Glenside PA Neighborhood Guide

GLENSIDE, PENNSYLVANIA

Glenside is small suburb in Montgomery County, PA. Straddling Cheltenham and Abington townships, Glenside is quaint and compact at just 1.3 square miles.

GLENSIDE NEIGHBORS

With a population of ~7,900, Glenside is as close knit as a community gets. According to one Glenside family:

“We love our neighborhood, we love our neighbors. It's very family friendly; there's lots of kids. [We] love that there's a park at the end of the road, and an arboretum close by. As the kids get older, it's going to feel very walkable. The kids can walk and play with our neighbors. [It’s a] great school district and school size."

GLENSIDE TRANSPORTATION

Residents have easy access to Glenside station, and it certainly sees a lot of action; Glenside is one of SEPTA’s busiest stops. With both the Lansdale/Doylestown Line and the Warminster Line serving the station, frequent train service makes Glenside an attractive place to live. Glenside is also served by SEPTA buses, in particular, routes 77 and 22. 

Nearby Highways include US Route 1, Interstate 95, Interstate 76, Pennsylvania Turnpike and US Route 30.  Proximity: Glenside is located about 6 miles from Center City Philadelphia, and about a 30 minute drive. It is 2 hours to New York City, 2 hours to the Pocono Mountains, and 1.5 hours to New Jersey’s beaches.

THINGS TO DO IN GLENSIDE, PA

• Keswick Theater: This small theatre on the National Register of Historic Places is great for taking in live music, comedy shows, and events like ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live!’.  
• Arcadia University: Housed in an 1893 power station, Arcadia’s university-run gallery displays works by emerging & local contemporary artists. Arcadia is also home to Grey Towers Castle, a National Historic Landmark which hosts lectures, book readings, panel discussions, and more.
• Humpty’s Dumplings: Before Humpty’s headed to Philadelphia’s Queen Village neighborhood, the original Glenside location was serving up handmade noodles, salads, and of course sweet and savory dumplings. Look out for seasonal flavors like pumpkin pie, and remember that dumplings are just $1 on “Hump Day”!
• Glenside Farmer’s Market: Held from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays from May to November, shoppers can pick up organic foods, baked goods, cheese, art, and more.
• Hilltop Miniature Golf + Ice Cream: This family-owned mini-golf course is also a great place to snack on hoagies and ice cream. Open 7 days a week, kids play for just $5.

GLENSIDE SCHOOLS

Since Glenside is located in both Cheltenham and Abington Townships, it’s worth noting that not all residents will go to schools within the same district. A Glenside resident might follow one of these paths, depending on which township they live in:

Cheltenham Township: Glenside Elementary (K-4), Elkins Park Middle School (5-6), Cedarbrook Middle School (7-8), Cheltenham High School (9-12).

Abington Township: Copper Beech Elementary School (K–6), Abington Junior High School (7–9), Abington Senior High School (10–12).

Also located in Glenside is Arcadia University, a private institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,640 students.

THE BOTTOM LINE

While Glenside is easily accessible to Philadelphia by public transportation, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the art, music, and history right in your backyard. 

FURTHER READING

• NJ or PA Philadelphia Suburbs: The First Time Homeowners’ Dilemma
• Phoenixville, Collegeville and KOP: 3 Popular Philadelphia Suburbs
• 6 of the Best Philadelphia Suburbs for Commuting