Queen's Park
Queen's Park (60 hectares/148 acres) is a beautiful Paxton creation which offers something for everyone, from manicured lawns and bedding areas for the gardening enthusiast to peaceful naturalised walks rich in wildlife. The park is extremely well used and is busy all year round. A great range of sport and recreational facilities can be found here along with a boating pond and smaller nature pond.
Where is it?
What can I do there?
The park has a wide variety of facilities to suit all age groups.
- Display glasshouses.
- Amphitheatre.
- Aviary and pet house.
- Tennis courts - to book please contact Glasgow Life on 0141 276 0681.
- Five floodlit "all weather" tennis courts.
- Pitch and putt (seasonal).
- Two ponds.
- Poetry Rose Garden.
- Two play areas.
- Orienteering course.
- Skateboard park for enthusiasts at the adjacent recreation grounds.
- Picnic areas with benches.
- Public toilets (these can be found at the Display Glasshouse at Queens Park Nursery).
- A wide range of restaurants, shops and public bars can be found within walking distance if you can drag yourself away from Queen's Park.
When is it open?
The park is open at all times however the specific facilities within the park are subject to opening times.
The glasshouse and front gardens are opened to the public:
Monday to Thursday: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Friday: 10.00 am to 3.00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
History
The park was acquired in 1857 and was laid out by the world renowned Sir Joseph Paxton. The park was dedicated to the memory of Mary, Queen of Scots and not Queen Victoria, a common misconception given the proximity to Victoria Road and that the park was created during her reign.
- Queen's Park is steeped in history and was the site of the sixteenth century Battle of Langside.
- a circle of large stones at the highest point of the park is believed to be the remnants of a encampment which formed an important military position in connection with the Battle of Langside.
- this battle allegedly took place on the slopes of the park, hence the name Camphill.
- The magnificent Camphill mansion, near the model boat pond, is once hosted collections of museum pieces for public viewing until it was tastefully restored to private residential properties.
Outstanding Features
- There are extensive views across the city from the flagpole and on a clear day the Campsie Fells and Ben Lomond are clearly visible.
- The Nursery and Display House feature a fine collection of sub-tropical plants and many types of flowering and foliage plants. The nursery also houses a Zen garden, ponds, tropical fish, exotic birds and an excellent reptile house.
- An extensive rose garden has been constructed to celebrate Glasgow hosting the World Rose Convention in July 2003. The theme of this commemorative garden is Scottish Poets from Burns to McDairmid.
- Located near the main walkway are an oak tree planted by Belgian refugees after the 1914- 18 war and a beech tree which commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the founding of the United Nations in 1945.
- There is a nature pond which attracts mute swans, coots, moorhens, mallards, little grebe and tufted duck.
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