Guides

Things to do in Glasgow: art, museums and parks

Things to do in Glasgow: West End art and plants, Clyde transport history and a museum-and-park day, with official links.

Glasgow gives you plenty of ways to mix art with time outdoors. Start with the West End's museum and living plant collections, follow transport history to the Clyde, or give Pollok Country Park and the Burrell Collection a day of their own. Here are six places worth your time, with a few practical details to help you choose.

1. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Kelvingrove is a good place to start if you like a museum that lets you change direction. Spend time with the art, then explore the wider collections rather than trying to see everything in order. The building also has a working concert organ, with daily recitals adding another reason to pause.

Good to know

  • Entry is free; check current exhibition information on Glasgow Life before visiting.
  • Download the floor plan to pick out the galleries you most want to see.
  • Check the daily organ recital time if you want to build it into your visit.

2. Glasgow Botanic Gardens

Come here for plants rather than another gallery. The collections extend from temperate and tropical glasshouses to outdoor trees and landscaped grounds along the River Kelvin. You can make it a plant-focused visit or simply take a slower walk through the gardens.

Good to know

  • Check the council visitor page for current grounds and glasshouse opening times; plan those parts separately.
  • If a particular glasshouse is your main reason for coming, confirm access before setting out.
  • Wear shoes suited to an outdoor walk if you want to explore beyond the glasshouses.

3. Riverside Museum

Riverside tells Glasgow's story through transport and technology. Its setting beside the Clyde makes it a useful change from the West End's art and gardens. Pick a transport theme that interests you and follow it through the displays, rather than treating the visit as a vehicle checklist.

Good to know

  • Museum entry is free.
  • Use the official visitor page to check opening times and the current programme before going.
  • The museum offers downloadable trails, including one about transport and the environment.

4. The Burrell Collection

The Burrell brings together art and objects collected by Sir William Burrell and his family. Interactive displays help you look beyond the objects to the people and stories behind the collection. Its Pollok Country Park setting makes this a good outing when you want both a museum and some fresh air.

Good to know

  • Entry is free; check the official site for current exhibitions and activities.
  • There are interactive and digital displays for exploring the collection at your own pace.
  • Treat the park and museum as one outing, but check the museum hours separately from park access.

5. Pollok Country Park

Pollok is worth visiting for the landscape as well as the collection inside it. Woodland and riverside walks, picnic areas and Highland cattle give you several reasons to spend time outside. Choose a walk first, then add the Burrell if you feel like an indoor stop.

Good to know

  • The park is open at all times, but individual facilities have their own opening hours.
  • Check the council closure notice: work at Pollok House affects nearby paths and gardens, and the stable courtyard is also closed.
  • Use the accessible alternative routes shown in current visitor information rather than planning around Pollok House.

6. Kelvingrove Park

Kelvingrove Park gives you an easy outdoor counterpoint to the museum. It follows the River Kelvin, with the museum and University of Glasgow on opposite sides. There are also two play parks and a skatepark, so a family outing need not be entirely about galleries.

Good to know

  • Pair it with Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum rather than planning a separate cross-city trip.
  • Use the Visit Glasgow park guide to locate the play areas and decide which part to explore.
  • Keep the walk flexible and return to the museum if the weather turns.

Quick tips

  • A simple West End day: Kelvingrove first, then a walk in the park; save the Botanic Gardens for another stop if you still have energy.
  • Give the Burrell and Pollok Country Park their own outing rather than adding them to a busy museum day.
  • Want company? Check upcoming events in Glasgow on Socroo below and find someone to go with.

Upcoming events

Things to do in Glasgow by season Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow Botanic Gardens Riverside Museum The Burrell Collection Pollok Country Park Visit Glasgow: parks and gardens