Kelvin Hall
BEST FOR
Ages 0-12
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
Circus-themed soft play, a Clip 'n' Climb wall and a free-entry building that's open long hours most days.
The circus-themed soft play is the obvious draw for the smaller ones, built for ages 0 to 12, with the sort of nets, slides and climbing bits that suit a rainy Tuesday morning as well as a birthday party. Older kids who've outgrown soft play get pulled towards the Clip 'n' Climb wall next door, which is really where the whole visit tips from "quick play" to "half the afternoon's gone".
Getting in costs nothing. That's a genuinely good deal for an indoor space this size, though donations are welcome if you want to leave something. The soft play and climbing wall are the paid activities inside a free building, so the actual bill for your visit depends on which of those you book rather than on getting through the door. There are also autism friendly sessions for both Clip 'n' Climb and soft play with sensory toys and mats, and Soft Play Music Mornings if you want something calmer than the usual scrum.
Opening hours are generous, 6am to 10pm on weekdays, which is more useful for early risers than most soft play centres bother with. Weekends are shorter, 8 to 6 on Saturday and 8 to 8 on Sunday. The café runs its own hours though, 8am to 5pm on weekdays and half an hour later starting at weekends, so don't turn up starving right on opening expecting a full breakfast.
Parking is the one that stings a bit. The Bunhouse Road car park charges by the hour, up to £10 if you're there more than three hours, which a proper visit with both soft play and climbing probably will be. Pushchair and wheelchair access is solid throughout, with lifts to all public areas and free wheelchair hire at reception if you need it.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 0 to 12, with older kids drawn to the climbing wall
- Parking
- £3 up to 1 hour, £5 for 1-2 hours, £7.50 for 2-3 hours, £10 for 3+ hours
- Food
- Café serving breakfast, lunch, kid's meals, cakes, coffee and cold drinks
- Pushchairs
- Pram access to all public areas using lifts
- Wheelchairs
- Free wheelchair hire at reception
- Getting there by bus or train
- Around 20 minutes walk from Partick Station
- Café hours run shorter than the building's, so plan food around 8am-5pm weekdays or 8:30am-5pm weekends
- Autism friendly sessions for Clip 'n' Climb and soft play come with sensory toys and mats
- Soft Play Music Mornings run if you want a calmer session
- Free wheelchairs are available to hire at reception
- It's around a 20 minute walk from Partick Station if you're coming by train
Plan your visit
Is it free to get in?
Yes, entry to the building itself is free, with donations welcome. The soft play and Clip 'n' Climb are the paid bits.
What ages is the soft play for?
It's aimed at 0 to 12, circus themed, so it stretches from babies to kids who are nearly too big for soft play.
Do we need to book?
Booking isn't required to get in the building. It's worth thinking about timing though given how the sessions and café hours work.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Friday it's 6am to 10pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm, Sunday 8am to 8pm. The café and other partner organisations inside keep their own hours.
Is there parking?
Bunhouse Road car park nearby, priced by the hour: £3 up to an hour, rising to £10 for over three hours. There's an overnight flat rate of £3 too.
What food is there?
The on-site café does breakfast, lunch, kids meals, cakes and coffee. It's open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm and Sat-Sun from 8:30am-5pm, so it doesn't match the building's full opening hours.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
The soft play covers ages 0 to 12 so a toddler is well within range, and there's a baby changing room near reception plus more facilities at the Play n' Climb.
Can wheelchairs and pushchairs get around easily?
Lifts give access to all public areas and there's free wheelchair hire at reception if you haven't brought your own.
Are there sessions for kids with additional needs?
There are autism friendly sessions for both Clip 'n' Climb and soft play, with sensory toys and mats set out.
Can you do birthday parties there?
Birthday parties are listed among the things on offer at Kelvin Hall.
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