Guidebook for Helensburgh

Susan
Guidebook for Helensburgh

Food Scene

Beautiful surf and turf restaurant, friendly staff, relaxing environment. Somewhere we go without the kids (although they are welcome, we prefer to save this one for rare nights out without them!).
11 locals recommend
Cattle & Creel
74 W Clyde St
11 locals recommend
Beautiful surf and turf restaurant, friendly staff, relaxing environment. Somewhere we go without the kids (although they are welcome, we prefer to save this one for rare nights out without them!).
Excellent pizza restaurant, fast service, great prices. A firm favourite of our family! Also does takeaway.
14 locals recommend
Padrone Pizza
41 W Clyde St
14 locals recommend
Excellent pizza restaurant, fast service, great prices. A firm favourite of our family! Also does takeaway.
Great atmosphere, food and service. Fab cocktails too! You can also pop in during the day for coffee and cake.
23 locals recommend
Riverhill Cafe, Bar & Restaurant
26 W Princes St
23 locals recommend
Great atmosphere, food and service. Fab cocktails too! You can also pop in during the day for coffee and cake.
Lovely gastro-pub with open fire, friendly service, great value. Another favourite of ours (they do a great kids menu!).
10 locals recommend
The Commodore
112-117 W Clyde St
10 locals recommend
Lovely gastro-pub with open fire, friendly service, great value. Another favourite of ours (they do a great kids menu!).
Tapas restaurant. We don't tend to eat here as my husband doesn't like sharing food (!!)...but don't let that put you off - it has rave reviews!
24 locals recommend
La Barca Spanish Tapas & Wine Bar
33 W Clyde St
24 locals recommend
Tapas restaurant. We don't tend to eat here as my husband doesn't like sharing food (!!)...but don't let that put you off - it has rave reviews!
Great local curry-house that also does takeaway.
9 locals recommend
Masala Twist
29 James St
9 locals recommend
Great local curry-house that also does takeaway.
Lovely food in a modern Scottish environment (think Harris tweed and muted tartan). Open log fires and friendly service.
10 locals recommend
Loch Lomond Arms Hotel
Main Road
10 locals recommend
Lovely food in a modern Scottish environment (think Harris tweed and muted tartan). Open log fires and friendly service.
Lovely spot for coffee and cake or a light lunch.
6 locals recommend
The Ginger-Breadman
6 locals recommend
Lovely spot for coffee and cake or a light lunch.
Takeaway fish supper or takeaway pizza. Also do delivery.
Sun Takeaway
Takeaway fish supper or takeaway pizza. Also do delivery.
26 locals recommend
Sugar Boat
30 Colquhoun Square
26 locals recommend
Chinese restaurant - also does takeaway. Highly recommended!
Mandarin
Chinese restaurant - also does takeaway. Highly recommended!
Annaya's Indian
80-82 W Princes St

Arts & Culture

Famous Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed home. Owned by the Scottish National Trust. Free for members, otherwise a charge applies.
60 locals recommend
The Hill House
Upper Colquhoun Street
60 locals recommend
Famous Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed home. Owned by the Scottish National Trust. Free for members, otherwise a charge applies.
Our local cinema, based in a former church.
19 locals recommend
The Tower Digital Arts Centre
81 Sinclair St
19 locals recommend
Our local cinema, based in a former church.

Local Supermarkets

80 locals recommend
Tesco Metro
300-304 Byres Rd
80 locals recommend
16 locals recommend
Co-op Food
54-56 Sinclair St
16 locals recommend
Morrisons

