Season guide · Glasgow · United Kingdom
Glasgow in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Lengthening days, blossom in the parks and often the driest weather of the year, with moderate prices outside Easter. Expect highs up to 15°C (59°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 36 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 15°C (59°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 36
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 9°C (48°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 14 | 11.6 h | 2/5 |
| April | 12°C (54°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 11 | 14.1 h | 3/5 |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 11 | 16.3 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 12°C (54°F) against a yearly 13°C (55°F), and 36 of the year's roughly 160 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Glasgow International Comedy Festival (usually March)
- April: Easter school holidays bring more families to the museums
Good choices for spring
Museum · West End
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Glasgow's best-loved museum fills a red sandstone palace with around 8,000 objects, from Salvador Dalí's Christ of Saint John of the Cross and Scottish Colourist paintings to natural history, armour and a Spitfire hanging above the west court.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Art
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Partick
Riverside Museum
Combine it with a walk along the Clyde Walkway from Finnieston, or take the seasonal ferry across to the Govan side.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- History
Museum · Pollok Country Park
Burrell Collection
Shipping magnate Sir William Burrell's gift to the city holds more than 9,000 objects — Chinese ceramics, medieval tapestries and stained glass, and works by Degas and Cézanne — in a glass-walled building that looks out into woodland.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · West End
University of Glasgow and the Hunterian
The Mackintosh House is visited on a separate paid ticket; the museum and cloisters are free.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Gallery · City Centre
Gallery of Modern Art
GoMA occupies the neoclassical former Royal Exchange on Royal Exchange Square and shows contemporary art, often by Scottish artists.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Day trips in spring
- Loch Lomond (About 45 minutes by train) — The southern shore of Loch Lomond at Balloch has lake cruises, a visitor centre, Balloch Castle Country Park and walks along the water.
- Edinburgh (About 50 minutes by train) — Scotland's capital has Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the National Museum of Scotland and Arthur's Seat.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Glasgow?
Yes: May is among the best months. Lengthening days, blossom in the parks and often the driest weather of the year, with moderate prices outside Easter.
+What is the weather like in Glasgow in spring?
Highs of up to 15°C (59°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 36 rainy days over the season.