Don’t let the rain spoil your holiday in Glasgow. Here are the best things to do indoors.
For years I (a Glaswegian) told everyone that Edinburgh was better than my home city (as much as it pained me to say).
What did Glasgow have to offer tourists? Sure, Edinburgh has larger museums and attractions, but it doesn’t mean Glasgow isn’t worth at least a day in your trip to Scotland. Just be prepared and have a back up itinerary if it starts to rain, which is likely. I should know. I pretty much spent 23 years living in my waterproof jacket.
And as Billy Connolly once joked…
“There are two seasons in Scotland: June and Winter”
Here is my list of the best fun things to do in Glasgow for adults and families alike.
Golf Fang
Where to play mini golf
We’ve played a few mini golf courses in London, but Golf Fang is on a different level.
Set over two floors, this 18 hole course has a fun design at every hole. Some designs are insane, like a giant hamster cage, a giant claw machine and a scene from The Shining. I won’t spoil the rest of the holes. There is a brilliant selection of food and drink to choose from too.
https://golffang.co.uk/glasgow/
82 – 100 Lancefield St, Glasgow G3 8JD
Another mini golf place in Glasgow is Fore Play which also looks good. Play your way around Scotland’s famous landmarks such as the Forth road bridge and even the statue with the cone!
124 Portman St, Kinning Park, Glasgow G41 1EJ
Boom Battle Bar
Where to play shuffleboard and axe throwing
Located in St. Enoch Centre, Boom Battle Bar boasts several activities including axe throwing, shuffleboard, augmented reality darts, pool, beer pong and table tennis – you could easily spend a day here.
Although you do need to pay separately for each game so it can add up quick. Axe throwing cost £65 per person while shuffleboard was £25 for an hour.
We also played Nolf, an alternative to mini golf which you play with your hands which was fun too.
https://boombattlebar.com/uk/glasgow/
Unit 55, St. Enoch Shopping Centre, Glasgow G1 4BW
NQ64 & R-Cade
Where to play old video games in Glasgow
For a massive dose of nostalgia, transport yourself back to your childhood of playing some of the very best games consoles in history at R-Cade.
Everything from Goldeneye on the N64 to Duck Hunt on NES. You can also play the latest consoles including the Nintendo Switch if you prefer your graphics non-blocky.
R-Cade also have a range of board games you can play for free, a little cafe to help you power up for the second gaming session and some fun gaming posters of Scotland!
121 Saltmarket, Glasgow, G1 5LF
For arcade games, head to NQ64 at Merchant Square. This neon paradise for gamers has all the classics like Time Crisis and Punch Out! to modern favourites like Super Mario Kart and Guitar Hero. It’s also a great place for drinks with a wide variety of cocktails in particular.
https://nq64.co.uk/glasgow/games/
11 Bell St, Glasgow, G1 1NU
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Purrple Cat Cafe
Where to pet cats in Glasgow
I lost count of the number of cats I petted at Purrple Cat Cafe. The cats are super friendly and love chasing things.
We visited during their Harry Potter themed weekend with Harry Potter for and drink, so definitely look out for their themed events.
Escape rooms
Where to escape Glasgow…
Tired of Glasgow already? Escape it for an hour with an escape room. There are a ton of escape rooms to choose from in Glasgow. We went with Clue HQ in Kinning Park.
We tried to escape from the Bunker and were unsuccessful. I’ve played a few different escape rooms and it’s definitely challenging despite their low difficulty score on their website.
We found a great half price code for 6 people on Groupon (£40) so I definitely recommend checking for discounts.
We also tried X-Escape Room near Central Station. We played Magic Forest which was Alice in Wonderland themed and the technology was impressive, fun and amongst the best I’ve seen in an escape room!
https://x-escaperoomglasgow.co.uk/
The Lighthouse
Where to learn about Scottish design and architecture
If you didn’t know, Scotland has a rich history in design and architecture and there’s no better place to learn all about it that The Lighthouse.
There’s always a new and interesting exhibition on display, but I always love my repeated visits of the Mackintosh Centre. This permanent exhibition documents and brings to life of Glasgow’s most famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
You can also climb the top for views of Glasgow City Centre.
Kelvingrove Art Museum and Gallery
Where to learn about Scottish artists
What I love most about Kelvingrove is the eclectic mix of art and styles. There’s a whole room filled with the best examples of Scottish art through the ages. Although my personal favourite room is the impressionist room and includes works by Monet, Gauguin and Renoir.
My second favourite display are these hanging heads.
Third is this statue of Elvis…
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum
Glasgow Film Theatre
Where to watch films
Glasgow has several options for watching films. While my personal favourite cinema, Everyman, provides luxury and comfort, Glasgow Film Theatre provides a unique cinema experience.
Catch new and old independent films alike. And keep an eye out for their interesting events too.
Super Bario
Where to play retro arcade machines in Glasgow
For more retro gaming fun, Super Bario have some of the very best arcade machines including House of the Dead and Monkey Ball. Check out these original Japanese arcade machines which only take Yen (these are free to play so no need to convert your currency prior to your visit)!
And you can play whoever loses buys the next round since Super Bario is a bar too.
https://m.facebook.com/superbarioglasgow/
Here is a Google Maps route view
And here are some more indoor fun things on my to do list!
http://firestrikescotland.com/
https://www.glasgowcentraltours.co.uk/
https://glasgowbotanicgardens.co.uk/
And here are more top attractions in Glasgow
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
- Glasgow Cathedral
- The Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel
- The Glasgow School of Art
- The People’s Palace and Winter Gardens
- The Necropolis
- The Botanic Gardens
- The Burrell Collection
- Glasgow Science Centre
- The Gallery of Modern Art
- Glasgow Green
- The Mackintosh House
- St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
- The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
- The Lighthouse
- Pollok Country Park
- The Tenement House
- Glasgow City Chambers
- Glasgow Film Theatre
- Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
- The Pavilion Theatre
- The King’s Theatre
- The Scottish Event Campus (SEC)
- The Glasgow Central Station
- The Citizens Theatre
- The Tron Theatre
- The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- The Glasgow Botanic Gardens
- The Theatre Royal
- The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall
- The Scottish Football Museum
- The Glasgow Police Museum
- The Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre
- The Tall Ship at Riverside
- The Clyde Walkway
- The Glasgow West End
- The Gallery of Modern Art Library
- The Scottish Opera
- The Scottish Ballet
- The CCA Glasgow
- The Glasgow Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Circle
- The Gorbals Leisure Centre
- The Glasgow Climbing Centre
- The Glasgow Tigers Speedway
- The St Enoch Centre
- The Silverburn Shopping Centre
- The Braehead Shopping Centre
- The Forge Shopping Centre
- The Buchanan Galleries
- The Princes Square Shopping Centre
