Region guide
Family days out in Glasgow And Clyde Valley
Scotland's biggest city, with a huge run of free museums and a green belt just outside it.
Glasgow has more free family attractions than anywhere else in Scotland — Kelvingrove, the Riverside Museum, the Science Centre and the Botanic Gardens are all no-cost days out, which makes it an easy place to fill a week without the budget taking a hit.
Just outside the city, the Clyde Valley softens into orchards, gorges and New Lanark's restored mill village — a genuinely different pace from the city centre twenty minutes up the road.
Read our guide: Free days out in Glasgow with kids
Loading map...
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Large free museum in Glasgow with natural history, art collections, and interactive exhibits for families.
Museum
Riverside Museum
Award-winning transport museum on the River Clyde with historic vehicles, trains and interactive displays.
Museum
Glasgow Science Centre
Interactive science exhibits, IMAX cinema, planetarium, and live shows suitable for kids and adults.
Nature
Pollok Country Park
Glasgow’s largest park featuring woodland walks, Highland cattle, playgrounds and Pollok House.
Park
Tollcross Park
Large Glasgow park with gardens, a children's farm, and playground.
Attraction
SEA LIFE Loch Lomond
Aquarium attraction featuring sharks, rays and interactive displays located at Loch Lomond Shores.
Playpark
WonderWorld Soft Play Glasgow
Indoor soft play centre in Kinning Park, Glasgow with slides, climbing frames, and party rooms.
Playpark
Krazy Kongo Soft Play
Indoor soft play venue in Glasgow offering climbing frames, slides, and toddler areas.
Activity
Flip Out Trampoline Park Glasgow
Large indoor trampoline and adventure park with foam pits, ninja courses and family activities.
Playpark
Bounce and Tag Active East Kilbride
Indoor play centre with trampolines, climbing, and soft play areas, ideal for birthday parties.
Playpark
Adventure Planet Soft Play
Indoor soft play centre in Cumbernauld offering climbing frames, slides, and areas for younger children.
Indoor Play
The Playbarn Soft Play
Large indoor play barn with slides and ball pits.
Play Cafe
Cafe Ceramico Play Cafe
Play cafe in East Kilbride where children can enjoy soft play and pottery painting while parents relax with coffee.
Indoor Play
Air Thrill Trampoline Park
Indoor trampoline and ninja course centre popular with families.
Park
Victoria Park Glasgow
Family park with fossil grove, play park and gardens.
Park
Strathclyde Country Park
Large park with loch walks, cycling paths and adventure playgrounds.
Farm
Bardowie Miniature Farm
Small farm with animals and outdoor play area for families.
Attraction
Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre
Wildlife attraction featuring owls, hawks and falconry demonstrations.
Museum
The Riverside Museum
Transport and technology museum with interactive exhibits and hands-on activities for kids.
Playpark
Kelvingrove Park Playground
Spacious outdoor playground with swings, slides, climbing structures and picnic areas in Glasgow.
Playpark
Scotland Street Museum Play Area
Creative play space for younger children, with interactive and educational play elements.
Playpark
Drumpellier Country Park Playground
Outdoor play area with climbing frames and swings, set within scenic country park, North Lanarkshire.
Playpark
Chunky Monkey Soft Play
Indoor adventure play area with slides, ball pits, and climbing frames, great for rainy days.
Playpark
Kelvingrove Park Play Area
Large playground in Kelvingrove Park with climbing frames, swings and slides near the River Kelvin and Kelvingrove Museum.
Playpark
Pollok Country Park Play Area
Playground within Glasgow's largest park, featuring climbing structures and woodland surroundings.
Playpark
Rouken Glen Park Playpark
Popular family playground within Rouken Glen Park featuring climbing structures, swings and a boating pond nearby.
Playpark
Glasgow Green Playpark
Large children's play area within Glasgow Green close to the People's Palace and riverside paths.
Playpark
Strathclyde Country Park Play Area
Adventure playground within Strathclyde Country Park beside the loch with wide open space and walking paths.
Playpark
Mugdock Country Park Play Area
Woodland adventure playground in Mugdock Country Park near Milngavie with trails and wildlife.
