4 Family Must Do Attractions in Falkirk

Located between Glasgow and Edinburgh, Falkirk has so many fun attractions for family and solo travellers. From the mythical Kelpies to the incredible engineering feat of the Falkirk Wheel, the history of the area in Callendar House and Mother Nature there are so many must-do attractions in Falkirk.

This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use these links. It doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps me maintain this site. Thank you.

If you are travelling around the United Kingdom, the best way is by car. Not only do you get to see more but you will find more hidden gems that the average traveller doesn’t see.

Need a Car?

If you want to book a car, you can try using these car rental websites, EconomyBookings.com, DiscoverCars or RentalCars.

Need Accommodation?

Try using these accommodation websites to find a comfortable place to sleep after your day exploring, Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia.

Subscribe to my blog and keep up to date as I provide more information on the experiences I have had.

All prices and times were correct at the time this was written/updated, but please check the websites when you wish to visit.

Want to contact me for more information on this blog or another? You can by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.

Attractions in Falkirk

The following attractions in Falkirk is great for the whole family. Spend the day enjoying all that Falkirk has to offer and have fun.

Helix Park

Helix Park should be your first port of call. It’s the ultimate family with so many attractions in one spot in Falkirk.

The first car park here is free, although if you carry on down to The Kelpies, you do have to pay to park.

Helix Park is the ultimate place for family fun in the Falkirk area. There are wetlands to explore and the Adventure and Splash Zone for the kids. While you’re watching the kids in the playground, you can have a coffee at the cafe located next to the lake.

Helix Park Playground and Lagoon Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
The Helix Park playground with a lake behind it that you can walk around.

If you are walking to the Kelpies from here, it’s easy. You can either walk alongside the canal, enjoying the houseboats and wildlife that you see or on the other side of the road through the wetlands and woods where you may find a surprise or two.

Canal and Walkway Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
The walkway on both sides of the canal will lead you to beautiful places in the area.

Sagittarius in the woods Helix Park Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
Just walking along the path in the woods, you’ll come across amazing pieces of art.

Walking or cycling is very easy here with 26 kilometres of paths to explore. There are plenty of signposts up to direct you around the area.

Signpost at The Helix Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
One of the many signposts at The Helix.

The Kelpies

The Visitor Centre is a great place to start if it’s your first time here. Inside is the cafe where you can not only get something to eat and drink but have great views of the Kelpies while you’re doing it. There is also an exhibition centre with information on the Kelpies and the history of the area.

The Kelpies Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
The Kelpies. Whatever angle you get them from, they’re impressive.

You get the feeling of the Kelpie looking down at you Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
This Kelpie always gets me. It is as if he’s looking deep into my soul, and he’s going to move any second.

If you want to get up close with the Kelpies, then a guided tour is the way to go, with kids being free. A 30-minute tour will take you inside a Kelpie and learn about the design and construction. Tickets are available from the gift shop.

Kelpie Cafe Attractions in Falkirk.
Kelpie Cafe and gift shop with Kelpie reflections.

After sunset, the Kelpies are lit up in changing colours every couple of minutes. The gates to the car park are closed at night, so it’s best to check the times so you don’t get locked in. It was 10.00 pm sharp when I was there.

Green Kelpies Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
A brilliant green was one of the colours that lit up The Kelpies.

Hours of the Visitor Centre and Cafe

Open 09:30 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week.

Tour Times and Prices

Bookable tour times are 1100 and 1400. There may be tours outside of these times. For more information, please phone the Visitor Centre on 01324 590600. 

The tour lasts for 20 minutes, and the capacity for a Tour is 30.

  • Adult £6.50
  • Concession £5.50
  • Child Free (2 children with 1 adult)

Falkirk Wheel

Another one of Falkirk’s attractions is The Falkirk Wheel if only to see the wheel operating. You can walk between The Kelpies and The Falkirk Wheel along the canal, although it is 4.3 miles and will take about an hour and a half. The Falkirk Wheel does have a large car park although you have to pay to park.

Once on the grounds, you are free to roam. There are walkways up to the Union Canal and part of the Roman Antonine Wall. Don’t forget to go to the visitor centre and the cafe where you can eat and drink, watching the wheel turn.

Falkirk Wheel. Attractions in Falkirk.
The wheel at the far right and the bridge that holds the first part of the Union Canal.
Canal from Below Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
Your barge goes into the bottom and gets lifted clockwise until it’s at the top, Union Canal, where the barge is now.

The trip from the bottom to the top takes less than 5 minutes, and you can also experience a ride on the wheel. If you would like to enjoy the 50-minute or so journey, you can go travel in a barge and go up to and along the Union Canal before returning to the visitor centre.

To book a barge trip or one of the other activities, click here.

There is also a play area and water pool for all activities, especially on a hot summer’s day.

Play Area at the Falkirk Wheel. Attractions in Falkirk.
The play area at the Falkirk Wheel.

