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Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, West End

Companionship careGlasgow

Days out in Glasgow for an older parent

Ten places in Glasgow that make a good day out for an older parent, from Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to Provand's Lordship. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ten days out across six towns

The best places to take an older parent in Glasgow

Nine of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for two describes a step-free route, and six confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, West End

Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · West End

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Kelvingrove is Glasgow's great red sandstone museum in Kelvingrove Park, with Dalí's Christ of Saint John of the Cross, Scottish Colourist paintings, natural history and a Spitfire hanging in the West Court. Entry is free, and there are organ recitals in the central hall on many afternoons.

Lifts reach every public area, accessible toilets are on every floor, and the car park keeps bays for Blue Badge holders, with a table-service café on the lower level.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near West End

Riverside Museum, Partick

Photo: Dave souza, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Partick

Riverside Museum

The Riverside Museum on the Clyde holds Glasgow's transport collection, with trams, locomotives, cars, bicycles and a recreated old Glasgow street of shops. The Glenlee tall ship is moored alongside and can be boarded.

Lifts give wheelchair access to every public area, there is a Changing Places toilet on the ground floor, and disabled visitors can be dropped at the front door.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free entry, parking charged

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Partick

The Burrell Collection, Pollokshaws

Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Pollokshaws

The Burrell Collection

The Burrell Collection sits in Pollok Country Park and shows the shipowner William Burrell's gift to the city, from medieval stained glass and tapestries to Chinese ceramics and French paintings. The building was reopened after a major refurbishment, with woodland views through its glass walls.

The main entrance is step free from the car park, where Blue Badge holders park free, wheelchairs can be borrowed at reception, and there are nine accessible toilets and two Changing Places.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Pollokshaws

St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, Townhead

Photo: StaraBlazkova at Czech Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Townhead

St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art

St Mungo Museum, beside Glasgow Cathedral, explores the world's faiths through art and objects, with a Japanese Zen garden in the courtyard. From the upper floor there are views across to the cathedral and the Necropolis.

Lifts reach all public areas, free wheelchairs can be borrowed at reception, the accessible toilet is just inside the accessible entrance, and nearby city car parks offer free disabled parking.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Townhead

Glasgow Cathedral, Townhead

Photo: Stinglehammer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cathedral · Townhead

Glasgow Cathedral

Glasgow Cathedral is the only medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland to survive the Reformation almost intact, with soaring Gothic arches and a lower church holding the tomb of St Mungo. The Necropolis, a Victorian hilltop cemetery, is just behind it.

Entry is free and the cathedral sits next to St Mungo Museum, so the carer can use the museum's lift, toilet and seating as a base, though the lower church involves steps.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, donations welcome

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Townhead

Glasgow Science Centre, Pacific Quay

Photo: Stevie Spiers, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Pacific Quay

Glasgow Science Centre

Glasgow Science Centre on the south bank of the Clyde has three floors of hands-on exhibits, a planetarium and the Glasgow Tower. It is aimed at families, but the planetarium shows and science talks suit adults too.

The entrances are wheelchair accessible, wheelchairs can be borrowed from the ticket desk, fully accessible toilets are on every level and Blue Badge holders park free.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Pacific Quay

The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, Hillhead

Photo: Michael D Beckwith, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Hillhead

The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery

The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow is Scotland's oldest public museum, with Roman finds from the Antonine Wall, fossils and scientific instruments in the university's Gothic main building. The Art Gallery across the road has works by Whistler and the reconstructed Mackintosh House.

All levels of the museum are reached by lift, wheelchairs can be borrowed free if booked, and Blue Badge holders can park on campus with a free permit, but there is no café inside.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Hillhead

Glasgow Botanic Gardens, West End

Photo: StaraBlazkova, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · West End

Glasgow Botanic Gardens

Glasgow Botanic Gardens on Great Western Road are free public gardens with the Kibble Palace, a large Victorian glasshouse holding tree ferns and marble statues. There are more glasshouses, a herb garden and walks down to the River Kelvin.

Many memorial benches give places to rest, and the Kibble Palace is close to the main gate, so the carer can plan a short indoor visit out of the weather.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near West End

Pollok Country Park, Pollokshaws

Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Pollokshaws

Pollok Country Park

Pollok Country Park is a large estate park on Glasgow's south side, with woodland, riverside paths along the White Cart Water, formal gardens and a herd of Highland cattle. The Burrell Collection sits in the middle of the park.

