Glasgow things to do

[Upsidedownfrown]

Wasnt sure whether to put this here or in travel!

In summer I'm going to have 2 days to mooch around in Glasgow. Well, I would love to just mooch but my children are not so good at mooching without any sort of purpose. Does anyone have any recommendations for things to do in or near city centre which are just short and sweet things to break up their day? I've already thought of things like miniature golf, imax but would like other recommendations along these lines. Nothing that'll take half a day and I think we've exhausted their enthusiasm for most of the museums.

Kids are 13, 12 and 10. 13yo very much at the point where nothing I suggest is cool or fun so would especially love to do a couple of things that aren't totally lame (though I suspect it could be the coolest thing in the world and it'd still be lame if it was me who suggested it). Thanks!

I guess it depends what they are into. At that age mine loved a mooch round a big comic shop in the city or a guitar shop or a trip to waterstones and anywhere that serves food.

Would they be interested in doing parts of the street art trail? Some of the murals are pretty cool.
www.citycentremuraltrail.co.uk/

@WaxOnFeckOff

I guess it depends what they are into. At that age mine loved a mooch round a big comic shop in the city or a guitar shop or a trip to waterstones and anywhere that serves food.

12 yo would spend all day in Waterstones if I let her! Comic store sounds good! Will have a look. The 3 of them are so different so it's hard to find something that all 3 would be enthusiastic about.

Can you recommend any good icecream/dessert places? The type that does huge sundaes with loads of toppings. I found a few but value word of mouth more than my quick googles

[quote WonkyCactus]Would they be interested in doing parts of the street art trail? Some of the murals are pretty cool.
www.citycentremuraltrail.co.uk/[/quote]
Great idea! Hope for some nice weather for it. Or even just not raining would be fine!

I don't live in Glasgow but sure some locals will be along soon, hope you have a fab time.

I had 2 close in age with a reasonable cross over in interest. They just had to compromise so that they each got time in their favourite place and then together in places they both liked.

Nardinis in the west end for ice cream, get the subway to hillhead and it’s just there.

@Selkiesarereal

Nardinis in the west end for ice cream, get the subway to hillhead and it’s just there.

Nardinis closed down sadly.

Scotland Street school museum showing schoolrooms through the ages. There’s also the Willow tearoom cafe in the museum with glass counters over sweets.
If you like art or even if you would be happy just to see something amazing as a once off - go to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and show them Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross. Truly amazing.
Close by there’s also the Transport Museum which is great ... all assuming Covid allows of course.

You can get to these by taking the clockwork Orange ( Glasgow’s tiny underground system with orange trains).
The Hunterian Museum at the University used to have a good Mummy collection. Close enough to Kelvingrove and Transport Museum to do all 3.

Nardinis closed at the start of 2019.
Loop and Scoop on Great Western Road is the place to go for fab deserts which the kids (and adults!) will love.

For things to do, Kelvingrove Museum, Science Centre, Transport Museum and the Hunterian museum are all worth visiting. The mural trail, as someone else suggested, would be good to do if it is a nice day.

Oh no, just shows you how long it’s been since I hit the west end with the kids.

Just remembered that the anatomy museum is up the west end which is quite interesting but maybe not open to visitors and should be researched before going to as there are some exhibits that can be upsetting.

Great suggestions, thanks everyone.a. searching and bookmarking.

That anatomy museum looks so horrendously interesting. I really want to make an appointment to go but my youngest is a sensitive things and would be having nightmares for weeks. Might have to wait for dh to catch up with me in Glasgow so I can go on my own. It looks amazing!

I was going to suggest loop and scoop for the ice cream vibe.

Green spaces like Botanic Gardens and Victoria Park out in the west end are both good if you get good weather.

Axe throwing might be available by the time you're here?? secretglasgow.com/boom-battle-bar-glasgow/

In the high st area (confusingly about a 20 min walk from current high st or overground train) there is the necropolis and cathedral.

In the southside two major parks if nice weather (Queens and Pollok). Ginesis beside queens park does great ice cream. Get to the Southside by overground train or clockwork orange + a walk.

In the west end, loop n scoop for ice cream, kelvingrove park and the botanical gardens, museums as above, the university main buildings are lovely to walk about in. Get to the west end by clockwork orange.

If open, in finneston (near west end) you have the science centre, and can look at the hydro, the finneston crane, bbc building, all the bridges. On a nice day it's nice to walk the few miles down to glasgow green. Glasgow green has a glasshouse but sadly closed atm. Get to finneston usually by walking from west end or city centre, but theres also an.overground train station.

Best eateries are to be found in west end, finneston and the southside. Teens would also like west brewery at Glasgow green - pretty building and does burgers etc.

Ice cream - Loop and Scoop on Great Western Road or Big Licks in Finnieston. Both amazing.

Kelvingrove is excellent

Glasgow science centre

Are they into bikes? At Glasgow green next to the adventure park there is a small track where you can try out different types of bikes. I think it is called freewheel. Science centre is good as are the other museums mentioned.

Look up Platform Glasgow on Instagram, it’s a street food place underneath Glasgow Central station and it’s a tiny bit wanky BUT super cheap and lovely food to feed a family. And there’s a Waterstones on Argyll street about four mins away.

And the gallery of modern art on Queen street is free and always has something worth talking about, even if you hate modern art. They had a fantastic Andy Warhol exhibition a couple of years ago. And there’s a comic book shop across the road that has absolutely everything you could imagine, if they’re into that.

Also Princess Square just off Buchanan street has a Vivienne Westwood and a SpaceNK if you’re looking to take them to somewhere Instagramable!

Everyman Cinema (if open by then)

Thank you so much for all of the ideas. You're a helpful bunch. Going to sit them down and have each of them choose one thing they def want to do to try to keep them all at least a tiny bit happy! My choice is loop & scoop seeing as everyone else seems to rate it

If the weather is bad and they arent into culture/museum activities, then head to Soar at Braehead, theres an indoor ski slope, good adventure golf, climbing and high wire activities, a trampoline park, virtual reality, bowling etc, and loads of places to eat.

Theres also a young driver place where they can get a driving lesson - my 13 year old did it and absolutely loved it!

Try Stack and Still for a sweet treat, its a pancake place with loads of combinations, the kids will love it.

Apparently the cool place for young teens to eat is the Koko Japanese pancake place in the West End! 😃