5 Best Things to Do in Glenside, PA

By VI Staff on November 5, 2019

Glenside is a small city in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, home to Arcadia University and 19th century Grey Towers Castle, part of the university campus. Keswick Theatre was established in 1928 and is today one of the area’s most active venues. Glenside Memorial Hall is dedicated to World War I veterans. Historic Keswick Village is charming, Tudor-style, pedestrian-friendly cultural hub and shopping center. Edge Hill Woods Wildlife Sanctuary is popular with hikers and nature lovers.

1.Grey Towers Castle

Grey Towers Castle is a historic structure built in 1893 on the estate of William Welsh Harrison in Glenside, Pennsylvania, in the Philadelphia suburb. The castle was designed by Horace Trumbauer. The Beaver College, which later became Arcadia University, purchased the estate in 1929 and used it as a college campus. Grey Towers Castle is highly eclectic but also very elegant, a curious mix of styles, periods, and buildings. It is constructed of grey stone from nearby Chestnut Hill. Indiana limestone was used for trimming exterior door and windows, and for other interesting details such as gargoyles. The castle is currently housing the university’s Offices of Admissions, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, and the office of the president. The spacious bedrooms on the second and third floors are used as student dorms. The castle is registered as a National Historic Landmark.

450 S Easton Rd, Glenside, PA 19038

2.Keswick Theatre

The Keswick Theatre is a private theater in the Keswick Village in Glenside, Pennsylvania, in the Philadelphia suburb. It was completed in 1928. Designed by the renowned architect Horace Trumbauer, the theatre is recognized as the most comfortable and acoustically perfect room in Philadelphia. The Keswick Theatre started as a combination vaudeville and movie house, and hosted such legends as Paul Robeson, Stepin’ Fetchit and Ina Ray Hutton. After remodeling in 1955, the theater changed into a movie house, showing the premiere releases of the big-budget movies. After the building was scheduled for demolition, The Glenside Landmarks Society managed to save it, restore it to its full glory and reopen it in 1981. During the next four years, Keswick hosted stars like Roberta Peters, Carlos Montoya, , Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. In March 1988, the theatre reopened after substantial renovation and remodeling under private ownership and quickly became one of the Central Atlantic states’ most active venues.

291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside, PA 19038, Phone: 215-572-7650

3.Anne's Kitchen Table

Anne’s Kitchen Table is a popular eatery in Glenside, Pennsylvania with cozy, homey atmosphere, lovely pine furniture, fireplace, books and original paintings on the walls. There is also a beautiful terrace with colorful umbrellas. It is a local favorite for rich sandwiches, home-made soups and large selection of imaginative fresh salads. They start at nine in the morning offering coffee and pastries, focus on delicious healthy lunch and on weekend offer special dinner treats. You can bring your favorite bottle of wine. The menu includes such delights as California Wrap with homemade hummus, fresh spinach, havarti cheese, tomato and cucumber and The Haminapple Grill with baked ham, sharp Cheddar, sliced granny Smith apples and honey mustard on multi-grain bread.

11 Wesley Ave, Glenside, PA 19038, Phone: 215-576-1274

4.Trevi Pizza Pasta Byob

Located in Roslyn Terrace neighborhood of Glenside, Pennsylvania, Trevi Pizza Pasta BYOB is a family-owned and run traditional Italian pizzeria and restaurant with spacious, homey dining room decorated with beautiful murals on the walls and copies of famous Roman statues. The place is best known for 15 kinds of their delicious thin-crust pizza, home-made sauce with thick chunks of tomatoes, fresh pasta, traditional Italian main dishes and daily specials such as house-made gnocchi with a choice of eight toppings, and parmesan-crusted tilapia, Trevi is BYOB, so you can bring a bottle of your favorite wine.

21 E Glenside Ave, Glenside, PA 19038, Phone: 215-884-9100

5.Roberts Block Restaurant and Bar

Located next to the Glenside's train station, Roberts Block Restaurant and Bar is a bright, cozy restaurant with quirky early 20th century vibe, recycled old barn wood, antique marble counter and wooden bleachers. Their seasonally changing menu of American favorites with a twist uses fresh ingredients and locally available produce. Some of all time favorites are Grilled or Blackened Salmon with fresh mango salsa, basmati rice and green beans and Charleston Shrimp & Grits with smoked sausage, cheese grits and Carolina gravy. The small but nicely curated wine list has something for everyone. The beer selection includes local craft beers and well-known imports.

2 Roberts Ave, Glenside, PA 19038, Phone: 215-690-4445