Glasgow with kids

[winetimenow]

We have some time in Glasgow with primary aged kids.
What would you do with them that’s fun and Scottish and not the same as what we could do in southern cities?

Pollock Country Park! there’s an historic house there, with a nice cafe, a good art gallery (the Burrell Collection) but kids will probably just enjoy the park and seeing highland cows!

When are you there? The Barbie exhibition at Kelvingrove is worth a visit. Its on until October.

If you have the time, train out to Wemyss bay (kids travel for £1) and short ferry to Rothesay. That said Kelvingrove /Transport Museums feel distinctly ‘Glasgow’ to me (from the east coast) so good option if time limited.

How old are the kids and how long are you there for? Do you want to stay in glasgow/the city centre?

Tea at the willow tearooms is the first thing that springs to mind that’s not already been mentioned.

Take the train to Largs and take the ferry over to the isle of Cumbrae. You get a bus a mile or so down the road to the only town on the island, Millport, where you can hire bikes and cycle round the island. Great views and it's easy cycling.

How old are the kids and how long are you there?

Thanks everyone :)
kids span the primary range and we have a few days en route elsewhere.

If you’re not from a city with an underground then they may enjoy ‘the clockwork orange’. - Glasgow’s subway system.

If Scotland Street museum is still open, they may well enjoy that. It features school classrooms through the decades. Depending on your age, you may be alarmed/ amused at seeing your own 80s … 70s classroom featured as well as Victorian one etc !

Think the idea above re Pollok park and Highland cows is a good one. An alternative is Kelvingrove art gallery and museum - stunning and easily accessed by underground. Lots to see. Take them to see Dali ‘s St John of the Cross. Or the transport museum or science museum maybe.

I’m not sure what you think of as distinctly Scottish rather than just being in a Scottish city in the U.K.! You might see a bagpipe busker perhaps but that’s more likely in edinburgh!

Sadly the Scotland Street School museum has been closed for many years. Others all good ideas.

I'm not sure what is distinctly Scottish - the more touristy castles / bagpipes / tartan explosions are in Edinburgh etc. Glasgow is more of a proper city. But my son really likes the Science Centre so worth putting on your list.

The transport museum by the river is great and you can also go aboard the Tall Ship Glenlee at the same time. My kids loved it.

Close to Glasgow is a place called GRID, located in Renfrew, which is the next town over. It has loads of things in there like arcades, bowling, pool tables, adventure golf, restaurants etc

https://gridbraehead.com/

If you don’t have a car with you level x in the st enoch centre is very similar without the half hour slog on the bus to breahead

What a shame! Thought twas being refurbished?

Thanks everyone!! Lots to look at :)

Not distinctly Scottish but the Science Centre is great for kids.

If the weather is good this is the absolute best thing to do. Until you have done it, it is impossible to comprehend how easy the journey is and how safe the island for cycling. For added fun you can hire novelty bikes for various group sizes. The scenery as you cycle round the island is stunning.

The science centre is perhaps not particularly Scottish but is a thoroughly enjoyable day out for adults and children of all ages.

The Riverside Museum is great, and free.

Also if you’re considering days out Loch Lomond is very easy to get to on the train.

Get the train from Queen Street to Balloch. And from Balloch it’s a very easy walk to Balloch park which is massive with lovely views over loch lomond, a small castle (unfortunately not open to the public) loads of nice walking routes and a few swing park.

Loch Lomond Shores is a short walk from the station too and has shops and cafes, a steam boat in restoration that you can tour, mini golf, a brilliant dino themed restaurant, a little swing park, a little sea life centre and a again a couple of nice walk and lovely views over the walk. They have little markets on some sundays too.