Taking a city break with children can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you want to fit in some shopping.  This practical guide is peppered with pit stops that will appeal to all the family. 

The bustling Italian city diner and deli, Fratelli Sarti has a great atmosphere and a fabulous breakfast menu to boot.  Fill up on croissants, orange juice, toast and breakfast-sarnies and drink in the Glasgow-Italian family friendliness.

It’s easy to keep everyone happy in some of Glasgow’s best shopping centres.

Buchanan Galleries is packed with over 80 shops including John Lewis, Gap, and H&M.  Just across the road is Cineworld.  See all the latest films on one of its many screens – children will love the glass lift experience, too.  

Princes Square is a slightly more grown-up affair but it's also brilliantly child-friendly.  The colourful mosaic tiles in the centre of the ground floor are a favourite play-spot. This means that you can take turns to wander around the Square's smart stores such as French Connection, Crabtree & Evelyn, Penhaligons and contemporary jewellers like Louise Shafar and Dower & Hall.

A little wanton lavishness is always welcome – but slick design can be utterly sustainable and environmentally friendly too – so do your bit for the world at Glasgow shop Entrading.  Brimming with colourful lifestyle goods, everything is ecologically sound and the toys and café are brilliant too.

After the adults have picked out some goodies for themselves, head off to the top floor of House of Fraser, and the Hamleys Toy Store.  Children will be in play-time-heaven in this outpost of the famous London toyshop.

The Lighthouse: Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City houses not one, but two spectacular views over Glasgow.  Take the lift to the sixth-floor viewing platform, or the more energetic parents and teenagers can race the 137 steps (count them!) to the top of the Mackintosh-designed tower.  

By the time you climb back down, you will be ready for lunch – luckily The Doocot is right there, and offers great sandwiches, salads, and delicious burgers.  There are always some great exhibitions on here, and something to engage all ages.

London had its "Wobbly Bridge" and a short walk over to the southside on Glasgow’s affectionately labelled "Squinty Bridge" is a must.  

Not least because it leads directly to The Glasgow Science Centre where children (and grown ups!) can experiment, explore and discover why science really can be great fun.  A double bonus is the fact that right next to it is the IMAX Cinema, which screens great children's films – the Harry Potter series for starters – on a screen the size of a football pitch!  

And, while over on the southside, don't miss the chance to experience the Hidden Gardens changing landscapes project at the Tramway arts centre. 

One day you'll find an urban city-centre space, the next a Zen-like space.  Which garden will you find?

After all that running around, shopping and learning, stop off at Wagamama – a friendly, fast and lively noodle bar serving huge bowls of delicious, additive-free soups.  

Children will love slurping their way through them – noodles are always fun to eat.

When you have a full day ahead, a hearty breakfast is a must – you'll all love the idea of tucking in to stacks of American-style pancakes with maple syrup or French toast with bananas at TriBeCa in the West End.

All fuelled up and raring to go – walk over to one of the most beautiful green spots in Glasgow, Kelvingrove Park, to stroll over bridges across the River Kelvin.

While here, you'll come upon activity areas for the younger ones, while children who are a little older might like to try out new tricks on the ramps of the skate park.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is the jewel is Glasgow's cultural crown. Having just been subject to an impressive multi-million pound revamp, it's now not just home to one of the UK’s largest civic collections of art, it also houses Sir Roger, the Asian elephant, who flags up the museum’s impressive natural history collection.  

Kelvingrove is as child-friendly as it gets – there is even a Mini Museum for the under-5s.  You'll all want to while away hours exploring this magnificent building and you'll all love the shop too.  

And, for those children who love trains and boats and exciting ways of getting around, the Museum of Transport opposite is a must.  

Grab a quick sandwich at the nearby Beanscene – Scotland’s very own coffeehouse chain, which is known for its child-friendly atmosphere and is a favourite haunt of West End mums.  It serves perhaps the most monstrously sized coffees around – good for lagging parents! – and some good, wholesome nosh, too.

If you'd prefer to take the children for a good run about, take a trip out of town to Braehead, where XScape, a unique sporting centre with a great range of activities for all ages, including freestanding climbing walls and a truly impressive indoor snow slope.  Children also will love Paradise Island mini-golf course and 10-pin bowling.

Once you're done, head back into the city centre and stop off at Pancho Villa’s in the Merchant City.  Share a great bowl of nachos and roll up your own bean fajitas at this lively, popular Mexican joint.  It's a foodie treat for all, and mums and dads can also enjoy a well-deserved Margarita.