royster9's Qype profile

This place was recommended to us some time ago and up until recently was the favoured soft play venue for our kids. Recently another venue has opened closer to home which is more convenient. Located in Linwood in a former warehouse this provides plenty of hours of fun and play for kids. The soft play area is over 3 levels where the kids generally go mental but that is all part of the experience! For the adult there are chairs and table around for you to sit and enjoy a coffee or something more substantial from the cafe. One downside is the car parking where it is lacking for a place of this size and popularity. Other than that you will have a good few hours here and your kids might like it to.

For a decent soft play we used to have to travel all the way across Glasgow to Linwood however we now have Adventure Planet right on our doorstep. It recently opened at the beginning of the year and is proving extremely popular not only with us and our kids but by a lot of people judging by the full car park. Once inside your kids are given a coloured band to wear dependent on their age which restricts the areas into which they are allowed to play. There are plenty of tables and chairs around the play zones from which you watch your kids have the time of their life and sip your coffee from the excellent cafe. We usually keep this as a treat as otherwise we would be there every week!

I was looking for some attractions that could be visited during a holiday to the Peak District and came across this zoo. Always on the lookout for a bargain I then found out how to get some vouchers to reduce the cost of the visit. When we visited it was during the Scottish school holidays so were fortunate that the place was realtively quiet. The zoo is well laid out and relatively flat so easy walking. The highlights for us was the feeding of the sea lions and the giraffe enclosure as the animals were inside and we could get fairly close. There are a large number of monkey enclosures which are always good to watch. All in all a very good and worthwhile day out especially if you can reduce the admission price.

It amazing when you start to visit places of your childhood and see the fascination and excitement in your own kids that you had at their age. Located on Costorphine Road it would be easy to miss the car park entrance of get confused with the access to the adjacent hotel. However once parked up and paid in the zoo itself is an amazing place to visit. There is every animal that you would ever hope to see and then some. There are lots of highlight however the penguin parade when they go walkabout has to be the best. Apart from the animals there is a playpark and plently places to grab something to eat or have an ice-cream. A word of warning thought the zoo is located on the side of a hill so there are plently of steep walks to negotiate. Other than that you will not be disappointed come the end of your day out.

This safari park is a fantastic day out for the family. Situated near Stirling it is easy to find and access. I visited recently which was the first time in years as I remembered my Dad’s car being stripped of its washers! This made me quite nervous as I was now driving my own car. However I shouldn’t have been worried - the monkeys are now on an island!. Once in the gates you cruise round in the car past loads of animals and finally into the 'safe’ area where you can get out. Here there is a water show with the sea lions which is well worth a visit. There is also so rides (payable) and a huge play park as well as the opportunity to walk around as see other animals such as the elephants. Get there early and you will maximise your visit.

As a bit of history the SECC by and large replaced the Kelvin Hall as the main venue in Glasgow especially for the Christmas Carnival and Circus. Ah what memories. When it first opened it it was lovingly known as the 'Big Red Shed’ due to the exterior colour choice however this term of endearment can no longer be applied as someone chose to paint it grey! As a venue it does the job especially for concerts, exhibitions, shows, etc. The complex will be even more impressive though with the additional of the new arena. The downsides to this are the parking arrangements which are ridiculous. There are no real problems getting in however exiting is a nightmare as you pay at the barrier. Surely there has to be a better way apart from parking next to the train station and using the bridge, which doesn’t always smell as fresh as my toilet at home! Nonetheless you will have a good time visiting.

For a few years back the museum was closed due to refurbishment and I recently revisited with all the childhood memories at the back of my mind like frighteneing my brother by putting my hands over his face and placing him directly in front of a tiger! Once again with Glasgows museum entry is free which is always a bonus as everything seems to have me putting my hand in my pocket. The exhibits are good and varied and the kids expecially liked the hands-on area where they spent quite a while. Parking can sometimes be a problem so bear that in mind if it is raining - everyone else may have the same visit planned.

I remember as a boy (and I’m not that old!) going to the old site of the Tranport Museum on the south side of Glasgow and spending hours there exploring all the buses, cars and trains. Of particular interest was the model warships. However it was only recently that I managed to get to the new location in the Old Kelvin Hall. If I’m honest it doesn’t have the same spark that I remember however it may be cause I’m now big! The kids liked it and I suppose on a cold, wet, day before getting paid it is a good freebie. We even managed a bite to eat at the cafe although it is not one of the best. Probably worth a visit but make sure you hold onto the childhood memories.

This is one of the best attractions to visit in and around Glasgow. Located near Cumbernald it is easy to find as it is well signposted. The park itself is full of walks but the main attraction as far as the kids are concerned is the mini-zoo. Pigs, rabbits, birds of prey, etc can all be seen. One word of warning though - wear decent footwear especially if it has been raining as the paths can get very muddy. There is also a play park which the kids love running around. One of the downside is that the car park is not huge so on summer days it can be difficult to get parked. However as a bonus for the golfers there is a 9-hole course adjacent. Well worth a visit.

The Glasgow Fort opened up about 3 or 4 years ago to the east end of Glasgow and just off the M8 which normally provides easy access. All the usual shops (Next, River Island, etc) are here including a JJB Gym with swimming pool. Being exposed to the elements this is the one down side to the Fort as the wind whistles right through so in winter months best to wrap up. There are a number of site in eateries including Frankie & Bennies, Pizza Hut and Nandos as well as a few others. Generally it provides all you need and on Saturday there is a farmers market.