Glasgow's a city of bars, restaurants, shopping, clubs, culture and Charles Rennie Mackintosh sophistication. Then you have kids! And I was unsure how they'd fit into my Glasgow dreams.
Glasgow’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh Trail with Kids – So, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Glasgow loon Charles Rennie Mackintosh, we took the kids to explore the key sites linked to this iconic artist, architect and designer. Some attractions worked better than others, some were spot on, so here’s the lowdown.
Scotland Street School Museum
This school building was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh betweenΒ 1903-1906. The process involved colourfulΒ wranglings with the council over decorative features, as creative genius and budget-conscious public body collaborated. The finished product is a practical school building with flourishes of Mackintosh detail.
As a school it’s been assaulted by children over the years, so rest assured your kids are in safe territory. Children are fascinated by the segregated boys and girls doors, stairwells, cloakrooms and playgrounds. In each cloakroom tots can dress up as Victorian boys or girls before parading and flouncing around the building.
The Victorian classroom is stark and regimented, with a Dunce’s hat at the front of the class. Changed days indeed, what a humiliating way to learn.Β The World War II classroom features gas mask cases, as children were evacuated from this school to the countryside to evade the notorious bombings of Glasgow and Clydeside. Again, we couldn’t begin to contemplate these scenarios.
The 1950s/60s classroom felt a little lighter, it included a reading corner, and the books were a bit groovier. But it is still felt so raw compared to the colour and toys in modern classrooms.
Displays told the story of school life – from jannies to medical inspections. And a display room was dedicated to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s creation of the school. Here, an interactive tile board allowed kids to design their own school, and this kept my tots occupied for around half an hour, which is how I actually managed to read many of the information boards!
Best of all the museum is free. And situated across the road from the Clockwork Orange (tube) so it’s handy for public transport too. FREE
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Perennially popular with children, this vast museum covers everything from stuffed animals and the odd dinosaur, the Glasgow Boys artworks and the iconic floating heads installation, to suits of armour and a display about Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Free, spacious and quirky, this museum can be visited time and again, and you’ll always find something new. We also managed to catch the 1pm Organ Recital, which was pretty powerful stuff.
A simple cafΓ© is situated on the ground floor for refreshments. The museum is next to a spacious, scenic park, with an excellent playground.
House for an Art Lover
If you want to indulge in Charles Rennie MackintoshΒ design, then head to Bellahouston Park where you’ll find the House for an Art Lover. It’s so beautiful, calming and serene that weddings are held here on a regular basis. But from a parents’ point of view you can relax, as it’s not decorated with original pieces of art or furniture.

The Music Room at House for an Art Lover
Essentially Charles Rennie Mackintosh entered a competition in 1901, set by German design magazine βZeitschrift Fur Innendekorationβ, to design an βArt Lovers Houseβ. To cut a long story short his entry was commended but disqualified,Β due to technical breaches of the rules. CRM’s design lay gathering dust, until the bright idea dawned to create this wonderful house. It was a labour of love, and Mackintosh’s vision comes alive, but visitors can photograph the rooms, touch the furniture and be comfortable in this beautiful space. Our eldest listened to the audioguide as we walked from room to room, and I envied the couple about to get married in the Music Room in a few hours time!
Eat at House for an Art Lover.Β The downstairs cafΓ© dishes up stylish and healthy lunches, and a decent kids menu. And, as an added bonus the House is set in Bellahouston Park, so ample opportunity for little legs to run off steam after lunch. It’s more convenient to use private transport or a cab to reach this attraction. FREE
Mackintosh at The Willow
What a place of beauty, what an escape, what a setting, what a delight. The newly restored and newly opened tearooms on Sauchiehall Street combine dining and cake with art and design. Miss Cranstonβs original Mackintosh at The Willow Tearooms at 217 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow,Β were designed byΒ Charles Rennie MackintoshΒ inΒ 1903. In fact, this is theΒ only tea room where Mackintosh was in control of the exteriorΒ and the interior,Β and he arranged the internal spaces and designed the furniture.
In terms of taking children there, our kids were made welcome. We simply ordered afternoon tea for two adults, and there was ample food to feed the four of us, so the only extra cost was two glasses of fruit juice for the boys. If I could have savoured this experience child-free then I would have preferred that, but if you’re choice is attend with children or miss out, then don’t miss out!
The tearoom serves much more than afternoon tea, so browse the menu here.
The Lighthouse
Centrally situated, just off Buchanan Street on Mitchell Lane, this building was Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s first public commission. It originally housed the Herald Newspaper, but now it’s a beacon for Scottish art and design. The displays and artworks on show aren’t particularly aimed at children, but they do reveal a lot about the life, times and work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
What may appeal to wee ones is climbing the building’s famous Water Tower. Round and round a spiral staircase they ascend, till they reach a viewpoint over the city of Glasgow. What an achievement for little legs, and grand views for all ages.
[At time of writing, another renowned CRM attraction, Hill House, is closed for essential maintenance and restoration, but several pieces of Mackintosh work from this property are on display at The Lighthouse.] FREE
The Mackintosh House at the Hunterian