It’s a great experience to see it working for big kids and small. There is something for the whole family here to have fun with, whether it’s water sports, seeing the wheel or walking the grounds.

Hours

The Visitor Centre is open Monday to Sunday, 9.45 am – 5.30 pm.

Prices

  • Adult £13.50
  • Concession £12.00 
  • Child (5-15yrs) £8.00
  • Child (under 5) Free
  • Registered Carers Free (please advise when booking)

Callendar House

Callendar House Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
The 14th-century-styled French chateau houses the museum.

Callendar House and grounds is another excellent place for the whole family, with plenty to keep the kids entertained.

There is a free museum inside the chateau showing exhibits on the history of the area, which dates back to Roman times. Artefacts that have been excavated from Roman times are in one of the rooms.

Industry in Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
Exhibitions in the museum include the industrial history of the area.

Opposite the chateau is part of the Antonine Wall, a ridge and ditch system about 3 metres high crossing the parkland. When the Romans built the wall, it stretched from the Forth to the Clyde. Although there are many places along this stretch of the country, I think this one is the best and most accessible for everyone.

There are 500 acres of grounds to wander around, with a pond and a playground for the kids to enjoy. You could enjoy a picnic to end your day exploring. This is a great place for the whole family to have fun in.

Parkland at Callendar House Falkirk. Attractions in Falkirk.
A children’s playground, paths and woods, as well as the Roman Antonine Wall, are here for the family to enjoy.

Hours

10 am – 5 pm Wednesday to Monday

Prices

Free

There are so many activities in Falkirk for the whole family to have fun with. You could easily spend a couple of days exploring this area, keeping the kids entertained for hours.

Found my blog helpful? Please buy me a coffee.


Links

If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links; Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art, or if you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom or Photography, you can click on their links.

Travel Resources

Loved 4 Family Must Do Attractions in Falkirk? Then Pin It!

Spread the love

22 comments on “4 Family Must Do Attractions in Falkirk

Gabby says:

Would be fascinating to learn about the Kelpies and other local folklore. The photo of the Kelpie up close really does look into your soul and that’s seeing it on a screen – can only imagine what it would be like in person!

Kim McGlinchey says:

Thanks, Gabby. It is a very popular place to visit and just look at them. Great for taking a dog for a walk around too.

Lisa says:

I really want to see the Kelpies. We will be in Scotland next year after a wedding in England. So am keeping your post for my planning.

Kim McGlinchey says:

You’ll love them, Lisa. Well worth the detour.

Marilyn says:

An interesting and insightful read. Love the various photos of statues and the Helix Park playground.

Kim McGlinchey says:

Thanks, Marilyn. Certainly a place a visit if you’re in the area.

I really want to visit Scotland. Saving this for when I actually get there someday. Canals are so cool to me.

Kim McGlinchey says:

You’ll have to visit the Falkirk Wheel then Nancy, you’ll love it.

Aireona says:

I love the UK, but I had never heard of this town before! It seems like such a great place and not somewhere that everyone and his dogs knows about! Was it a good spot to escape the crowds?

Kim McGlinchey says:

You’d love it, Aireona. It’s a big area and there were a lot of people there but as you can see from the photos, everyone as space to move and breathe and it would take a lot more people to make this place crowded.

Natasha L says:

Hmm, I had never heard of Falkirk before but I’ve certainly seen pictures of the Kelpies so it’s great to put a name to the image. I like the idea of walking and cycling between all these sights. I’m hoping to visit Scotland soon so I’ll keep Falkirk in mind!

Kim McGlinchey says:

You should definitely visit, Natasha. If you like cycling and walking there are great tracks all along the canal getting you off the busy roads.

ashleigh says:

Dying to visit on my next trip to Edinburgh!! Great post!!!

Kim McGlinchey says:

Thanks, Ashleigh. I hope that you are able to visit.

Katie says:

Very interesting post! I had never heard of this city before reading this, but I will have to add it to my list of places to visit!

Kim McGlinchey says:

I’m glad that you enjoyed it, Katie. I think it should be on everyone’s list, and it’s so close to Stirling, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

This looks really interesting. I have never been to Scotland but it’s on my list. I will save this post for later. Thank you for sharing all these tips.

Kim McGlinchey says:

Thanks, Olga. I hope that you get to visit it someday and it really is worth it.

Christine says:

We went to Helix Park with my five-year-old niece who loves horses, and she was so excited! It really is an impressive place.

Kim McGlinchey says:

I’m glad you liked it, Christine. I agree that it is a really impressive place with so much to do for everyone.

Kathryn Goding says:

Just love reading about all your experiences for a person like me who doesn’t really like travelling reading your blogs makes me think I should your pictures and the story behind them are wonderful reading

Kim McGlinchey says:

Thanks, Kathy. You should start with the Toowoomba Festival of Flowers this year. It’s on next month, not far away and it may give you a taste for more adventures like the Field of Light Uluru, which is on my list to see.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Back To Top
error: Content is protected !!