Queen's Park

Visit Queen’s Park to relax or have lunch on its well-kept lawns, stroll through the huge glasshouse and spot some exotic wildlife and local birds. If you feel like socializing, play sports and enjoy live music events. The famous English architect Sir Joseph Paxton designed this 150-acre (60-hectare) park in the late 1800s. The park was named in memory of Mary, Queen of Scots and has majestic views over the city, with Campsie Fells hills and Ben Lomond mountain visible on clear days.Some nearby Gothic churches often feature in postcards and photos of this picturesque city park. Among these are the French-style Camphill Church and Queen’s Park Church of Scotland.Visit the pond and spot mute swans, tufted ducks and mallards in and above the water. Bring a picnic to enjoy on one of the designated benches or from a blanket on the grass. Don’t miss the large rose garden, a fragrant remnant of Glasgow’s World Rose Convention that was held more than a decade ago. For the active visitor there are soccer and cricket fields, tennis courts and bowling greens. In winter, rent a sled for the children to ride on after a good snowfall. Don’t leave without entering the Nursery and Display House, the park’s famous glasshouse in a quiet corner of the park. Admire subtropical flowers and cacti. Check out the indoor Zen garden to relax or take the kids to the reptile house for exciting encounters with snakes, lizards and spiders, all safely kept in glass terrariums, of course. Don’t miss the turtles and big snails!Queen’s Park is a regular venue for cultural and music events, such as the hugely popular Southside Festival each spring.Queen’s Park is a 15-minute drive from Glasgow city center and can be accessed by bus and train. The closest metro stations are about a 25-minute walk away. Free and metered on-street parking is available around the park. The park is open daily, from sunrise until sunset, and has public toilets, a café and a shop.