Playpark
Loch Lomond Shores Playpark
Play area beside Loch Lomond Shores shopping and visitor centre overlooking the loch.
Park
The Kelpies & Helix Park
Large public park featuring the iconic Kelpies horse-head sculptures, playgrounds, cycling routes and lagoon walks.
Attraction
The Falkirk Wheel
Unique rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.
Playpark
Callendar Park Play Area
Large playground beside Callendar House in Falkirk Park with woodland walks nearby.
Museum
Glasgow Museums Resource Centre
Large museum storage facility offering behind-the-scenes tours of Glasgow's collections.
Attraction
Lamont City Farm
Community farm in Erskine with animals, play areas and family-friendly events.
Activity
Lanark Equestrian Centre
Horse riding centre offering lessons, pony experiences and equestrian events.
Nature
Linn Caves Baldernock
Small cave system and woodland walk near Baldernock popular for exploring and nature walks.
Playpark
Linn Park Playground
Children's playground within Linn Park beside woodland trails and the White Cart Water.
Museum
St Mungo's Museum of Religious Life and Art
Museum exploring religion and culture located beside Glasgow Cathedral.
Playpark
Tollcross Park and Children's Farm
Large park in Glasgow with play areas, gardens and a small children's farm with animals.
Playpark
House for an Art Lover Playpark
Modern adventure playground located within Bellahouston Park near House for an Art Lover.
Activity
Jakks Soft Play
Indoor soft play centre with slides, climbing frames and toddler areas.
Park
James Hamilton Heritage Park
Country park with large loch, beach area, watersports and playground in East Kilbride.
Nature
RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve
Nature reserve with wildlife trails, bird hides and family learning activities.
Museum
New Lanark World Heritage Site
Historic mill village and UNESCO site with visitor centre, museum and scenic river walks.
Playpark
Glasgow Green Play Village
Large themed wooden adventure playpark within Glasgow Green featuring towers, climbing structures and slides.
Nature
Greenbank Garden
National Trust garden in Clarkston with woodland walks and family-friendly outdoor space.
Museum
The Hunterian Museum
Museum within the University of Glasgow featuring natural history, science and archaeology exhibits.
Playpark
Kelvingrove Park Playpark
Play area within Kelvingrove Park near the River Kelvin and Kelvingrove Museum.
Garden
Kibble Palace
Victorian glasshouse within Glasgow Botanic Gardens filled with tropical plants and sculptures.
Attraction
M&Ds Scotland's Theme Park
Large theme park with rides, bowling, arcade and indoor rainforest attraction.
Nature
Milngavie Reservoir Walk
Scenic reservoir walk at the start of the West Highland Way.
Nature
Mugdock Country Park
Large regional park with woodland walks, castles, playparks and visitor centre.
Playpark
Strathclyde Country Park Playpark
Large playpark beside Strathclyde Loch with walking and cycling routes.
Park
Chatelherault Country Park
Former hunting lodge above the Avon Gorge with woodland trails, adventure playground and Cadzow oaks.
Nature
Baron's Haugh RSPB Nature Reserve
Wetland reserve on the River Clyde in Motherwell with hides for watching wildfowl and waders.
Zoo
Calderglen Country Park
Four-star East Kilbride attraction with a children's zoo, tropical glasshouse and adventure play area.
Castle
Craignethan Castle
Ruined artillery fortification above the River Nethan, one of the last castles built in Scotland.
Nature
Falls of Clyde
Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve above New Lanark with waterfalls, gorge walks and nesting peregrines.
Attraction
Biggar Puppet Theatre
Victorian-style puppet theatre showing marionette performances year-round.
Museum
Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life
Free open-air industrial museum in Coatbridge with a working tram ride and reconstructed miners' cottages.
Park
Dalzell Country Estate
Woodland estate on the River Clyde in Motherwell with walking trails and an arboretum.
Garden
Colzium Estate
Walled garden, ice house and castle ruin set in parkland on the edge of Kilsyth.
Park
Palacerigg Country Park
Large Cumbernauld country park with native wildlife enclosures and waymarked woodland trails.
Nature
Cumbernauld Glen
Scottish Wildlife Trust ancient woodland reserve with easy family walking trails.
