Taking a family trip to Glasgow

Now that we can be sure that Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom, why not take a family trip to the most Northern part of the country? There’s plenty to do and see and if it was up to Amy, we’d be on the plane to Glasgow in an instant. You know, she’s been talking about Disney’s 100 Years of Magic, this year’s celebration of the popular ice-skating revue Disney On Ice, ever since the adverts on TV have started and the tour starts in Glasgow next weekend. We went to see the last show for Amy’s birthday earlier this year, but I have to admit that a trip to Glasgow excites me a little more than crossing the Severn.

There’s a direct flight from Bristol to Glasgow and with the HI Glasgow Airport a stone throw away, you’ve got the perfect starting point for your Glaswegian adventure. The centre of Scotland’s largest city is only a 20 minute bus ride away and after asking some friends and reading up on the city, here are the five things I’d love to do when taking a family trip to Glasgow. Things that are not only fun for Amy, but also me:

The Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre

This might not be for you, if puppets creep you out, but if you want to see puppet shows like Hansel and Gretel or fancy letting the puppets dance yourself, then The Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre will be a place you will definitely enjoy. With plenty of workshops from crafting teddy puppets to magic shows or an introduction to Indian shadow puppets, there is something for every interest and age group.

The Glasgow Science Centre

If you are into science and hands-on experiments, then you’ll love the Glasgow Science Centre. It’s situated on the south bank of the River Clyde and hosts over 250 science-learning exhibits, themed around three concepts, being ‘explore and discover’, ‘science in action’ and ‘science and you’ on three floors. Touching, playing and experimenting are strictly allowed, so this is a definitely plus point for everyone who has little ones in tow.

The Scotland Street School Museum

I love history and as Amy is still a little young for the really deep stuff, I thought the Scotland Street School Museum would be a great way to show her how school looked like through the ages. There is a Victorian Classroom, a World War Classroom, a 50s and 60s classroom, and a Cookery Room that has been restored to look as it did when the school first opened in 1906. What’s not to like?

Vikingar

Vikingar, a leisure centre in the beautiful coastal resort of Largs in Ayrshire (about 20 miles outside of Glasgow) has a swimming pool and soft play centre like many other leisure complexes up and down the country. That’s however not, why I would like to visit with Amy. No, the fascinating thing about Vikingar is that you get to experience 500 years of Viking history. Costumed story tellers tell the tales of Vikings in Scotland and you get to meet the Viking Gods and Valkyries in Valhalla when Viking history comes alive.

The Glasgow Spy Mission Treasure Trail

Another interactive experience in Scotlands’s largest city is the Glasgow Spy Mission Treasure Trail, a self-guided walk that let’s you explore the city on your own account and solve a mystery at the same time. You can find clues on sights, historic monuments of famous buildings of the town and once you’ve collected all clues and solved the riddle, you could even win a cash prize. I don’t know, if I can deal with that much excitement!

But now let me know what you think? Have you been to Glasgow before or are you local? What are your tips for a successful family trip to Scotland’s secret capital?

This is a promotional post with images from Glasgow Tumblr, Jean-Pierre Dalbéra and Jean Pierre Belot.