MummyTravels’ guide to Glasgow with kids

Despite growing up in the UK and multiple visits to Edinburgh, it took the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to inspire my first trip there for years – and to discover all the things for kids in Glasgow.

Because as one of the UK’s largest cities, there’s plenty for children on a Glasgow city break as well as to entertain adults.

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Even if you’ve lived in the UK your whole life, it’s a city which still has the power to surprise – get planning a city break with my guide to Glasgow with kids.

Glasgow with kids: Getting there/around

Glasgow has two train stations: if you’re travelling from London Euston to Glasgow, the fast west coast route runs into Glasgow Central.

Glasgow Queen Street Station links to the Highlands and Scottish East coast, while you can also easily take day trips out to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, plus Edinburgh and Oban if you want to explore further.

The city also has two airports. Glasgow International is the closest to the city centre, as well as Glasgow Prestwick (around an hour away from central Glasgow on the train) if you’d rather fly in.

Glasgow’s city centre is very walkable, but also has a good public transport network – be aware that drivers may limit the number of buggies to one per bus (we were turned away as one family was already on board).

You can use contactless cards to pay and buy tickets using the First Bus app but otherwise you’ll need the right change for buses. Single fares start from £1.65, although you should be able to overpay if you are using cash and don’t have the exact amount, and there are day tickets available too.

There’s also a metro system running around the city centre, with fares from £1.55 for an adult.

Where to stay in Glasgow with kids

We checked in to the Grand Central Hotel in the station itself (very handy when arriving late with a toddler) – now called the Voco Grand Central Hotel. Incredibly central for exploring, here’s my review

You can also check out some of the best family-friendly hotels in Glasgow on booking.com or for ideas of companies with the best child-friendly apartments, these some of my favourite websites for apartments for family travel.

What to see in Glasgow with kids

You won’t be short of child-friendly attractions in Glasgow – here are my top things to do in Glasgow with kids, as well as ideas for the best things to see and do in Glasgow with toddlers to start off your city break planning.

Don’t miss a chance to explore Glasgow’s green heart – the botanic gardens are a great place to get outdoors on a sunny day, but there are also glasshouses to step inside, trails and even a wee garden aimed at kids.

My daughter’s favourite thing to do in Glasgow (aka child heaven in a museum) was easily the Glasgow Science Centre. With so many options to get hands on, shows, a planetarium and plenty of ways to get active and creative for all ages, all while learning about the world around us, it’s no surprise we stayed there all day.

With an eclectic mix of displays in its collection, you can find everything from art and temporary exhibitions to natural history at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum  where we met Sir Roger the elephant.

Slightly outside the city centre, kids who love history (or are young enough to tolerate being pushed around under the stained glass for a little while) will also enjoy a quick trip to visiting St Kentigern at Glasgow Cathedral 

Where to eat with kids in Glasgow

As well as the usual UK chains, Martha’s is very child-friendly and has some great healthy options – along with bacon rolls if you prefer [EDIT: Sadly now closed]

And for grown-ups, you can discover one of the grand old mainstays of Glasgow at Rogano’s with some impressive seafood, as well as locally sourced Scottish ingredients in the delicious menu at Café Gandolfi.

Plan your Glasgow city break

For more information, Visit Scotland has tips and information for a city break in Glasgow with kids.

Lonely Planet also has a great Pocket Glasgow city guide for more tips and ideas of things to do in Glasgow, as well as places to eat in Glasgow.

There’s no Glasgow City Pass, but as most of the museums are free, you won’t need one! Visit Scotland has details of specific offers and temporary attraction passes.

The Science Centre offers yearly passports if you’re planning to return, which also let you jump the queue, and you can also find discounted ticktes and tours with Get Your Guide.

*Guide to Glasg with kids first published 2014, updated 2019*

PIN FOR LATER: A GUIDE TO GLASGOW WITH KIDS

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