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Botanic Gardens
Discover tropical plants, stroll along the banks of the River Kelvin and picnic on the bright green lawns at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. Glaswegian Thomas Hopkirk, a botanist, founded the gardens in 1817 with a core of 3,000 plants. The gardens moved to its current location in 1839 and opened in 1842 as a members-only garden. Today, this public park attracts almost half a million visitors per year.
Check the website of the park to see if you can join a free guided tour, or explore the park at your own pace. Start at the Kibble Palace, the glasshouse dominating the 42-acre (20-hectare) gardens. Inventor and engineer John Kibble designed the impressive structure in the 1860s for his private residence.
Enter the glasshouse to see the collection of Southern Hemisphere fern trees as well as sculptures and statues, including King Robert of Sicily by the famous Scottish sculptor George Henry Paulin. Find orchids, begonias and tropical plants in the Main Range houses, which are old Victorian buildings from the 1880s.
Pick up a map of the Heritage Trail inside the Kibble Palace and set aside two hours to complete it. Admire the 30 historical sites, including bridges and train stations. Check out the tall black oak and 200-year-old weeping ash tree in the arboretum. Enjoy a picnic on the lawns in front of the glasshouses or buy lunch in the garden’s café.
Come during the weekend to enjoy public events, such as crafts markets, theater, book fairs or concerts. Check the official Glasgow Botanic Gardens website for the calendar of events and live performances.
The Glasgow Botanic Gardens in West End is open daily, but closes at dusk. Entrance is free and there are public toilets. The glasshouses, the Visitor Centre and the Tearoom open mid morning and usually close earlier than the park grounds.
The site is a 40-minute walk from the city center. The Hillhead Underground Station is a five-minute walk away and you can also get there by bus or car from the city center. Free and metered street parking is available nearby.
Guide to Exploring around Botanic Gardens
Top Botanic Gardens Flight + Hotel Deals
Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$1,010
The price now is $948 per personFlight + Hotel
Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$1,028
The price now is $967 per personFlight + Hotel
Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$1,238
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Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$909
The price now is $864 per personFlight + Hotel
Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$1,146
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Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$1,100
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Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$892
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Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$876
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Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$1,006
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Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$989
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Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
$873
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Mon, Mar 22 - Sat, Mar 27
Liberty Intl. - Glasgow Intl.
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Best Lodging Options Near Botanic Gardens
Per night/room
Dec 3 - Dec 4
Malmaison Glasgow
278 West George St, Glasgow, ScotlandLocated in City Centre Glasgow, this romantic hotel is within a 10-minute walk of St Vincent Street Church and Kings Theatre Glasgow. George Square and Buchanan Street are also within 15 minutes. Cowcaddens Station is 9 minutes by foot and Buchanan Street Station is 10 minutes.
Per night/room
Dec 1 - Dec 2
citizenM Hotel Glasgow
60 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, ScotlandLocated in City Centre Glasgow, this boutique hotel is within a 15-minute walk of George Square and Gallery of Modern Art. Glasgow Cathedral and The SSE Hydro are also within 2 mi (3 km). Cowcaddens Station is 5 minutes by foot and Buchanan Street Station is 6 minutes.
Per night/room
Dec 19 - Dec 20
Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel
1-9 Grosvenor Terrace, Great Western Road, Glasgow, ScotlandLocated in Glasgow Westend, this eco-friendly hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Botanic Gardens and University of Glasgow. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and Kelvingrove Park are also within 1 mi (2 km). Hillhead Station is only a 4-minute walk and Kelvinbridge Station is 12 minutes.
Per night/room
Dec 1 - Dec 2
Hotel du Vin & Bistro Glasgow
1 Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow, ScotlandLocated in Glasgow Westend, this romantic hotel is within 2 mi (3 km) of Botanic Gardens, University of Glasgow, and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and The SSE Hydro are also within 3 mi (5 km). Glasgow Hyndland Station is 14 minutes by foot and Hillhead Station is 15 minutes.
Per night/room
Dec 11 - Dec 12
Argyll Western Hotel
6 Buckingham Terrace, Glasgow, ScotlandLocated in Glasgow Westend, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Botanic Gardens and University of Glasgow. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and Kelvingrove Park are also within 1 mi (2 km). Kelvinbridge Station is 7 minutes by foot and Hillhead Station is 8 minutes.
Per night/room
Dec 20 - Dec 21
Apex City of Glasgow Hotel
110 Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandLocated in City Centre Glasgow, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Sauchiehall Street and Royal Concert Hall. George Square and Buchanan Street are also within 10 minutes. Buchanan Street Station is 5 minutes by foot and Cowcaddens Station is 7 minutes.
Per night/room
Dec 8 - Dec 9
Dakota Glasgow
179 West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandLocated in City Centre Glasgow, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Sauchiehall Street and Kings Theatre Glasgow. George Square and Royal Concert Hall are also within 15 minutes. Glasgow Charing Cross Station is only a 5-minute walk and Cowcaddens Station is 8 minutes.
Per night/room
Dec 25 - Dec 26
Village Hotel Glasgow
7 Festival Gate, Pacific Quay, Glasgow, ScotlandSituated in the entertainment district, this spa hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Glasgow Science Centre and The SSE Hydro. Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) away. Kinning Park Station is 11 minutes by foot and Cessnock Station is 11 minutes.
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