Activities in Glasgow

If the weather’s playing ball on your Glasgow city break, it’s time to head outdoors. Get an adrenaline rush at a watersports centre, enjoy a round of golf or scream yourself hoarse at a theme park - it’s up to you!

Just one mile from Glasgow city centre, Pinkston Watersports has plenty to offer adrenaline junkies. Scotland's first competition-standard, purpose-built watersports centre sits on the Forth and Clyde Canal and attracts some 25,000 visitors a year. It’s easy to see why - it’s just so much fun! Go as a group or go it alone to try your hand at kayaking, canoeing, whitewater rafting or even wakeboarding.

If it’s not a holiday without some kind of sporting activity, head to the greens at Calderbraes Golf Club. You’ll find this hilly woodland course to the east of the city of Glasgow, and it’s a real challenge, even for experienced golfers. A hidden gem close to the M7, you’ll find the greens in tip top condition, while the panoramic views across Glasgow are the perfect backdrop as you work on your swing.

If golf sounds a bit sedate, what about rollercoasters and water rides? Just 12 miles from the city centre takes you to M&D’s Scotland’s Theme Park, where as well as the outdoor rides, there’s also places to escape to if it rains, such as the glow-in-the-dark indoor bowling or Amazonia, the indoor rainforest complete with exotic animals.

If you love hiking in the great outdoors, a big adventure awaits you on the famous West Highland Way. The route starts just north of Glasgow at Milngavie - just a few minutes’ drive from our Glasgow (Milngavie) hotel - and if you do all 96 miles, you’ll finish up at Gordon Square in Fort William. With great views of Loch Lomond, Ben Lomond, Glencoe and Glen Nevis along the way, you can either camp or stay in hostels. And if carrying your own gear sounds a bit too much like hard work, there are plenty of companies who’ll drive it to your next stop for you. Or, take it easy at Alexandra Park and explore formal gardens, flower beds and lovely open green spaces.

Looking for an adventure the weather can’t spoil? Glasgow has plenty of indoor attractions to thrill and entertain you. From shopping trips to climbing centres, there's something for everyone!

With two major teams playing at Celtic Park and Ibrox Stadium, football has been a huge part of life in Glasgow for around 150 years, so it’s no wonder the city has its own museum dedicated to the beautiful game. The Scottish Football Museum is housed in Hampden Park, the home of the national team, in the south of the city. Packed with displays, memorabilia and action packed activities, you can combine a trip here with a tour of the stadium, too.

Staying at our Premier Inn Glasgow (Paisley) hotel and want to wear the kids out before bed? Head to The Big Adventure where children can jump, slide, spin and climb to their hearts’ content, from as little as £5.50 for the whole day. This huge soft play area is split into different age-restricted zones, and the maximum age is 12.

Fun-loving kids and serious adult climbers alike will be challenged to the max at the Glasgow Climbing Centre. Making full use of the beautiful former church it’s housed in, you can scramble right up to its oak-beamed ceiling, or enjoy a coffee with great views of the original stained glass windows. There are Rock Ratz sessions for kids aged seven to 12, Climbatize sessions for those aged 12 to 17, along with bouldering routes graded from beginner to elite.

If you’re new in town, taking a walking tour is a great way to get your bearings. And, whether you’re a music lover, a foodie or just fancy sampling a wee dram or three, there’s a Glasgow walking tour that will be right up your alley.

If you’re in town to catch a gig, why not take a musical walking tour while you’re here? Glasgow Music City Tours will take you to all the places that have shaped the city’s musical landscape - and tell you some brilliant tales about the biggest characters in the music scene.

Get a taste of authentic flavours and soak up some history at the same time, on a foodie’s tour of the city. Meeting at Central Station, Eat Walk Glasgow stops off at five historical buildings that also happen to house some of the city’s finest bars and restaurants.

If you fancy turning your walking tour into a bit of a stagger, take a Dramble Tour of Glasgow. Combining two fun activities in one, this five-hour tour takes you to the most historical parts of the city to undergo a rigorous and comprehensive whisky tasting in some of the best bars in Scotland.

With its own public cycle hire scheme, as well as a 300km-long network of cycle paths and canal pathways, Glasgow is fast becoming a biker’s paradise.

If you didn’t bring your own bike, hire one from Nextbikes! With 400 bikes for hire in 43 locations, you can pick one up at any time, day or night. Download the app on your smartphone and you’re good to go - and it only costs £1 for the first 30 minutes. You can even tour the city by bike. Glasgow Bike Tours will get you to all of the town’s most interesting nooks and crannies - places that you just can’t access by car. And pretty much all of it takes place on the flat, on good paths, with little traffic.

If that all sounds a bit too sedate, take your bike and your sense of adventure to Seven Lochs Wetland Park, just outside the city. Here you can cycle the Seven Lochs Trail from either Hogganfield or Drumpellier Country Park, for spectacular views and a huge dose of fresh air and nature.