Historic
Hamilton Mausoleum
Grand 19th-century mausoleum famous for having the longest echo of any man-made structure in Europe.
Park
Strathaven Park
John Hastie Park in the centre of Strathaven with a boating pond, play area and putting green.
Historic
Strathaven Castle
Ruined 15th-century castle overlooking the Powmillon Burn in Strathaven.
Nature
Tinto Hill
Popular family hill walk near Symington with sweeping views from the summit cairn.
Castle
Bothwell Castle
One of Scotland's largest and finest medieval castles, set above a bend in the River Clyde.
Museum
David Livingstone Birthplace
National Trust for Scotland museum in Blantyre telling the story of the explorer's life and travels in Africa.
Nature
Mauldslie Woods
Riverside woodland near Carluke with waymarked paths along the Clyde.
Activity
Hillend Reservoir
Reservoir near Shotts used for sailing, paddleboarding and lochside walks.
Historic
Roman Bathhouse, Bothwellhaugh
Free-to-visit remains of a Roman bathhouse within Strathclyde Country Park.
Park
Lanark Loch
Loch-side recreation ground with fishing, pitch and putt and a play area.
Museum
Motherwell Heritage Centre
Free local history museum tracing Motherwell's steel and industrial heritage.
Garden
Carfin Grotto
Peaceful pilgrimage gardens near Motherwell with lakes, shrines and picnic space.
Farm
Culter Allers Farm
Working farm near Biggar with animals to meet and farm trails to explore.
Park
Cathkin Braes Country Park
Hilltop country park on the edge of Glasgow with mountain bike trails and panoramic views.
Museum
Low Parks Museum
Family-friendly Hamilton museum tracing South Lanarkshire's history, housed in a former almshouse.
Activity
Auchinstarry Quarry
Flooded former quarry near Kilsyth popular for paddleboarding and open-water swimming.
Nature
Seven Lochs Wetland Park
Scotland's largest urban nature park, spanning lochs and wetlands on the Lanarkshire-Glasgow boundary.
Nature
Happendon Wood
Forestry Scotland woodland near Douglas with gentle family walking trails.
Nature
Clyde Valley Woodlands, Corehouse
National Nature Reserve of ancient gorge woodland above the Falls of Clyde.
Activity
Wiston Lodge Outdoor Centre
Outdoor activity and education centre near Biggar offering family activity days.
Farm
National Museum of Rural Life
Working 1950s farm near East Kilbride with livestock, tractor rides and farmhouse displays.
Park
Cleland Country Park
Small country park with a loch, woodland walks and a play area near Motherwell.
Activity
Dollan Aqua Centre
Landmark East Kilbride leisure centre with swimming pools and flumes under its distinctive dome.
Park
Cuningar Loop Woodland Park
Riverside woodland park in Rutherglen with trails, a bike track and a beach on the Clyde.
Historic
Bothwell Bridge
Site of the 1679 Battle of Bothwell Bridge, marked on the bridge over the River Clyde.
Activity
Strathclyde Park Watersports Centre
National watersports centre on Strathclyde Loch offering sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding.
Activity
The Time Capsule
Scotland's ice rink and waterpark, with flumes, a wave pool and an on-site gym.
Attraction
Discover Amazonia
Scotland's only indoor tropical rainforest, part of M&D's Scotland's Theme Park at Strathclyde Park.
Farm
Bardykes Farm
Working farm near Blantyre with weekend open days and outdoor farm birthday parties.
Farm
Clyde Valley Family Park
Farm-themed family park near Crossford with Highland cows, pedal go-karts and crazy golf.
Activity
TeamSport Go Karting Cambuslang
Indoor go-karting track in Cambuslang with sessions for junior and adult drivers.
Activity
Topgolf Glasgow
Multi-level, heated golf driving range and games venue in Rutherglen.
Play Cafe
Valley View at Gouldings
Family-run venue near Rosebank with a restaurant, outdoor adventure park and soft play.
Indoor Play
Wonder World Soft Play, East Kilbride
Indoor soft play centre with slides, a climbing wall, ball pools and go-karts.
