Parent Resources

Our three campuses are located close to a variety of spaces and venues that can be enjoyed by families.

We've pulled together a handy resource for parents which shows details of just some of the family friendly activities taking place around the city.

Activities and Events

Glasgow is known as the 'Dear Green Place' and is home to over 90 parks and gardens. These provide some great spaces to explore, relax and enjoy close to our campuses.

Anniesland campus is near to the Botanic Gardens and has a range of woodland and river walks, as well as being home to the Kibble Palace which features plants from around the world.

Cardonald campus is close to both Pollok Country Park, Glasgow's largest green space, with many walks and the opportunity to see Highland Cows, and to visit the Burrell Collection. Bellahouston Park is also close to Cardonald campus, with a range of walks, plus the House of an Art Lover..

Langside campus is close to Queen's Park, which features an amphitheatre which hosts events in the summer, as well as a great view point to see the city.

Find out more about Glasgow's parks and gardens.

Other activities include:

Playgym - £4 for 1 adult and 1 child

What kid doesn’t like playing and jumping and running about on all the gymnastics equipment they can see? That’s essentially what Playgym is. It’s only for pre-schoolers (babies & toddlers too) and is on in Kelvin Hall and the Palace of Art. Check whichever one you’re going to for days and times of sessions.

Visit the Glasgow Life website

Play on Pedals - FREE
Free cycling sessions for kids learning to cycle. Play On Pedals Facebook page

Swimming at Glasgow Life venues - £2 each for child, £4 for accompanying adult

Swimming is a great way to let children expend some energy. There are pools at Bellahouston, Gorbals, Tollcross and Scotstoun. If your kids are 8 or over and can swim, they can go swimming without you in the pool with them. If not, you need to accompany them.

Visit the Glasgow Life swimming website

Merry Go Round Events - Free / Some Payable

Merry Go Round have a variety of events that are hosted in an events space located in their shop. Some groups are hosted by Merry-go-round and are free to attend, others are run by private hosts and require booking in advance. Information on how to book for these classes can be found below. Merry Go Round Events

Geocaching App – FREE

Geocaching is a treasure hunting game where you use a GPS to hide and seek containers, download the app to start hunting.

Queens Park Arena Events

A range of events are put on in the amphitheatre at Queen's Park Queens Park Arena - Open air cinema, live music & more.

Park Lane Market - Park Lane Market is a pop-up market held on the first and last Sunday of each month in Shawlands, featuring a range of boutique stalls! Park Lane Market at Park Lane Market, Glasgow South Side | What's On Glasgow (whatsonglasgow.co.uk)

Books at the Botanics - Glasgow's Book Fair, Books at the Botanics, is held every month in the Hopkirk building at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens! Books at the Botanics at Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Glasgow West End | What's On Glasgow (whatsonglasgow.co.uk)

Junior Park Runs – FREE
2km runs for kids take place at Elder Park, Springburn Park and Victoria Park on Sundays. Find out more about Junior Park Runs

Smart Gym CIC – Child friendly gym with creche and activities for bigger kids. £22 per month for 1 adult and 1 child. Based within the Wedge Building near Silverburn.

Smart Gym CIC: The family and budget friendly gym - Glasgow With Kids

Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust - £6 adult / £4 child
The Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust opens its Bridgeton Bus Garage to the public on selected Sundays throughout the year! Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Open Sundays at Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust, Glasgow East End

Flip Out - £5.50 each for child and £2 for accompanying adult

During the week Flip Out run ‘Stay and Play’ sessions for toddlers and pre-schoolers. A child and their adult get entry for £7.50 total anytime between 10am and 3pm on weekdays during term time. Stay and Play times are reduced during school holidays. Visit the Flip Out website

Inflatanation - £5 each for child and accompanying adult

Inflatanation in Kinning Park is a huge indoor inflatable play area with ball pits and slides. On weekdays at 11am (during term time) kids aged 0-5 can get the run of the place for £5, including entry for one adult. Visit the Inflatanation website

Museums and Libraries

Glasgow is home to many museums, most of which are free to enter. Find out more about Glasgow's museums.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum – FREE

Riverside Museum - FREE

The Tall Ship – FREE (Opens May 2025)

Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) - FREE

Glasgow’s museums have a programme of FREE events taking place at weekends and during school holidays for kids aged 5-12. They take place in Kelvingrove, the Burrell Collection, GoMA, St Mungo & Riverside with different activities at each location. They are all hands-on fun sessions and mostly drop in. You can see what’s on via the link below (click on the button on the website to download a pdf with all the info in it.)

Visit the Glasgow Museums events website

Mini Museum Explorers at Kelvingrove, the Burrell Collection, GoMA & Riverside - FREE

Mini Museum Explorers is a group for pre-school kids children in various museums around Glasgow. They take place once a month in each location. They are fun sessions with a mix of free play and structured activities to enjoy with parents/carers.

Visit the Glasgow Museums events website

Libraries

Aside from being a great place to develop a love of reading, Glasgow's libraries are community spaces with loads of activities going on, including Bookbug sessions and craft sessions. There are local libraries close to each of our campuses at Anniesland, Cardonald (temporarily closed) and Langside. Find out more about Glasgow's libraries here.

Arts, Crafts and Music

Make Do and Grow - FREE

Arts and crafts sessions for kids aged 3+ with different activities each week. On specific times at the weekend and on Wednesdays. Check their Facebook page for up to date information. Visit the Make Do and Grow website

GoMA Saturday Art Club - FREE

The Saturday sessions are on weekly from 10.30am – 12.30pm. Each week has a different theme and could involve painting, sculpture, collage, printing, drawing… Anything! Sessions are for kids ages 5-12. Must be booked in advance. Visit the GoMA website

Art for Baby @ The Burrell - FREE

These informal workshops are on Thursday every 2 weeks at 11am. Each month has a different theme and will involve making some easy projects for or with your baby to take away. There are sensory toys and books available, so you can make and chat while entertaining, soothing or feeding your babies. Sessions are for parents with babies 0 – 18M. Sessions must be booked in advance. (will run until 26 June 2025)

Visit the Glasgow Life website

Saturday Art Club at Platform - FREE

The Saturday Art Club is aimed at primary school aged kids (5-11 yrs). It’s on weekly during term time at 11am. Sessions should be booked in advance.

Also, if you’ve never heard of Platform you should definitely check out their website to see what’s on. This arts centre in the East End has loads of activities for kids (and adults) of all ages, plus a whole programme of arts shows and events throughout the year. Visit the Platform website

Exhibitions at Tramway - FREE

Tramway has different exhibitions on throughout the year, some of which are pretty spectacular. You might not spend lots of time here but we’ve seen a couple of exhibitions over the years that the kids have loved. The Hidden Gardens are out the back door here too if it isn’t pouring with rain and you fancy and indoor/outdoor day!

Find out what’s on via the Tramway website

Science and Wildlife

Whitelee STEM Club - FREE

Whitelee STEM Club provides FREE science-based workshops aimed at children in P4-P7. They run every Saturday at 2pm in the visitor centre, teaching a range of topics such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. Workshops last between 30mins to an hour. Visit the Whitelee website

Bookbug - FREE

These are free, pop-in, song and story sessions in your local library, aimed at under 5’s. They last about 30 minutes and are usually on once a week. They are on in pretty much every library around Glasgow. Ask in your local library for more information.

Visit the Glasgow Life website