10 Best Family Things to Do in Glasgow

The Glasgow Science Center features plenty of interactive exhibits, workshops, and games for visitors of all ages. One of the city’s largest entertainment venues, it consists of a science museum, planetarium, revolving tower, an IMAX movie theater, and 2 cafés.

The little ones can enjoy a variety of activities, from learning about the human body at the Bodyworks exhibition to experiencing the Milky Way in the Planetarium. For panoramic views of the city, you can pay a small fee to enjoy a 2.5-minute ride at the Glasgow Tower. It stands at 417 ft (127 meters) above sea level, making it one of Scotland’s tallest structures. Be sure to bring your camera.

Free Wheel North is a charity-based cycling centre that offers a variety of bicycles, tandems, and go-carts in Glasgow. It has an outdoor track where you can enjoy a day of cycling with the little ones.

Trikes and family karts can accommodate between 4 and 6 people at a time, making it a rather popular activity for weekends. Led rides are also available for those who want to explore the city. Located on Templeton Street, Free Wheel North is within a 4-minute walk of The People Palace.

The Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre is known for hosting regular workshops, live performances, and permanent exhibits on puppetry. The museum has an impressive collection of antique masks and puppets from various regions within Europe and Asia.

If you’d like to organize a memorable event for your family, you can book a birthday party for children over the age of 4, where they can learn how to perform magic tricks with a resident magician and make a rod puppet to take home.

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has been an iconic landmark in central Glasgow since 1901. It has over 20 exhibits on topics ranging from prehistoric life and human anatomy to 19th-century paintings and the life of artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Young children can enjoy interactive displays and workshops at the Mini Museum, while aviation fans can see an authentic Supermarine Spitfire displayed in the middle of the museum. Entrance to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is free of charge, making it a must-visit if you’re traveling on a modest budget.

Pollok Country Park is Glasgow's largest green space with beautiful river scenes, cycle routes, and a fairy trail. There’s also a herd of Highland cattle grazing on the grounds. When tummies start to rumble, there’s plenty of space for picnics.

If you’re traveling with small children, don’t miss a visit to the Dumbreck Outdoor Playbarn. It’s a former horses' hay barn that has been transformed into a fun sensory play zone. Your little ones will love exploring and playing the pirate ship, mini theatre, hospital, mud kitchen, barber shop, and the dressing-up corner. Older kids will enjoy following the Burrell Trails, a treasure hunt type of way of discovering the massive art collection at the world-class Burrell Collection.

The Glasgow Climbing Centre is a former church that’s been converted into an indoor climbing gym suitable for climbing enthusiasts of various levels. Located along Paisley Road, the stunning space is divided into sections dedicated to bouldering, auto belaying, lead climbing, and bottom roping.

Complete beginners can opt for a taster session or introductory course, which takes between 1 and 3 hours, depending on the technique. A popular option is the hour-long Abseil Taster, where you learn about the basics of abseiling. Or go for the Family Taster where you can have fun trying something new and exciting together.

St Enoch Centre, located off Argyle Street, is a modern shopping mall in the city center. You can find several stores that kids and families love such as Hamleys and The Works, as well as free activities and workshops during annual celebrations such as Christmas.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite from all the shopping, check out the mall’s extensive range of family-friendly fast-food chains, restaurants, and cafés, including Starbucks, McDonald’s, Nando’s, and Burger King. To cap of a fun day together, go see the latest movies at the VUE Cinema.

The Riverside Museum is an award-winning transportation museum overlooking the River Clyde. Established in 2001, this striking building displays over 3,000 vintage vehicles and artefacts such as skateboards, motorcycles, cars, and locomotives.

There are more than 50 interactive display screens showcasing short clips, interesting facts, and photos of Scotland’s transport industry. One of its most popular attractions is the Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour, which is berthed outside the museum. You can board this 1,600-tonne steel ship and explore many areas, including the captain’s cabin, main deckhouse, and engine room.

Pinkston Watersports is where you can enjoy water-based activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, and swimming in Glasgow. The center is located on the canal but the water in the facility is safe, filtered, and tested regularly.

The sports center has an artificial white water rafting course and a concrete-lined flatwater basin. Wetsuits, safety helmets, harnesses, kayaks, boats, and gloves are available for rental for a small fee. For a fun family day on the water, try a paddle boarding taster session for families and kids or a family canoe session.

City Sightseeing Glasgow operates bus tours that offer a leisurely way of exploring the city’s top landmarks. The bus departs every 30 minutes (15 minutes in the summer), and its route consists of 21 stops throughout the city center

Wear the provided headphones to learn interesting facts about the city and notable attractions such as the Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Art Gallery, and the People’s Palace. Narration is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Polish, and Mandarin. If you’re not planning to disembark from the bus, the entire journey takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes.