Kelvingrove Park is the West End's central green space, following the wooded gorge of the River Kelvin between the Kelvingrove Museum and the Botanic Gardens. The park was laid out in 1852 by Joseph Paxton — designer of Crystal Palace — and hosted the 1888 and 1901 International Exhibitions; the Kelvingrove Museum was built for the latter.
The park has bandstands, statues, tennis courts, and the river valley itself, where the Kelvin runs through a ravine deep enough to feel surprisingly rural for a city-centre park. On summer afternoons it fills completely with students, families, and anyone who wants to be outside. The path along the river connects Kelvingrove to the Botanic Gardens and is the most pleasant pedestrian route in the city.