Image courtesy of People Make Glasgow
One for hardcore Charles Rennie Mackintosh fans here. This is the real deal, the house and many contents of Mackintosh and his equally talented wife Margaret Macdonald have been meticulously reassembled from the couple’s original Glasgow home.
It’s so authentic in fact, photography isn’t permitted, and it’s not really suitable for young children, as they simply have to manoeuvre around priceless furniture. Older children may appreciate this slice of the CRM story. Ticket prices are here.
Where to Eat
For a very central and very family friendly dining experience try D’Arcy’s in Princes Square. With toy boxes, children’s menus, swift service and complimentary balloons for kids, what’s not to love?
For a grown up children’s menu I was impressed with the Hanoi Bike Shop in Glasgow’s West End. I’ve visited this informal, on trend Vietnamese restaurant with pals, and never perceived it as a kid’s venue. But the children’s menu is cleverly Vietnamese, but adapted for wee ones. Not a chicken nugget in sight. It also offers a Gluten Free and Vegan menu.
Where to Stay

Family Room at the Doubletree Hilton, Glasgow
We were accommodated in the Double Tree Hilton Central Glasgow, just off Sauchiehall Street. The family room was extremely spacious. It’s a central hotel, with free wifi. Guests are welcomed with utterly divine chocolate cookies. The breakfast buffet is of notably high quality. But a high point has to be the swimming pool. We started both mornings with a post-breakfast dip. Floats and armbands are free to borrow, and the kids went nuts for an hour or so.
Overall, I enjoyed having the theme of Charles Rennie Mackintosh to pursue. It took me to venues I hadn’t considered before, but if you wish to combine CRM sights with other attractions, then click here for a range of other Glasgow activities for families, and cherry pick the Glasgow selection that suits you.
Our Story

Glasgow’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh Trail with Kids
We optedΒ for the car, driving from Aberdeen to Glasgow. The Doubletree Hilton has onsite parking for Β£8 per 24 hours, which was quite reasonable and very convenient. In Glasgow we simply walked, used public transport or hailed the occasional taxi.
If you liked Glasgow’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh Trail with Kids then donβt miss a post, enter your email address in theΒ followΒ box and Youβre In, join the conversation onΒ Facebook,Β or check out the bonny photos on Instagram. For any queries or opportunities please emailΒ scots2travel@hotmail.com.Β Images and text copyright of Scots2Travel unless otherwise stated. Sponsored Post: Scots2Travel were guestsΒ of People Make Glasgow, VisitScotland and Glasgow Mackintosh.Β Check out our Privacy Policy here.
Kathi
I’m so glad to read that you enjoyed Glasgow as a family – there surely are loads of things to do in the city for kids! I’ve still not been to Scotland Street School museum – I need to change that!
scots2travel
Definitely Kathi. Understandably it was one of the favourite stops for the boys, and it’s free. Lovely to see high end design used for ordinary people, not just the wealthy.
Anosa
I have not been to glasgow in years, it still as incredible as it was years ago when I last visited with the family.
scots2travel
Always changing, always brilliant!
BattleMum
I haven’t been to Glasgow yet but its grwat to know there are attractions the whole family can enjoy. Your CRM tour sounds great and I’d love to experience afternoon tea with my son!
scots2travel
Afternoon Tea felt very indulgent.
Honey @ The Girl Next Shore
I still haven’t been to Glasgow but this looks like an interesting place to see! The water tower looks great!
scots2travel
Great cityscape views from the top too.
dear bear and beany
I’ve never been to Scotland before and it’s somewhere I would love to explore. It looks like you had a great time!
scots2travel
So many contrasts, so many islands, fab cities and rich history and culture. You should visit π
fivelittledoves (@fivelittledove5)
I have never been to Glasgow but everyone I know who goes raves about it! I really need to go up there!
scots2travel
It’s a great party city, a city of history and far more family friendly than I’d predicted.
ChelseaMamma
We missed glasgow when we visited Scotland but would love to head back up North and explore some more
scots2travel
Do return. Glasgow is pretty vibrant, so many stories to tell.
fashionandstylepolice
I would love to visit Glasgow one day. Visited Edinburgh many years ago and loved it.
scots2travel
Lots of fashion and style in Glasgow, so should fit your brief perfectly π
Claire Jessiman π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώπ½π₯ (@foodiequine)
What a wonderful sounding trip – I’m impressed that you undertook it with kids in tow! I actually had a CRM theme to my wedding but rather ashamed to say that I’ve not visited nearly as many of his creations as you did.
scots2travel
What a stylish theme, it’s so elegant. I studied in Glasgow and this is the first time I’ve visited many of these sites, although they weren’t all opened the many moons ago when I was a student! As an anniversary weekend, perhaps hit the CRM trail in Glasgow…
Rachel
This looks fantastic and like somewhere I would really enjoy visiting. Great you took kids too!
scots2travel
We take them pretty much everywhere π
Emily Leary
A visit to Glasgow and the opportunity to tour the key sites connected to Charles Rennie Mackintosh sounds wonderful and something my kids would really enjoy. I bet they’d love the Water Tower! In fact, it sounds like a great trip for the whole family!
scots2travel
I bet the cake at the Tearooms would go down nicely too. π
Louise x (@withlovefromlou)
This looks like the most wonderful museum! I was actually surprised to see that the Dunce’s Hat was a real thing – I thought it was just something that was made up to make kids want to try harder at school! I definitely need re-educating! LOL
Louise x
scots2travel
A pretty humiliating way to learn. Lots to see at the Scotland Street Museum, especially considering it’s free.