Bellahouston Park

Bellahouston Park is a large public park on the South Side of Glasgow, Scotland. It covers about 71 hectares and sits between the neighbourhoods of Craigton, Dumbreck, Ibrox and Mosspark. It combines open lawns, a golf course, views over the city and a few of the most notable episodes in Glasgow's modern history.

Where is Bellahouston Park and how big is it?

The park lies in the Bellahouston district, a few kilometres southwest of the city centre. Its 71 hectares make it one of the larger green spaces on this side of the city. It is bordered by residential districts, so it works as an everyday local park as well as a place visitors can reach on a day out in Glasgow. The address most often used for the house at its edge is Dumbreck Road, G41.

How did the park come into being?

Glasgow Corporation bought the main part of the land in 1895 for £50,000, and the park opened to the public in 1896. It was then enlarged in stages:

• 1899: the city's second municipal golf course was laid out here, after the earlier success of the course at Alexandra Park.
• 1901: part of the Dumbreck lands was added. It was bought from Sir John Stirling-Maxwell for £2,824.
• 1903: the lands of Ibroxhill were added at a cost of £40,222. This is the high ground that offers commanding views over the city.

Today's layout is the result of those purchases, and the Ibroxhill rise remains a good spot to look back over Glasgow.

What happened here in 1938?

Bellahouston Park hosted the Empire Exhibition of 1938, a huge event with pavilions from across the British Empire. Sources quote visitor numbers in the region of 12 to 13 million over roughly four months. The 91-metre Tait Tower was built as a landmark of the exhibition, but it did not survive the outbreak of the Second World War. Of the exhibition buildings, only the Palace of Art is still standing.

Papal Masses

The park has also hosted open-air religious gatherings on a very large scale. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here on 1 June 1982, and estimates of the crowd range from around 250,000 to 280,000, often described as the biggest gathering ever seen in Scotland. Part of the ceremonial platform is still there. Pope Benedict XVI held a Mass in the park in September 2010.

What is House for an Art Lover?

At the edge of the park stands House for an Art Lover, built between 1989 and 1996 from a design Charles Rennie Mackintosh produced with Margaret MacDonald in 1901. The design was made for a competition and never built in his lifetime. The house now hosts exhibitions and events. It also runs the nearby Bellahouston Heritage Centre, which is included in the house ticket.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bellahouston Park free to enter? Yes, it is a public park. Tickets are only needed for attractions such as House for an Art Lover.

Is there a golf course? Yes. Glasgow's second municipal golf course was established here in 1899.

What is the best viewpoint? The higher ground of the former Ibroxhill lands offers the widest views over the city.

What remains of the 1938 exhibition? The Palace of Art is the only surviving building.