
We’ve been to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum so many times in the past 10 years that it feels a little bit like going home when I walk into that building. This iconic building is an absolute treasure trove of history, science and culture that has something for everyone, from curious tiny tots to us adults who love a wee touch of culture.
Opened in 1901, the grand sandstone building is one of the last great museums of the Victorian era. It stands as a quintessential example of Glasgow’s architectural heritage, and is the favourite building of many Glaswegians. My kids used to think it was a castle when they were little, and in fairness it does have fairytale vibes with its red sandstone colour and its turrets.

The kids both love it in Kelvingrove. It’s big enough that they have the freedom to explore for an hour or two without seeing the same things every time. (Though to be honest there are a few parts that we end up in every single time we visit.)
The Galleries
The galleries are huge with lots of space to explore. There are 22 galleries in total and we have been round them all many times. But there are a few that we always end up in, and that the kids like the best. We will always inevitably head to the natural history section first to explore there. The kids have always enjoyed having a look at the animal skeletons, and the various taxidermy animals in there too. There is lots of information about the animals on display and some interactive exhibits in this area too.

There is a little interactive room where they can open drawers and look at shells and fossils, watch the bees buzzing in their hive, look through a microscope and play in some big dinosaur eggs. There’s also a room with Scottish wildlife which has a couple of little tunnels the kids can clamber through.
Upstairs, theres a big walk through black box which is like an audio visual rainforest experience. When you walk in you are surrounded by rainforest sounds, there are pictures of rainforest animals lighting the floor, footage from a rainforest playing on screens and occasionally there is a thunderstorm.

There is something about this rainforest room that the kids absolutely adore. We always end up spending at least 20 minutes here while they crawl around the floor pretending to be a snake or frog or something. They just love playing in here.
We always need to go and see the faces. They’re across the opposite side of the galleries from the animals, hanging from the ceiling. I don’t know if it’s my imagination but they seem to look different every time we see them.
Both the kids (and myself) are quite intrigued by them. They like to go upstairs so that they’re on the same level as them, and have a look at them from there.
There are some activities dotted around the museum. To be honest I do think that Kelvingrove could have more interactive stuff for kids, but there are a few things that mine like to play with.
Downstairs, in the ancient Egypt exhibit, there is a mummy that you can roll bandages all around. This was a big hit with the little lady the past few times we’ve visited. It seems to have fewer bandages for rolling every time we visit though.
The Music
If there’s one thing that you have to do when you’re visiting Kelvingrove, it’s listening to the daily organ recital. Just as you enter the main hall, look straight across to the other side of the room and you’ll see the organ up on the next floor. There is an organ recital almost every day at 1pm. It’s such a beautiful sound to sit and listen to in that space. (Or to have a dance to if, like most toddlers, you are so inclined…)

The Food
There’s a cafe on the ground floor selling cakes, scones, hot and cold drinks and sandwiches. They also do lunch boxes for kids.
The restaurant is downstairs in the basement. They sell hot food down there as well as soups, sandwiches, panini etc. It’s big and spacious with plenty of room for several prams; an excellent place to meet up with friends!
The Logistics
- Kelvingrove Museum is free to enter.
- There is a large car park located outside Kelvingrove. Costs have gone up considerably in recent years and it now costs £5 for 4 hours, and £10 all day. It can get pretty busy, but there’s also lots of (metered) on-street parking available along Sauchiehall Street and across the road in the Yorkhill/Finnieston area.

- There is a big cloakroom in Kelvingrove where you can leave big coats or wet jackets you don’t want to carry, and we have often left the kids scooters in there too after travelling there on foot. There’s a small fee for the cloakroom.
- There are several lifts for getting to the different floors and big wide corridors. It’s pretty easy to do with a buggy/pram.
- No dogs allowed.
The Verdict
We love a little trip into Kelvingrove for a few hours. There are some activities for young kids (for such a huge museum there could be more if I’m honest, but I think that about many of Glasgow’s museums). It’s a huge space for the little ones to play in though, and a great place to meet up with a bunch of buggies. If you manage to read anything, that’s always a bonus!
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is located at Argyle St, Glasgow, G3 8AG.