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Glasgow's southside

  • Known for
    Expansive parks
    Traditional tenements
  • Locals love
    Café culture
    Community spirit
  • Must-see
    The Burrell Collection
    Tramway
Two people sit on a grassy hill, looking out at a city skyline with buildings and distant hills under a cloudy sky.
Queen's Park
Glasgow’s southside is lively and welcoming. It’s a great spot for a relaxed afternoon. Explore wide green spaces and stylish cafés alongside classic tenement buildings. This area brings together nature, creativity and local culture, giving you a real taste of what makes Glasgow special.

Top attractions

A person looks at a large seated statue in a glass case inside a modern museum with tall windows and wooden beams.

Hidden gems

An ancient carved stone sarcophagus, known as one of the Govan Stones, is on display inside a historic church.

Eat and drink

An overhead shot of two plates of Indian food, one with a thali platter and the other with a samosa.

Parks and green spaces

A stately home is surrounded by a large hedge maze and lush green lawns, with pink flowers in the foreground.

Arts and music

A small cafe with a dark interior, featuring a neon light sign on the wall and a small table and chair in the foreground.

Top attractions in the southside

One of the best things about Glasgow is that many of the city’s top attractions are set in beautiful parks. These green spaces are perfect for exploring, relaxing, and discovering local culture.

Pollok Country Park is Glasgow’s largest park and a favourite with families. You’ll find woodland walks, mountain bike trails, and peaceful riverside scenes. The park is home to two major visitor attractions:

  • The Burrell Collection was refurbished in 2022 and now offers even more to see. This award-winning museum has a world-class collection, including one of Europe’s finest displays of Degas. Plan your visit at The Burrell Collection.

  • Pollok House is a grand country manor with an impressive Spanish art collection and an Edwardian tearoom. Take a guided tour to step into 18th-century life and enjoy the garden’s evergreen maze. For details, visit National Trust for Scotland. * Please note Pollok House is currently closed for conservation work.

Pollok Country Park is also famous for its Highland cattle. These gentle giants, along with their fluffy calves in spring, are a must-see for visitors.

An aerial view of the Burrell Collection museum, a modern building with a glass roof, surrounded by a lush green forest.
The Burrell Collection
Two long-haired Highland cows stand on a grassy field, with one cow closer to the camera and a line of trees behind them.
Highland cattle in Pollok Park

Find House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park. It was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1901, and completed in 1989. Explore the beautiful rooms, art gallery, exhibition space, and the Art Lovers Café.

For more Mackintosh architecture, visit the Scotland Street School Museum. The museum is currently closed, but the building’s striking exterior is worth seeing. Learn more about Scotland's most celebrated architect at our Charles Rennie Mackintosh page. 

The bright, elegant interior of House for an Art Lover, featuring white, high-backed chairs, square tables, and French windows.
House for an Art Lover

Glasgow has a reputation as a world leader in contemporary art, and Tramway is the place to experience it. This international arts centre hosts visual art, dance, performance, and film. See what’s on at Tramway.

You’ll also find unique venues like Queen’s Park Railway Club. It's an artist-run gallery inside a former waiting room at Queen’s Park Railway Station. Find out more at Queen's Park Railway Club.

The stone facade of a large building with a wide arched entrance and a smaller arched window to the left. The name 'TRAMWAY' is written above the main entrance.
Tramway

In Govan, a restored A-listed shipbuilding office has become the Fairfield Heritage Centre. It tells the story of Glasgow's former life as one of the greatest shipbuilding cities in the world. Find details at Fairfield Heritage Centre.

Football fans can tour Rangers Football Club and Hampden Stadium. Scotland’s national stadium includes The Hampden Experience with its museum full of historic football memorabilia. For bookings, visit Rangers FC and the Scottish Football Museum.

Combine an Ibrox Stadium tour with a visit to Edmiston House. It features a museum, a two-storey Rangers store, and a café. Find out more at Edmiston House.

An empty Hampden Park stadium with blue and red seats, a green field, and a transparent roof against a blue sky.
Hampden Stadium
An interior shot of a football museum with a large illuminated Rangers FC crest and "The Rangers Story" sign on the wall.
Rangers Football Club

Hidden gems

Looking for something a little different? The southside is full of unique places and experiences waiting to be discovered.

  • Explore The Hidden Gardens at Tramway, an award-winning green space with a lively programme of community events. Find out what’s on at The Hidden Gardens.

  • Visit Holmwood House, Alexander "Greek" Thomson’s finest residential villa, built in 1858 in Cathcart. It's also the only one in the area open to the public. Check opening times at National Trust for Scotland.

  • Grab a coffee from one of the many nearby cafes and head to the flagpole at Queen's Park for one of Glasgow’s best views. For café inspiration, visit our cafés and coffee shops page.

  • Get a great view of the city from Crookston Castle, Glasgow’s only surviving medieval castle. For seasonal opening times, visit Historic Scotland.

A vibrant urban garden with raised beds of leafy greens and white flowers in the foreground, and a large grassy area with trees and a tall brick chimney in the background.
The Hidden Gardens
A detailed view of an ornate, circular domed ceiling with gilded, lion-like statues and decorative patterns. The dome lets in natural light.
Holmwood House

  • Admire some of Glasgow’s most impressive addresses and architecture. Find some of the best by taking a stroll along Blairhall Avenue, Millbrae Crescent, Queen’s Drive, and Moray Place.

