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Glasgow Boasts 90+ Parks: Explore Green Spaces From Historic Heart
Nicknamed the 'dear green place', Glasgow has more than 90 parks and gardens, from historic Glasgow Green to the woodlands of Pollok Country Park.
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Glasgow's name is often translated from Gaelic as the dear green place, and the city lives up to it. It has more than 90 parks and gardens, giving residents and visitors plenty of room to walk, cycle and relax without leaving the city.
Glasgow Green, on the north bank of the River Clyde, is the oldest park in the city and has been public open space for centuries. It is home to the People's Palace, a museum of Glasgow's social history, the ornate Doulton Fountain and the Nelson Monument. The park has long been a gathering place for events and remains a focal point for the East End.
In the West End, Kelvingrove Park surrounds the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and slopes down to the River Kelvin, with the University of Glasgow's tower rising above. Nearby, the Glasgow Botanic Gardens are best known for the Kibble Palace, a striking Victorian glasshouse.
On the Southside, Pollok Country Park is the city's largest park and the only country park within Glasgow. It contains the Burrell Collection, Pollok House and woodland trails, and is home to a fold of Highland cattle and a herd of Highland ponies. Queen's Park, also on the Southside, offers panoramic views across the city from its flagpole.
Together with Bellahouston Park, Victoria Park and many smaller neighbourhood greens, these spaces make it easy to find somewhere to unwind. Most are free to enter and open year-round.
The parks are also central to the life of the city, hosting outdoor events, sports pitches, play areas and community gardens through the seasons. Walking and cycling paths link many of them along the River Clyde and the River Kelvin, making it possible to travel across parts of Glasgow while barely leaving green space.