Glasgow has over seventy parks and gardens providing oases of peace in and around the bustling city.

Glasgow Necropolis

This is a very important medieval cemetery as old as Glasgow itself containing the remains of over 50,000 people. There is a heritage walk though the large site is possible and passes via 35 key sites including several stone monuments and a Jewish section. Trail should take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

The Peoples Palace and Winter Gardens

Built at the turn of the twentieth century as a cultural centre for the benefit of the working class of the east end of the city where life was overcrowded and unhealthy. It originally had reading and recreation rooms but was turned into a museum of Glaswegian social history in the 1940’s. It provides an interesting story of the city and its’ people from 1750 to present day. The winter garden consists of an elegant Victorian glasshouse attached to the main building containing tropical plants.

Bellahouston Park

This extensive park (175 acres) is located a few miles from the city centre and based around a hill it affords good views of the centre. As well as containing a wide range of plants and gardens, the park has a broad variety of sports facilities including, golf, bowling, hockey, a cycling centre and a ski centre. There is also a leisure centre and Mackintosh’s House for an Art Lover. Due to its size, events such as concerts and marathons are a feature of the park.

Botanic Gardens & Kibble Palace

Located in the west end of the city, this attraction is easily accessible from the centre of Glasgow. An iconic structure in Glasgow, Kibble Palace is the large iron framed glasshouse located in the public park and built in 1873. It is over two thousand square meters in area and contains temperate plant collections from around the world, including Australian ferns over a century old. There are also other glasshouses linked to it that contain tropical orchids and begonias.

Kelvingrove Park

This Victorian park is located in the west end of the city and contains a gallery and museum of the same name. It was created to counter act the spread of urban growth as a result of the Industrial revolution and currently features bowling greens, croquet greens, tennis courts and a skateboard park. Located on the River Kelvin, attractive riverside walks are also possible.

Pollok Country Park

Voted Best Park in Britain in 2007, this is the largest park in Glasgow at 360 acres and located in the south west of the city, three miles from the centre. Something for everyone it’s outdoor highlights include a walled garden, woodland walks, riverside walks, heavy horse and highland cattle. It also contains Pollock house and the Burrell Collection within its grounds.

Queens Park (Glasgow Gardens)

Located approximately 4 miles south of the city centre, this park offers manicured lawns and peaceful walks. It also contains a nursery, extensive rose gardens and a pond that attracts local wildlife such as swans, moorhens, mallards and ducks.

Victoria Park

This park is situated in the west end is considered to be Glasgow’s prettiest park and a popular location for wedding photographs. It has bowling greens and tennis courts as well as a model yachting pond. It also contains the Fossil Grove Museum containing fossilised trees.

Linn Park

Located in the south side of the city, this is Glasgow’s second largest park with extensive grounds and array of activities. Key features of the park include its equestrian centre and its nature with a diversity of birds frequenting the park as well as the flora and fauna within the park. There is also an eighteen-hole golf course in addition to playgrounds and woodland and river walks.