  • Experience some of the city's history with the Govan Stones and Govan Sarcophagus, a set of 31 carved stones dating from the 9–11th centuries. Learn more about the history and research at Govan Old. Please check for seasonal opening times.

  • Visit the twice-monthly Park Lane Market and the Cooperage to browse goods from Glasgow's local creators and vendors. Visit Park Lane Market for dates and the Cooperage for details on their businesses.

An ancient carved stone sarcophagus, known as one of the Govan Stones, is on display inside a historic church.
The Govan Stones

Top places to eat and drink in the southside

Experience the friendly community spirit of the southside at one of its many independent cafés. You’ll find welcoming spots in Shawlands, Strathbungo, Battlefield, Govanhill, and Cathcart.

Cafés and brunch spots

  • Bramble Café is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Make sure to follow Bramble Cafe on Instagram to see their latest dishes and bakes.

  • Café Strange Brew is an award-winning local favourite, known for its intimate setting and creative menu. Check out Café Strange Brew’s Instagram for food inspiration.

A flat lay shot of a coffee with latte art in a glass, placed on a black saucer. The coffee is sitting on top of a menu from Cafe Strange Brew, which lists various food items.
Café Strange Brew

Grab-and-go for the parks

A dark storefront with awnings for two businesses, Piatto and Sotto Deli. A man in a dark jumper stands outside, and several people are visible inside. A red car is parked on the street in front of the building.
Piatto

Restaurants and world cuisine

  • Ranjit’s Kitchen serves authentic Panjabi dishes. Explore their menu at Ranjit’s Kitchen.

  • Bar Vini offers antipasti, homemade pasta, and natural wines. Book a table at Bar Vini.

  • Big Counter brings eclectic dining with plenty of personality. You won't know what's on the menu until you arrive, but it's worth it. Follow Big Counter’s Instagram for their latest creations.

  • Henry’s is a go-to for brunch by day and small plates with cocktails at night. Go to Henry's on Instagram for more.

  • Battlefield Rest is an iconic Italian bistro in a stunning historic building. Explore the menu at Battlefield Rest.

  • Church on the Hill provides casual dining with indoor and outdoor spaces. Visit Church on the Hill for details.

A person with a yellow headscarf reads a menu at Ranjit's Kitchen, a restaurant with a friendly atmosphere.
Ranjit's Kitchen
A group of people enjoying dinner inside a warmly lit Italian restaurant with a red and white striped awning.
Bar Vini

Dessert and ice cream

  • Brooklyn Café and Ginesi’s Artisan Gelato (formerly Queen’s Café) are southside legends for ice cream. Follow Brooklyn Café and Ginesi's on Instagram for more details.

  • Peacock’s makes small-batch North American-style ice cream in Battlefield. Visit Peacock's for more.

  • La Gelatessa offers real Italian gelato with seasonal flavours. Find daily flavours at La Gelatessa's Instagram.

  • For something different, visit Rude Cookies. Their uncensored cakes and cookie creations are as entertaining as they are delicious. And you’ll appreciate the artistic flair of Magda and Aga.

Bright pink shopfront for Rude Cookies, a dessert and coffee shop established 2020, with small white outdoor seating.
Rude Cookies

Parks and green spaces

The leafy southside is home to some of Glasgow’s finest parks, including the popular Pollok Country Park.

Queen’s Park sits at the heart of the southside’s vibrant neighbourhoods. It features the Scottish Poetry Rose Garden, a historic bandstand with regular events, play parks, a large boating pond, and a stunning viewpoint over the city.

Linn Park is Glasgow’s second largest park. It has quiet woodland and riverside paths for walking. Inside the park, you can see the remains of Cathcart Castle. Mary Queen of Scots is said to have stayed here before the Battle of Langside in 1568.

Cathkin Braes Country Park is the highest point in Glasgow, 200 metres above sea level. The park offers wide views across the city, mountain bike trails, ancient woodland, and open grassland.

Visit Glasgow City Council for more info on green spaces in the city.

A large pond in a park with a tall church steeple in the background, with people walking and cycling on a path.
Queen's Park
A mountain biker in a black t-shirt and red helmet rides on a dirt track with a city and hills in the background.
Cathkin Braes

Arts and music in the creative southside

Glasgow is internationally recognised as Scotland’s music capital and was named the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music in 2008.

The southside is home to some of the city’s best music venues. The O2 Academy regularly welcomes international acts. Bellahouston Park and Hampden Park host major concerts and events. For a more intimate experience, you’ll find indie gigs at The Glad Café and other local venues.

Each summer, Queen’s Park Arena comes alive with open-air cinema, creative workshops, and live music. The popular Summer Nights on The Southside is a highlight.

To discover more places to enjoy live music, visit our music venues page.

The ornate, empty interior of the O2 Academy Glasgow music venue, featuring a stage lit with blue and yellow spotlights.
O2 Academy
A musician with long dark hair plays a red electric guitar on a dimly lit stage, with blurred lights in the background.
The Glad Café

Want to find out about another area of the city? Visit our neighbourhood page to decide where to explore next.

Article last updated: October 2025