Jeevan M.

Ah Kelvingrove you put the green in this dear green place! It's really difficult to think of a standard model of the park as it is many things to many folk, and that's partly why it's such an important part of the city. Kelvingrove was not the first public park/space in Glasgow (Glasgow Green), but it was designed by Sir Joseph Paxton (who also designed Crystal Palace in London) and remains one of the finest Victorian era parks in the UK. I often cut/walk through the park when I'm out and about as it provides some respite from the fumes and noises of the city streets. I think it's easy to overlook just how big this place is for an inner city park. On an average day you can see a huge cross section of folk; jakeys asleep in the sun, students walking to class; working folk having a seat & a quick lunch, people out exercising with their dogs, even fashionable mums taking the kids to their infant yoga class (or baby boxercise/ infant zumba whatever it is). The park is many things to many people. There's a good amount of facilities within the park; a cafe, football pitches (3), kids playground and a skate park. Adjacent to the park are the bowling green and tennis courts should you wish to partake. The Kelvin Walkway joins onto Kelvingrove which means you'll often see cyclists and joggers racing past (maybe they're just folk keen for a pint at inn deep). At the University side of the park, the bandstand has been reclaimed & was revamped for the Commonwealth Games, it plays host to events (mainly in summer) ranging from film to music to theatre. The park has a number of monuments honouring the city's fallen sons. While they are poignant reminders of the past, they also function as meeting points for groups heading to and from the slope in the summer. Climb to the monument at Park Circus and you'll be rewarded with great views out over the city (weather permitting - this is Glasgow after all). Despite all the change that has gone on around it, the park has received little more than a facelift or two in over a century. Like its namesake museum, Kelvingrove park still remains an integral part of the city and the legacy provided by the city's industrial wealth

Amber K.

I can't believe I've never reviewed kelvingrove park before! I love it, I've always loved it. How can you not? I think it's a close running for second best park in Glasgow (I love walking through Pollock park too much) with so many things to love! There's something for everyone, with the skate park, play parks, pond, museum, loads of lovely paths snaking though, picnic tables. The museum was always one of my favourites as a kid so we spent plenty of summer holiday afternoons running around the park. It felt like the biggest place in the world, with so many different little areas. Still does sometimes. Now I work 5 minutes away so it's somewhere I've spent many a lunch break chilling out in the park. It's a great place to sit on a sunny day, eat a sandwich and watch the world (and many adorable dogs) go past. I love having a good stomp through the place on a stressful day as well. It even looks beautiful on a winters day :) With fab events like the Glashow Mela they transform the park into an entirely different space, it's wonderful! It also makes for a picturesque walk from Charing Cross through to the west end. What's not to love? :)

Briony C.

On a beautiful summer day, it's hard to resist the lure of gorgeous Kelvingrove Park. I don't spend nearly enough time here but when I do I always enjoy the atmosphere and exploring areas I'd never been to before. I went for a run a while ago and found myself along the riverwalk way, which I'd never previously ventured to. What an oasis of lush, leafy vegetation in the heart of Glasgow. A must if you've never visited before. Most of the park is open and spacious, great for wandering and people-watching. There is normally something interesting going on - last time we were there, people had pitched up a high wire for practicing walking across (mind you it was only a few foot off the ground). In addition to the park areas, there's sporting venues like the tennis and lawn bowls attached, a skate park and obviously Kelvingrove Museum. All well worth a lazy Sunday wander around.

Gavin M.

Kelvingrove Park is in itself fairly stunning, with views out over the Uni and Kelvingrove museum, and a charming little meandering riverside pathway where you'll meet a lot of ducks. It also houses An Clachan cafe, which I've previously given the honour of an absolutely stellar review. Unfortunately however, like some of the other reviewers it's "the hill", that takes a point off for me. I suppose sunny weather makes people crave the festival atmosphere but there is nothing more annoying than the wet blankets who whip their guitar out at any opportunity, except perhaps the jugglers. Perhaps I'm a bit of a prude, but I think drinking booze in a public park is grotty no matter how much of a student or a boho you are.

Austen M.

Over the years I have spent many hours sitting in the sunshine in this masssssssssssssssssive park or wandering about It with the dug listening to tunes on my iPod. (me with the tunes, not Rogue) It's a great part of Glasgow. In a city with hundreds of buildings it's great that we still have some expansive green areas. It's full of dugs, kids playing, sun bathers (one or two days a year), monuments, skateboarders, cyclists, runners and great views of the Westend. A great place to visit and a green getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. If your looking for a park to chill in or wander round you certainly won't go wrong visiting this one.

Darryl R.

Situated on the Kelvin, Kelvingrove park is a beautiful park in Glasgow's glamourous West End. Popular with locals and university students, like myself, Kelvingrove is a great place to relax and watch the world go by. Whatever the weather, it's always busy! When it's sunny, it's the perfect venue to sit with friends, and hundreds of others, most of whom tend to enjoy sitting on the main grassy hill situated in the middle of the park, drinking some irn bru whilst they enjoy a bbq. A perfect summer's day, no? There are plenty of playparks, skate parks, and walkways, so even if the weather isn't so great, there's still plenty to do. Albeit, during the summer there is considerably more activity (West End Festival, The Melua), in the winter, if the walkways aren't enough, you can always try your hand at sledging down some of the adventurous slopes! Trust me, it's hilariously good fun... My only words of advice? Try to avoid the neds that sometimes find it fun to populate the area. Nothing good can ever come from 10 under 18's, wearing white trackies, downing bottles of Buckfast. Morons. So, when in the West, why not stop off and enjoy some quiet time in the park - how's about enjoying a 99 cone in the sun, or feeding the ducks? Sound good to you? Sounds good to me.

