Outdoors · Glasgow · United Kingdom
5 best outdoor things to do in Glasgow
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Michael D Beckwith, CC0
Quick answer
Start with Glasgow Necropolis, Pollok Country Park and Glasgow Botanic Gardens. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 7–8 hours across 5 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 7–8 hours
- Areas
- Townhead, Southside and West End
Outdoors in Glasgow
Historic site · Townhead
1.Glasgow Necropolis
Paths are steep and uneven; wear proper shoes and come on a dry day if you can.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Park · Southside
2.Pollok Country Park
The Highland cattle field near the stables is the easiest place for children to see the shaggy cows up close.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Garden · West End
3.Glasgow Botanic Gardens
On a wet day, the Kibble Palace and the main glasshouse range make a warm, free hour indoors.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Finnieston
4.Clyde Walkway and the Finnieston Crane
Walk west from the city centre in the late afternoon and finish with dinner on Finnieston's Argyle Street.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- History
- After dark
Experience · City Centre
5.City Centre Mural Trail
Start on High Street near the cathedral and finish in the Merchant City, where several of the largest works are close together.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Townhead | Glasgow Necropolis | 1 hour |
| Southside | Pollok Country Park | 2 hours |
| West End | Glasgow Botanic Gardens | 1 hour |
| Finnieston | Clyde Walkway and the Finnieston Crane | 1–2 hours |
| City Centre | City Centre Mural Trail | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 5 free. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Pollok Country Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Townhead, Southside and West End): Glasgow Necropolis → Pollok Country Park → Glasgow Botanic Gardens, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Finnieston and City Centre): Clyde Walkway and the Finnieston Crane → City Centre Mural Trail, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- June: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 11 rainy days, busy crowds. Long days with light until after 10pm, outdoor events in the parks and higher hotel prices.
- July: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 12 rainy days, busy crowds. Warmest month, though still showery; Scottish school holidays start in late June and big outdoor concerts fill Glasgow Green.
- May: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 11 rainy days, moderate crowds. Mild, light evenings and comparatively dry weather make May a good month for walking and the Highlands.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- City Centre — Buchanan Street shopping, George Square and both main railway stations
- West End — University spires, Byres Road cafés and the cobbled bars of Ashton Lane
- Finnieston — Argyle Street restaurant strip between the West End and the Clyde
- Southside — Victorian villas, Shawlands bars and Pollok Country Park
- East End and Dennistoun — The Barras, the Barrowland Ballroom and Duke Street cafés
More of Glasgow
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Glasgow?
Glasgow Necropolis. This Victorian garden cemetery covers a hill east of the cathedral with some 3,500 monuments to the merchants and industrialists who built the city, topped by a column to the reformer John Knox.
+Which of these are free in Glasgow?
Glasgow Necropolis, Pollok Country Park, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Clyde Walkway and the Finnieston Crane and City Centre Mural Trail.