Free West End Baby & Toddler Activities

Baby Activities Glasgow West

By Jade Hughes

There’s nothing quite like a new year to start making plans, get into routines, and for us parents—ensure our little ones are kept entertained. However, many of us are feeling the pinch after the spendy Christmas season…so I thought I’d round up some of the best free baby/toddler activities that the West End has to offer in 2025!

Bookbug

I know it’s a popular one, but I couldn’t not start with the OG of free activities! Set up by the Scottish Book Trust as an initiative to build a foundation of language and encourage a love of reading from a young age, Bookbug offers sessions for babies, toddlers, and children under 5 to attend with an accompanying adult. It’s a drop-in session, but places are limited and on a first come first serve basis. The thirty-minute session includes songs, rhymes, play, and stories.

According to the Scottish Book Trust, reading helps develop early communication and language skills, and it’s never too early (or too late) to start! It’s also a great way for pre-schoolers to interact with others in a fun, supportive environment. So, if you aren’t already, drop in and let your child discover the magic of books—even if it’s just to chew or look at the colourful pictures!

You can find Bookbug sessions dotted all over the West End and beyond including Hillhead and Partick library (and The Mitchell even offers a Gaelic Bookbug!) Don’t forget to download the free Bookbug app where you can create a playlist of favourite songs and rhymes to practice at home. 

www.Scottishbooktrust.com/Bookbug

Kelvin Hall Soft Play
Baby Activities Glasgow West

Run by Glasgow Life, the Kelvin Hall is home to a brilliant soft play area in the heart of the West End. Circus in the park themed, it offers state-of-the-art play facilities for your child to enjoy including slides, climbing features, and a separate toddler section. Soft play is a great social activity for kids to enjoy as it provides a safe space for them to interact with one another, learn to share, and take turns on toys. Whether they’re sitting, crawling, or running, knowing they’re safely surrounded by soft shapes and padded surfaces gives parents and carers a little (well-deserved) breathing space! Once they’re done exploring, you can enjoy a coffee or cake in the circus-themed café (not free, unfortunately!)

The soft play area is open every day from 9am and it’s also available to hire out for birthday parties and other special events! Whilst under 1’s go free, the accompanying adult price is £1.

Drop ins are welcome space permitted, but to guarantee a slot, bookings can be made on the Glasgow Life app.

Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s Buggy Choir
Baby Activities Glasgow West

During the RSNO concert season, they host a free weekly Buggy Choir for all parents and carers of babies under one to have a sing together buggies in tow! This one is definitely not for everyone, but since group singing has been proven to boost confidence and wellbeing…perhaps it could be the little pocket of “me time” that you didn’t know you needed?

The sessions are open to all, there is no audition, and you don’t need to be able to read music (or sing well) to join! This one excludes the nursery rhymes in favour for more “grown up” music for the adults—although the babies will no-doubt benefit from hearing the live music from their buggies. A relaxed environment is encouraged, so if you need to change a nappy, feed, or even take a wander during class, that’s all completely fine! There will also be mats on the floor if your baby wants to enjoy the sweet music whilst having a wriggle or a roll around. And who knows…you may even find yourself the new Katherine Jenkins or Andrea Bocelli?!

Sessions are held on Monday afternoons at Adelaide place (with step-free Buggy access on Bath Street). You can book one week in advance but there are a limited number of places to ensure a comfortable size class for all. Spaces are free with an optional pay-what-you-feel donation.

To sign up, go to www.rsno.org.uk

Best of the Rest
Baby Activities Glasgow West

Alternatively,if you’re looking for a free, straight-forward parent and toddler group, you can find one at Windsor community hall on Wednesdays between 12-2. Run by Queens Cross Housing Association, it gives parents with babies and toddlers the opportunity to meet and mingle in a relaxed, informal environment without any focus on learning or activities.

If none of these take your fancy, there’s also Kelvingrove museum for a touch of culture and a great wide space for buggies or tiny feet to explore. An iconic treasure of history, it’s such an inspiring place that has something for everyone, but the rainforest room is a particularly special sensory experience for tiny ears. There are multiple child-friendly activities dotted around the museum to enjoy—and don’t miss the free organ recital at lunchtimes in the centre hall to give a daily dose of live music! It’s a hive for baby and toddler activities in Glasgow West End.

The West End also has some of the best parks to roam through, spot the birds and enjoy the nature, or push your kids on the swings, but do wrap up warm, it’s freezing! Whatever your cup of tea, I hope we’ve managed to pique your interest in something to try with your little one in 2025 that doesn’t cost the earth!

For more ideas for Baby activities in Glasgow West End, return to Travel and Leisure Articles

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