The Glasgow Science Centre was my son's very favorite attraction in the whole of the United Kingdom. Shaped like silver bubbles floating near the River Clyde, the buildings are covered in titanium. A giant, 300 foot, observation tower reaches up to the sky. After a series of museums where "Don't touch!" is the phrase most heard by a child, this interactive attraction is a bonanza of hands-on fun. In fact, there are three floors of experiments that beckon the little scientist. Our kid sprinted from a display on optical illusions, to a lever system for lifting big weights, to a reproduction of the Rosetta stone complete with explanations about how its code was cracked, without so much as getting winded. He delighted in all of it. We also enjoyed a show on electricity in a small auditorium, an IMAX film in 3D, and the challenge of the egg drop.
What was that last bit, you ask?
Our family team was given an assortment of materials with which we were instructed to build a flight- worthy craft that would keep our egg astronaut alive upon landing. This was easier said than done, but my son was very proud that his egg didn't splatter. It suffered only a small crack in its shell. "A mere flesh wound!"
How long could you spend here? Frankly, my kid could have stayed here all day long, but my husband and I tired of the centre after 3-4 hours. If we had seen the longer Harry Potter film in the IMAX, a longer stay would have been necessary. We were also disappointed that the observation tower was closed at the time of our visit. I bet the view was marvelous. We did grab a sandwich lunch at a cafe in the centre, near the gift shop, so you really could stay for a very long time.
Cost? There are different combo tickets available. For instance, just the center without the IMAX or the tower is cheaper than seeing everything. You're looking at around $50 for a family of four to really enjoy the centre. However, if you factor in the amount of time this covers, I didn't think this was unreasonable at all.