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Back to school ready at Glasgow Fort

Get prepped for the new term with Glasgow Fort’s go-to stores for the essentials, arts and crafts, books, lunch boxes plus grooming and beauty finds for tweens and teens.

With kids-eat-free offers and special menus, family movies plus really easy parking and public transport, we’re making back-to-school shopping simple. Plan a day out or come back over the holidays to keep them entertained and get organised…

1. The essentials…

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From uniform to regulation black shoes and sports kits, we’ve created the ultimate downloadable back-to-school guide so you can tick off the key pieces as you go. Plus, we’ve got Asda Living, Marks & Spencer, Clarks, Deichmann, Foot Locker, Footasylum, JD Sports, Office, schuh kids and Skechers for everything you need.

Back to school checklist download

Remember, Scottish councils can offer grants for help with uniform and shoes – find out more here.

Finally don’t forget: head to Specsavers and Vision Express for optician check-ups and pick up kids’ vitamins, antihistamine and more from Boots, Superdrug and Holland & Barrett.

2. Bags, water bottles and lunch boxes

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River Island’s capacious totes and shoppers are the go-to bags for teens at the moment (plus their handy Take Back Scheme means you can donate any three items from any brand for a £5 voucher the next time you shop). See also H&M (where you can also recycle for vouchers if you’re a member), New Look, Zara and Mango for more carryall inspiration.

Smiggle, TK Maxx and Next have rucksacks and backpacks for younger children, water bottles and lunch boxes (you could also head to Claire’s for useful collapsible ones, ProCook for stainless steel bottles and JD Sports for sporty designs).

3. Grooming and beauty bits for teens

Get stocked up on with natural deodorants and tea tree oil products from The Body Shop and great teen skincare from Boots and Superdrug (CeraVe’s cleansers, moisturisers and toners, Boots’ own range witch hazel and Byoma are inexpensive and good for all skin types).

Lush has them covered for shower gels, vegan and afro hair products while Poundland means you can get all the basics: toothpaste, cotton wool and hair accessories in one quick sweep. You can also get walk-in appointments at Guy & Beard which has junior crews for £13 while Rituals has all you need for at-home pampers including body mousses, calming room sprays and haircare.

4. Kids-eat-for-free and children’s menus to know

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Top tip: join TGI Friday’s Stripes Rewards and kids can eat for free when you order an adult meal. Order from the Little League or Major League sections of the kids’ menu and choose from chicken burger or tenders, hot dog, two sides and a fizzy fruit cooler.

Enjoy lunch with kids’ menus from Frankie & Benny’s (from £6.80 for a starter, main, side, drink and dessert), Leopardo Pizza (£7 for any pizza with chips, drink and dessert), Marks & Spencer (£4 for main with snack and drink) and Nando’s (£5.95 for main, two sides and dessert or drink – bottomless frozen yoghurt anyone?).

Stack & Still have a great do-it-yourself kids’ menu with a pancake, two toppings and a drink for £5.45. Keep checking our offers page for special summer kids’ menus too.

5. Stationery, books, arts and crafts

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One handy tip for encouraging them to do their homework is to create a home study space they’ll love. If they’ve got an organised pencil case, post-its and highlighters, things are that much more simple – check out the stationery at Argos, Poundland, Asda Living and Marks & Spencer.

For helpful study books and inspired reads, head to Waterstones or for crafting ideas and art supplies such as sketchpads and paints, Hobbycraft is brilliant. Argos is great for tablets, laptops, headphones, calculators and Bluetooth speakers. Pick up this season’s pastel phone cases from H&M.

6. End-of-the-day treats and fun finds

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Smyths Toys have Mini Brands surprises, Play-Doh, Barbies, Butter Cloudz Assortments and Mr and Mrs Potato Head for £10 and under. For tweens and teens, there’s ear piercing at Claire’s, cyber pets and desk toys at Menkind and bath bombs at Lush.

7. Family entertainment ideas

Once you’re all done with the shops, head to the Vue. Summer movies are still going strong with Barbie (out 21 July), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (out 4 August) and Strays (out 18 August).

Watch this space for new openings coming in 2023.

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Last updated Thursday 24 August, 2023