Park
Biggar Park
Town park with putting, bowling, pedalos and bumper boats on the pond, plus a children's play area.
Park
Drumpellier Country Park
Coatbridge country park with a loch, visitor centre, café and wildlife displays.
Activity
Colzium Snowsports Centre
Dry ski slope on the Colzium Estate near Kilsyth, offering skiing and snowboarding lessons.
Historic
Cadzow Castle
Ruined castle within Chatelherault Country Park, reached by a woodland walk past ancient oaks.
Nature
Broadwood Loch
Local nature spot in Cumbernauld popular for fishing and an easy circular walk.
Park
Bellahouston Park
Large Glasgow park with woodland, a walled garden and play areas, home to the House for an Art Lover.
Nature
Bishopbriggs Park Fairy Trail
Woodland fairy trail with carved doors and figures hidden along the paths in Bishopbriggs park.
Museum
The Burrell Collection
World-class free museum in Pollok Park, housing Sir William Burrell's remarkable collection of art and artefacts.
Farm
Carmichael Estate
Working estate near Biggar with farm shop, walking trails and seasonal events on open farmland.
Museum
Coats Observatory
Free Victorian observatory and museum in Paisley, with telescopes, weather instruments and space exhibits.
Museum
The Hunterian Art Gallery
Free art gallery within the University of Glasgow, with works by Whistler and the Mackintosh House recreation.
Nature
Kilmardinny Loch
Small loch in Bearsden with an easy circular path, popular for wildlife spotting and a Gruffalo-themed trail.
Museum
People's Palace and Winter Gardens
Free museum on Glasgow Green telling the story of the city, attached to a tropical Winter Gardens glasshouse.
Park
Queen's Park and Glasshouse
Large south-side Glasgow park with a flagpole viewpoint, glasshouse, pond and playgrounds.
Museum
Gallery of Modern Art
Free contemporary art gallery in the centre of Glasgow, best known for the traffic-coned Duke of Wellington statue outside.
Museum
The Lighthouse
Free design and architecture centre in a Charles Rennie Mackintosh building, with a viewing gallery over Glasgow.
Nature
The Children's Wood
Community-run woodland in Glasgow's West End with natural play, a pond and a busy programme of free events.
Nature
Whitelee Wind Farm
Visitor centre and free walking and cycling trails around Europe's largest onshore wind farm, near Eaglesham.
Castle
Dumbarton Castle
Castle on a dramatic volcanic rock above the Clyde, with one of the longest recorded histories of any fortification in Britain.
Castle
Newark Castle
Well-preserved 15th and 16th-century castle on the Clyde shore at Port Glasgow, free to explore.
Museum
Scottish Football Museum
Museum inside Hampden Park telling the story of Scottish football, with the chance to combine it with a stadium tour.
Activity
Snow Factor
Indoor real-snow slope at Braehead offering skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing year-round.
Activity
Aquatec Motherwell
Motherwell leisure centre with swimming pools, flumes and a wave machine.
Garden
Finlaystone Estate
Historic estate near Langbank with woodland trails, a play area and gardens overlooking the Clyde.
Attraction
Duncarron Medieval Village
Reconstructed medieval village in the Carron Valley, with costumed interpreters and hands-on activities.
Activity
Ravenscraig Activity Centre
Outdoor and water-based activity centre in Greenock, offering sailing, kayaking and team activities.
Attraction
Waverley Paddle Steamer
The world's last seagoing paddle steamer, running scenic cruises on the Clyde and beyond from Glasgow.
Attraction
Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre
Unique kinetic sculpture theatre in Glasgow's Trongate, with moving mechanical figures set to music and light.
Activity
Jurassic Adventure Golf
Dinosaur-themed indoor adventure golf course at World of Golf in Clydebank.
Activity
Gourock Outdoor Pool
Heated outdoor saltwater pool on the Clyde at Gourock, one of the last of its kind in Scotland.
Activity
Rock 'n' Roller Skating Rink
Indoor roller skating rink in Cumbernauld, with skate hire and sessions for a range of ages.
Indoor Play
DinoM8
Dinosaur-themed indoor soft play centre in Airdrie, with slides, climbing frames and a prehistoric theme throughout.