parks/softplay very close to Glasgow airport

[abdnhiker]

Hi, we're flying to Canada from Glasgow next week and we need to drive down from Aberdeen early and check in and we'll then have a couple hours to kill (don't want to be rushing on the road and want to give our boys enough time out of a carseat as possible before they have to sit for 8 hours).

Does anyone know of any parks near Glasgow airport? Or if it's raining is there a softplay anywhere nearby? We're hoping for a 10-20 minute drive from the airport since we'll have already been in the car for three hours.

My boys are 4 and 2 - any other recommendations for things to do in a couple hours near the airport greatly appreciated!!!

Finlayston Country Park here is great about 10 mins from the airport - it is on the M8/A8 west of the aiport. It is a private estate and you will have to pay to get in but your boys will love it. In the woods they have built lots of play structures out of wood - a pirate ship, full size tram (with helter skelter slide) etc. Obviously as this is Scotland and they are outside all year they are a bit weathered. You could easily fill 3 hours there so might be a bit of a rush for you.

My boys love Big Adventure soft play near Paisley here very very close to airport (less than 5 mins). It is very reasonably priced. Might be a better bet, as you are very close to the airport, doesn't matter if it rains, and they will be really really knackered!!

You also can't beat a trip to Ikea - lots of space if it is raining and you can feed them very cheaply and kids seem to love it!

Not really an area I know well abdn, but will give you a wee bump anyway! What time is your flight? The M8 is brutal in rush hour. You might be best for looking for somewhere around Paisley or Erskine but be wary if you'll be in the car during rush hour.

You didn't need my bump after all!

Xscape is only 5 minutes from the airport - and would be fab for the boys.

Soft play - here, sledging, amusements, crazy golf, tbh its jsut a nice place to wander round - there is always something going on. Lots of places to eat/get coffee too.

Our flights at 1:40pm - but the check in opens at 9@40 am which is sort of what we're aiming for. I know that this could mean a lot of traffic - but hopefully people will want to be at work early that day.

thanks so much for these options! This is really helpful.

I was going to recommend the one at xscape too - easy to park and also reasonable food if you need to eat while you're there. The soft play isn't particularly cheap, and they charge £1 for each adult too, but it's very new and nice and clean.

Outside wise I've still to try Finlayston, but someone recommended it to me recently.

oh - has anyone got an opinion on this soft play in Linwood? www.thebigadventure.com/directions.html. It's in an easier direction from the airport (ie not back into the city, simpler to get to when you don't know the way). Is it decent?

I'm put off a bit by the cost at xscape since we'll only have an hour or so - but the boys will need to run before we get on a plane..

The traffic is lighter coming into Glasgow at the moment due to the holidays, but there are a lots of road works on the road south so be prepared. Last week there were road works between Dundee and Perth and the biggie 40mp average speed camera one south of Stirling to practically Glasgow that goes on for AGES. There are also road works on the M8 just after the Kingston bridge heading to the airport. Some of these might be finished by then - it is worth checking. Prepare the boys it could take a long time! Not your usual 2 1/2hrs at all at the moment - and don't stop anywhere on the way down - always my moto!!

Good luck!

that is the one I linked too - not actually been myself but my childminer (who is fussy!) sometimes takes my boys there are a treat - they came back raving about it last week - they are 4 & 2

oops - just noticed that scotgirl linked to the one I asked about! Thank you!!! Too much googling can be bad for mental processes...

and thank you for the warning about roadworks! It's good to be prepared for it!

Abdn we drove down from inverness a couple of weeks ago, and I second everything that Scotgirl says, particularly the 40mph average speed camera at Stirling - A wise person said to me once there are only 3 things in life that are certain, Taxes, death and roadworks on the road to Stirling. Takes a good half an hour longer than usual I'd reckon, but lots of interesting machinery to look at out of the window for the boys! Also beware the speed cameras in moodiesburn, there are 3 30mph ones that take the uninitiated by suprise!

The Big Adventure at Linwood is 5 mins from the airport, and the kids would probably love it. You can get a decent cup of coffee in it and it's not as ££ as Monkey Bizness at XScape, but as Monkey Bizness has just opened, it's not quite as nice.