Bard in the Botanics
WHERE
Glasgow
What it’s like
Outdoor and glasshouse Shakespeare in the Botanic Gardens, with picnic rugs on the grass and stools to hire if you'd rather not sit on the ground.
This is theatre in the open air, staged among the trees and lawns of the Botanic Gardens, with some performances moved into the warmth of the Kibble Palace glasshouse instead. There's no seating provided outdoors, so you either bring your own chairs or blanket, or hire a stool for £1 on the door, cash only. If you've got a child who fidgets, that's worth thinking about before you commit to a full evening on the grass.
Outdoor shows start at 7:30pm, with the gates open from 7pm so you can get settled and find a spot. That's a late start for younger children, and there's nothing in what they publish about how long the performance actually runs. Kibble Palace performances start at 8pm and are a different kind of evening again, glasshouse-warm on a sunny night, a bit drippy if it's wet.
Picnics are welcome and encouraged, just leave the alcohol at home since it's not allowed in the public parts of the gardens. There's no mention of food being sold on site. Toilets are there for the audience before and during the show, and Blue Badge parking is available, though everyone else is looking at street parking around the gardens with the usual West End charges.
The weather rule is the one to know: if conditions look bad, the call gets made by 6:30pm, posted on the website and social media. Cancel before the show or in the first hour and you can swap dates or get a refund, but if it's called after an hour in, you keep the ticket for another night rather than your money back. Booking is online only, no box office on the night and no phone bookings, so get your e-ticket or reference sorted on your phone before you leave the house.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Online booking only, advance purchase required, e-tickets on phone/tablet or print
- Parking
- Street parking around Botanic Gardens, parking charges in place West End, Blue Badge accessible
- Picnics
- Allowed at performances
- Dogs
- Policy not stated on website
- Only Main Gate is open for exit at the end, Kirklee Gate stays shut
- Stool hire is £1 and cash only, so bring coins
- Picnics are fine but no alcohol in the public parts of the gardens
- Booking is online only, there's no box office on performance nights
Plan your visit
What time does it start and how long does it run from arrival?
Outdoor shows start at 7:30pm with the gates open from 7pm, so you can get in and find a spot on the grass. Kibble Palace shows start at 8pm, with the doors opening shortly before.
Do we need to book in advance?
Yes, online only. There's no box office on the night and no phone bookings, so have your e-ticket or booking reference ready on your phone or printed out.
Can we bring a picnic or is there food on site?
Bring your own picnic, that's clearly welcome, just no alcohol in the public areas of the gardens. There's nothing to suggest food is sold at the performance itself.
What if it rains?
The cancellation call for outdoor shows gets made by 6:30pm and posted online and on social media. Cancel it early enough and you can swap or get a refund, but after an hour into the show you only get to rebook, not your money back. Kibble Palace shows in the glasshouse have not been cancelled for weather so far.
Is there seating outdoors?
You bring your own chair or blanket, or hire a stool for £1 on the door, cash only.
Is parking available?
There's Blue Badge accessible parking, but otherwise it's street parking around the Botanic Gardens with West End parking charges in place.
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