Best indoor activities in Glasgow: top things to do when it’s raining

Did you know that Glasgow is officially the rainiest city in the UK?

With an average of 170 days of rainfall per year, the people of Glasgow are no strangers to miserable weather. So, what better to do on drizzly days than enjoy world-class museums and those only-in-Glasgow experiences? 

Even when it’s rainy, the city still shines. Add our top five indoor activities in Glasgow to your to-do list (just remember to bring a brolly). 

1. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

Described as one of Europe’s finest civic collections, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum first opened its doors in 1901. Since then, it’s become home to an extensive collection of fine art, historical artefacts and a range of rotating temporary exhibitions. 

Inside, 22 themed galleries showcase around 8,000 objects – from Ancient Egypt and natural history to Mackintosh design and European masters like Rembrandt. 

Some highlights include Salvador Dalí’s much-loved Christ of St John of the Cross, and the magnificent Centre Hall organ. 

Why not time your visit for the free daily recital (1pm; Mon-Sat, 3pm; Sundays), and enjoy the music inside the building’s famous red-sandstone hall? 

Visitors can find Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum beside leafy Kelvingrove Park in the West End, where it offers free entry. If you need to warm up from the rain, you’ll find family-friendly cafés and well-stocked shops inside. 

2. Glasgow Science Centre

Fancy getting stuck into some science? Then head for Glasgow’s Science Centre, where you’ll find three floors of hands-on exhibits to make the rainy day fly by. 

The Science Mall packs around 300 themed, interactive stations: from forces and sound to robotics, with live demos and a Science Show Theatre to round things off. If you’re visiting soon, don’t miss the BodyWorks exhibition on floor 3! 

Take part in weird and wonderful rainy day activities, like the DNA disco, become a ‘snot barrier’, and even try your hand at a virtual autopsy. 

Need a breather? Sit back, relax and enjoy a presenter-led journey under the Planetarium’s 15-metre fulldome, where you’ll be whisked from the Clyde to the cosmos. 

One of the best indoor things to do in Glasgow (especially if you’re a film buff) is visiting the on-site IMAX Theatre. With a range of immersive features and blockbusters, visitors can check seasonal schedules and pre-book tickets for a rainy day. 

3. Riverside Museum

Rain or shine, Glasgow’s Riverside Museum is an excellent day out. 

Housed in Dame Zaha Hadid’s wave-roofed landmark, it opened in 2011 and brings together more than 3,000 objects charting how Glaswegians moved by road, rail and river. 

Visitors can expect to see trams, buses and steam locomotives, gleaming motorcycles and classic cars, plus prams, skateboards and ship models. 

But the real scene stealer is the recreated cobbled street with old shops and period vehicles (perfect for photo opportunities and history lessons for the little ones!) 

Kids (and big kids) will love the hands-on interactive activities, and the riverside setting at the junction of the Kelvin and Clyde makes it a great place to watch the bad weather clear up. 

Entry is free, and right outside, you can hop aboard the Tall Ship Glenlee for a slice of maritime history. 

4. The Tenement House

Step out of the rain and into a preserved piece of life in 20th-century Glasgow at The Tenement House. 

This National Trust for Scotland gem in Garnethill recreates a middle-class flat from the early 1900s, kept intact by former resident Agnes Toward (who lived at Tenement House from 1911 to 1965). 

Wander around the time capsule, which is made up of a parlour, bedroom and authentic coal-fired kitchen. You’ll find restored gas lighting and even a private indoor toilet (which was unusually luxurious for homes of the time!) 

Look out for well-preserved period details, from tins and recipe books to the famous jar of jam dated 1929. It’s central (located at 145 Buccleuch Street, Garnethill), so it’s ideal for a cosy hour or two when the weather turns (there’s also no need to book). 

5. Comedy night 

When the heavens open, book a table at Stuart Mitchell’s Comedy Club. 

It’s a great night out in the cosy basement of Blackfriars, 36 Bell Street in the Merchant City. 

Guests can expect host Stuart Mitchell’s whip-smart crowd work, where he’ll introduce two or three guest acts for a 90-minute bill with an interval (18+). Shows run on selected dates throughout the year, and there are lots of festive editions to see you through the rainy months. 

Tickets typically start from about £22.50 (plus booking fee), and popular slots are often limited availability, so we’d recommend advanced booking (particularly at the weekend). 

Grab a pre- or post-show drink upstairs (Blackfriars pours until midnight daily), and you’re just steps from Merchant City’s pubs for a post-gig debrief. 

Mitchell himself is a long-running panellist on BBC Scotland’s Breaking the News and recently fronted a Radio 4 series, so be prepared to see plenty of strong local and touring talent onstage.