Name: Scottish Football Museum
Rating: 5.0

Scottish Football Museum

Scottish Football Museum, Glasgow, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

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Description

The Scottish Football Museum is a must-visit destination for any young sports fan, located right inside the historic Hampden Park stadium. It is one of the best things to do with kids in Glasgow, offering a journey through the history of the "beautiful game" with over 2,500 objects on display. As Europe's first national football museum, it provides a space where families can see iconic memorabilia and learn about legendary players in a friendly, engaging environment.

Prices start from £6.00 for children for museum-only entry, while adults can explore the galleries for £10.00. For the ultimate experience, combined tickets that include a guided stadium tour are available starting at £10.00 for kids and £18.50 for adults.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines sporting passion with an educational day out, the Scottish Football Museum is the perfect goal. It offers a rare chance to go behind the scenes of a national stadium, making it an interactive and memorable adventure for children of all ages.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Key Features

Interactive Exhibits: Hands-on sports zones where kids can test their passing accuracy, learn about modern tactics, and see how fast they can kick a ball.
Educational Day Out: Curated historical galleries showing the deep cultural impacts of sport on local working-class British communities over the last 150 years.
Sensory Play Elements: Large video screens playing historic match highlights, stadium crowd chants, and touch-screen games designed for younger visitors.
Hampden Park Access: The unique opportunity to combine your museum visit with a walk around one of the oldest international football stadiums in the world.
Preserved Memorabilia: Massive collections of original international caps, historic medals, and vintage jerseys tracking the history of the game.

Top 5 Highlights

The Scottish Cup Trophy: This is the absolute jewel of the collection. Children can stand inches away from the actual Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, which is officially recognized as the oldest national trophy in world football, dating back to 1873.
The Hampden Goal Net Area: A highly interactive exhibit space where kids can learn about iconic goals scored on the hallowed Hampden turf. The gallery displays original stadium footage alongside physical items that bring legendary match-winning moments to life for young fans.
The Hall of Fame Wall: A massive visual tribute featuring the greatest players and managers to ever influence the Scottish game. Kids can use interactive touch-screens to look up career statistics, historic photo galleries, and classic video clips of icons like Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law.
Vintage Football Boot Collection: A brilliant chronological exhibit showing how footwear changed from heavy, steel-toe leather work boots of the Victorian era to the ultra-lightweight synthetic boots worn by modern professionals today. Children love comparing how heavy old-fashioned gear used to be.
The World War I Display: A moving historical gallery detailing how professional footballers and local fans joined specialized service battalions during the Great War. It features personal diaries, battlefield medals, and original letters explaining how teams kept community spirits alive during wartime.

Facilities

Toilets & Changing: Full public toilet blocks and modern baby changing spaces are located on the main museum level.
Food & Drink: The on-site stadium cafe provides a clean sitting area for light snacks, toasties, and cold drinks.
Buggy Parking & Lifts: Secure indoor buggy parking spaces are provided near reception, and the entire museum layout is step-free with modern lift access.
Lockers & Storage: Small item lockers are available at the front desk to store wet umbrellas and heavy family travel bags.
Gift Shop: A fully stocked souvenir shop selling official national team merchandise, football books, replica toys, and pocket-money accessories.

Pro-Tips for Parents

Check Match Day Schedules: The museum and stadium tours are regularly closed or subject to restricted hours on major match days or concert dates. Always double-check the fixture list before booking your travel.
Book the Combo Ticket: If your kids are older than seven, always buy the combined Museum and Stadium Tour pass. Walking down the real tunnel onto the pitch adds massive excitement that completes the experience.
Arrive for Midday: The quietest visitor window is usually between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm when morning school groups have departed and weekend crowds haven't peaked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth it for toddlers? No, the venue is generally better suited for children aged five and up who understand the basic rules of football. While children under five get in completely free, toddlers might find the historical text panels and glass display cases less engaging than older kids do. However, the interactive goal-kicking games and large video displays will provide some brief entertainment.
How long does a visit take? A standard tour of the museum galleries takes between 1 to 2 hours to comfortably browse the objects and play the interactive games. If you choose to upgrade your tickets to include the guided stadium tour, you should budget at least 3 hours for the complete experience. This makes it a great anchor for a day of cheap indoor activities in Glasgow.
Where is the best place to park? The best place to park is inside the dedicated Hampden Park West Car Park, which sits directly in front of the main museum entrance. It is completely free for visiting museum guests on non-match days, saving you from hunting for paid spaces on residential streets. The walk from your car to the ticket desk takes less than one minute.