Entertainment & Activities

Fab local cinema within an old church which is run (very professionally!) by volunteers. Don't worry, they have removed the pews and replaced them with cinema seats....and there's a bar where you can get a drink and some popcorn before your showing! Great atmosphere (and in my opnion waaay better than the ubiquitous large cinemas). Book online or pay at the door.
19 locals recommend
The Tower Digital Arts Centre
81 Sinclair St
19 locals recommend
Fab local cinema within an old church which is run (very professionally!) by volunteers. Don't worry, they have removed the pews and replaced them with cinema seats....and there's a bar where you can get a drink and some popcorn before your showing! Great atmosphere (and in my opnion waaay better than the ubiquitous large cinemas). Book online or pay at the door.
Great aquarium with one of those tunnels that you walk through under the sharks, turtles etc. A fun way to spend a couple of hours (not enough there for the whole day). Great cafe at the top of the building with unrivaled views across Loch Lomond.
29 locals recommend
Loch Lomond Sea Life Aquarium
Ben Lomond Way
29 locals recommend
Great aquarium with one of those tunnels that you walk through under the sharks, turtles etc. A fun way to spend a couple of hours (not enough there for the whole day). Great cafe at the top of the building with unrivaled views across Loch Lomond.
Very nice Bird of Prey Centre, clean and birds are well looked after. Small but interesting/educational.
15 locals recommend
Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre
Ben Lomond Way
15 locals recommend
Very nice Bird of Prey Centre, clean and birds are well looked after. Small but interesting/educational.
Fabulous new (Oct 2022) leisure centre located on Helensburgh's waterfront. Swimming pool, sauna, gym and fitness classes - pay as you go.
Helensburgh Swimming Pool
9 W Clyde St
Fabulous new (Oct 2022) leisure centre located on Helensburgh's waterfront. Swimming pool, sauna, gym and fitness classes - pay as you go.

Getting Around

Just 35 minutes drive from Helensburgh. Hire cars available.
69 locals recommend
Glasgow Airport
69 locals recommend
Just 35 minutes drive from Helensburgh. Hire cars available.

Shopping

Located on the banks of Loch Lomond. A small shopping mall with a market on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. Also located here: Sea Life Centre, Treezone, The Bird of Prey Centre, watersports activities (pedalos and canoes), bike hire and crazy golf.
85 locals recommend
Loch Lomond Shores
Ben Lomond Way
85 locals recommend
Located on the banks of Loch Lomond. A small shopping mall with a market on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. Also located here: Sea Life Centre, Treezone, The Bird of Prey Centre, watersports activities (pedalos and canoes), bike hire and crazy golf.
Lovely and unusual gifts made by local artisans.
Shooftie Gallery
49 James St
Lovely and unusual gifts made by local artisans.
Lovely homewares and gifts.
Amaryllis Living
59 Sinclair St
Lovely homewares and gifts.
For all things push-bike!
Helensburgh Cycles
5 W Clyde St
For all things push-bike!
Cards/homewares/gifts
The Scandinavian Shop
53 Sinclair St
Cards/homewares/gifts
Great butchers, fab steak pies!
Callaghan Butchers
33 Sinclair St
Great butchers, fab steak pies!
Tiny wee toy shop stacked to the rafters with good quality toys
The Toy Shop
90 W Clyde St
Tiny wee toy shop stacked to the rafters with good quality toys

Parks & Nature

We are right on the edge of the National Park. For more info visit: http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/
11 locals recommend
LOCH LOMOND and The TROSSACHS National Park
11 locals recommend
We are right on the edge of the National Park. For more info visit: http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/
Owned by the Scottish National Trust. Free entry for members otherwise a fee applies. Lovely 200 year old garden to explore - including a walled garden, greenhouse, orchard and fruit/vegetable beds.
9 locals recommend
Geilston Garden
9 locals recommend
Owned by the Scottish National Trust. Free entry for members otherwise a fee applies. Lovely 200 year old garden to explore - including a walled garden, greenhouse, orchard and fruit/vegetable beds.
Beautiful walk up a river gorge. An hour from Helensburgh on the Cowal Peninsula.
33 locals recommend
Pucks Glen
33 locals recommend
Beautiful walk up a river gorge. An hour from Helensburgh on the Cowal Peninsula.