A free electric shuttle bus with wheelchair space loops from the park entrance to the Burrell Collection every 20 to 30 minutes, which saves a long walk.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Pollokshaws

Provand's Lordship, Townhead

Photo: TSP, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Townhead

Provand's Lordship

Provand's Lordship, built in 1471, is the oldest house in Glasgow and one of only four medieval buildings left in the city. Inside are 17th-century furniture and royal portraits, and behind it is the St Nicholas Garden with its carved Tontine Heads.

It is free and across the road from the cathedral and St Mungo Museum, so the carer can combine all three in one short trip, but ring ahead about stairs in the old house.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Townhead

Regular groups and events in Glasgow

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Glasgow.

  • Music · GlasgowCeltic Connections folk and roots festivalA large folk, roots and world music festival held across Glasgow venues each January, with concerts, free foyer sessions and daytime events. A carer can pick an early afternoon concert, book an accessible seat in advance and arrange the taxi home before the evening rush.Details
  • Dancing · GlasgowFriday night ceilidh in a Victorian barA long running weekly ceilidh in the ballroom at Sloans off Argyle Arcade, with a band and a caller who walks everyone through the dances. A carer can book a table at the edge of the floor so someone can watch, clap along and join one or two easier dances.Details
  • Dancing · GlasgowScottish country dance classes and social dancesThe Glasgow branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society runs regular classes and social dances across the city for varying levels of experience. A carer could go along to a class as a partner, or simply provide the lift there and back so attending stays straightforward.Details
  • Reading · GlasgowAye Write, Glasgow's book festivalGlasgow's annual book festival, based at the Mitchell Library on North Street, with author events, discussions and readings. A carer can book a single daytime event, print the ticket and arrange drop off close to the entrance.Details
  • Sports · GlasgowWalking football sessions for older playersGlasgow Life runs walking football sessions at venues across the city, a slower game with no running or contact aimed at older adults. A carer can find the nearest session time, sort the transport and wait with a seat and a drink at pitch side.Details
  • Volunteering · GlasgowVolunteer Glasgow's opportunity serviceThe city's volunteer centre keeps a searchable list of roles with Glasgow charities and community groups, including short and flexible commitments. A carer can sit down with the search together, filter by area and help with the application and first visit.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Glasgow

At a glance

The ten places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumWest Endhalf a dayFreeAskYesYes
Riverside MuseumPartickhalf a dayFreeAskYesYes
The Burrell CollectionPollokshawshalf a dayFreeYesYesAsk
St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and ArtTownheadan hour or twoFreeAskYesAsk
Glasgow CathedralTownheadan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Glasgow Science CentrePacific Quayhalf a dayPaid entryYesYesYes
The Hunterian Museum and Art GalleryHillheadan hour or twoFreePartlyYesAsk
Glasgow Botanic GardensWest Endan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Pollok Country ParkPollokshawshalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk
Provand's LordshipTownheadan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Glasgow

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

12345678910
  1. 1Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, West End
  2. 2Riverside Museum, Partick
  3. 3The Burrell Collection, Pollokshaws
  4. 4St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, Townhead
  5. 5Glasgow Cathedral, Townhead
  6. 6Glasgow Science Centre, Pacific Quay
  7. 7The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, Hillhead
  8. 8Glasgow Botanic Gardens, West End
  9. 9Pollok Country Park, Pollokshaws
  10. 10Provand's Lordship, Townhead

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Glasgow

Carers in Glasgow charge £19 to £20 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £19, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £76 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Glasgow has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Glasgow

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in West End, Riverside Museum in Partick, The Burrell Collection in Pollokshaws, St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art in Townhead, Glasgow Cathedral in Townhead, Glasgow Science Centre in Pacific Quay, The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery in Hillhead, Glasgow Botanic Gardens in West End, Pollok Country Park in Pollokshaws and Provand's Lordship in Townhead. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for The Burrell Collection and Glasgow Science Centre describes a step-free route. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Riverside Museum, The Burrell Collection, St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, Glasgow Science Centre and The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery have an accessible toilet. The Burrell Collection, St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art and Glasgow Science Centre lend wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Riverside Museum, The Burrell Collection, St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, Glasgow Cathedral, The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Pollok Country Park and Provand's Lordship. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 15 of the carers with a rate near Glasgow drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £19 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Glasgow shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Glasgow

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Glasgow

Days out in the areas around Glasgow

Find a carer who could take them out in Glasgow

See carers near Glasgow who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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