Roz M.

This is my favourite park in Glasgow! But then I am a west end girl so probably slightly biased ;) It's so big and has lots to see and do - the ice cream vans are very popular on sunning days and I love that there's a skate park in addition to two traditional play parks for kids. I've literally ran through every inch of the park doing bootcamp here for over a year - the 60 granite steps are ingrained in my memory! I love simply wandering through the park and people watching, there's always lots going on.

Katie A.

Daffodils! Blossom! Squirrels! When the sun does eventually make an appearance in Glasgow, there are few places better to appreciate it than Kelvingrove Park. It has ponds, fountains, and a play park - as well as an ice cram van or two. It's also overlooked by the fabulous piece of architecture that is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery. I don't think it gets much better than this.

Becca W.

Being from the highlands and now living in a city with little greenery around me, I love that I can escape to Kelvingrove Park and enjoy a walk not surrounded by buildings. Living so close I love going there for a run, gentle walk or even a sit by the fountain. I'm a bit sad to be honest and like spending time there on my own, but it's also a nice place to go with friends. It has a nice vibe about it, usually fairly busy. Especially on the odd sunny day we have - everyone's top spot seems to be here! There's a play park and skate park so unfortunately there's lots of kids around which could be annoying. But there are parts (kind of in the middle) that are fairly child free if that's something you're wondering about. It's a lovely park to spend some time in, whether that be a casual stroll, run to clear your head or somewhere to entertain the kids in the school holidays. Definitely one of my fave spots in Glasgow.

Sarah A.

Kelvingrove is probably my go-to place/park within the city centre when the sun is shining! It's a beautiful park that's not too big but not too small either, the perfect size I'd say. I'm a big people-watcher, so I like to sit on the grass and watch the different characters go by like the folk with their adorable dogs playing catch, or the alternative people playing badminton, doing trapeze or yoga, families playing with frisbees, the passionate skateboarders, bmx cyclists and rad talented kids on their scooters, or just watching people chill out in general. I also like taking naps so sleeping on the grass or bench when it's warm and sunny is a big win for me! However, the best thing to do in Kelvingrove park is probably to BBQ! I recently had my first BBQ of the year with my close friends and partner and it's was so great and relaxing! The best thing is that we can BBQ at any spot (so long as you remember to keep the area clean and best to have a portable BBQ pit). We enjoyed our food, chit chatted, sun-bathed, listened to music ... was a lovely day indeed! Kelvingrove is a big part of my life here in Glasgow and it's probably one of my favourite places to be in! Can't go a week without visiting the park. :)

Rebecca D.

Glasgow is lucky in having so much green space. Unlike many larger cities where parks and greenery can feel like a bit of an afterthought, Glasgow's parks feel very central to the workings of the city and give it a large part of its character. Kelvingrove is no exception. The 85 acres straddle the river Kelvin, enclose the Kelvingrove art gallery and museum and contains a bandstand as well as a skate park, bowling and croquet greens, a cafe, football fields, a children's play park and countless statues and monuments - probably the most impressive of which is the Stewart Memorial Fountain. In spring the flowers come to life, in summer it's the perfect place to sit with a picnic or barbecue, in autumn the morning mists can give the park a very romantic mystery and in winter the frost and ice is chilling but nonetheless beautiful. No matter what the time of year (provided you have weather appropriate clothing) a walk through Kelvingrove is always a pleasant change from the bustle of the city. Wild life lovers will be pleased to know that the park attracts an impressive variety of birds including cormorants, kingfishers and herons and that red foxes and otters have made the park their home. Not to mention the extremely confident grey squirrels. Throughout the year a variety of fares and events go on in the park. Sometimes it becomes a fairground with rides and stalls with prizes to be won. My favourite event of the year is probably the Glasgow Mela - a huge multicultural festival with music and live performances as well as incredible street food and stalls selling all kinds of accessories and gifts. It's usually held in June - so watch out for it.

Dallis M.

There's some correlation to the sun appearing after a long dreary winter, and the people of Glasgow emerging from the nooks and crannies. Such a lovely weekend called for much appreciation in the form of sunbathing, chatting, sitting in the grass and, yes, ice cream. Kelvingrove park is different from many of the other parks I've seen, as it contains some objects of interest. Most notably is the skate park, which was devised for skateboarders, trick cyclists and rollerbladers to enjoy. It's a little section of concrete tucked away amongst several acres of green space, and molded into half-pipes, and jumping hills for those adventurous folk. I don't skate, myself, but I did enjoy watching for a while, and gazing in awe as participants not only negotiated the manoeuvres, but also managing to avoid each other! I did enjoy some quality time in the grass, soaking up the sun, and did, in fact, indulge in a 99 (which is a small cone) and a red slushi. This, my dear friends, is what summer in Britain is all about.