The Visitor Verdict: What Parents Really Think
What Visitors Love

Outstanding interactive games that let children physically participate rather than just stare at old glass cabinets.
Superb historical knowledge displayed by the stadium tour guides, who use fun stories to keep kids laughing.
Breathtaking views of the stadium bowl during the tour phase that make for excellent family photos.
Clean, flat, and spacious layout that makes navigating with a stroller or wheelchair completely stress-free.

What Visitors Don't Like

The standard museum-only ticket does not grant a view of the actual football pitch, which can disappoint children if you skip the tour.
The gift shop prices for official football shirts can be quite steep for families traveling with multiple kids.
Peak weekend slots can feel slightly rushed if large tour groups are moving through the corridors simultaneously.

What to see

Detailed Inventory & Collections

The archive houses thousands of specific, historical objects documenting the global evolution of association football rules, equipment, and fashion.
The 1872 Ticket Stub: An incredibly rare, original paper ticket remnant from the first-ever official international football match played between Scotland and England at Partick.
The Archie Gemmill Jersey: The actual blue international shirt worn during the 1978 World Cup tournament when he scored his legendary solo goal against the Netherlands.
The Queens Park FC Minutes Book: Original hand-written club ledgers from 1867 detailing the foundational rules and regulations established by Scotland's oldest senior club.
The Hampden Park Turnstile Box: A fully preserved, vintage cast-iron entry gate system used by millions of working-class Glasgow supporters during the early 20th century.
The Rose Reilly Medal: The historic winner's medal collected by the pioneering Scottish female footballer who won the women's World Cup with Italy in 1984.
The King Sized Leather Ball: A massive, hand-stitched leather match ball from the late 19th century that is twice as heavy as the lightweight aerodynamic balls used today.
The Sir Alex Ferguson Cap: An original Scottish junior international cap awarded to the legendary Manchester United manager during his early playing career in Glasgow.

Beyond the Main Attraction

Hampden Cafe: Located right inside the main stadium complex, serving hot coffees, child-friendly lunchtime meal deals, and quick snacks.
The Queen's Park Recreation Ground: A sprawling public parkland situated just half a mile west of the stadium gates, perfect for kids to practice their own football skills after the museum.
Catchcart Road Cafes: A vibrant selection of traditional independent bakeries and family-run sandwich shops located a short ten-minute walk into Mount Florida.

New for 2026

The Euro 2026 Fan Experience Zone: Brand-new interactive simulation screens installed for the 2026 season allow children to virtually experience walking out onto the pitch during a major international tournament.
Refreshed Modern Icons Gallery: A newly updated display section showcasing match-worn gear and personal trophies donated by the current stars of the men's and women's national teams.

Events: For more upcoming events please visit here.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Museum Only Entry:

Adult: £10.60
Concession (65+ / Student): £7.00
Child (Under 16): £6.36
Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): £21.20
Under 5s: Free

Combined Stadium Tour & Museum:

Adult: £18.50
Concession: £12.50
Child (Under 18): £10.00
Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): £11.25(Minimum purchase of 4 tickets.)
Under 5s: Free

Pricing URL: https://www.scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk/book/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Birthday Parties: How about leading your own team out of the tunnel at Hampden? Well, that’s exactly what you can do at one of our fabulous parties! For children from 7 up to 11 years of age, it is a birthday party they will never forget.

A Hampden birthday party includes:

Private tour: A private tour of the stadium including leading your party out of the tunnel to the sound of the famous Hampden roar as you go out to see the pitch.
Players' Changing Rooms: A visit to the fabulous, newly-refurbished Hampden players’ changing rooms.
Hampden Hotshots: A chance for everyone to have the speed of their shot electronically measured - which of your friends will have the fastest shot?
Supervised game: A supervised game in the terrific indoor players’ warm-up area on our artificial surface and a chance to have your photo taken with the Scotland men's and women's national teams.
Museum & Hall of Fame: A visit to the Scottish Football Museum and Hall of Fame.
Treasure hunt: A football quiz / treasure hunt with a prize for the winner.
Football: A football for the birthday child, plus a football for the winner of the treasure trail/quiz.
Lunch: A choice of lunch from an extensive menu.

Pricing: 10 children for only £250 & Additional children priced at £25 per person.

For more information please visit: https://www.scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk/visit/birthday-parties/

Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Match Days: Times may vary; always check the official site before traveling.

Address: Scottish Football Museum, Glasgow, UK

Post Code: G44 4QG

Council: Glasgow

County: Glasgow and Strathcl

By Train: Take the train from Glasgow Central to Mount Florida (10-minute walk) or King's Park (15-minute walk).
By Bus: First Glasgow services 5, 6, 7, 31, 75, and 90 all stop nearby.
By Car: The stadium is located off Junction 1A of the M74. There is a large free car park available on-site for museum visitors (Postcode: G44 4QG).
Parking: The official stadium car park is the best spot as it is free for visitors and just a short walk to the main entrance.