a cheap day out easy to put together.