You are here:  Towns -> Towns in Lothian -> Livingston

Livingston Tourist Information


Livingston is the largest town in West Lothian, situated 22 miles west of Edinburgh. A man named Da Leving built a fortified tower in the area and the village took the name of Leving to which "tun" or town as added. It gradually derived into Livingston.

Originally Livingston was a farming village beside the River Almond. The road had toll houses which developed into ale houses for travellers.

Livingston Development Corporation (LDC) was set up to oversee the area's development as the regional centre of five new post-war towns needed to re-house Glasgow's overspill along with East Kilbride, Irvine, Glenrothes and Cumbernauld.

The LDC controlled the growth in an orderly fashion from east to west. It oversaw planning and design and ensured that green areas were retained. The new town plan required 1,000 new homes per year and the first housing estate was on the hillside at Craigshill.

The first family to arrive, making local history, was the Gilchrists who moved into 39 Broom Walk in April 1966. The first shop in the state-of-the-art Craigshill shopping centre (as it was then) was opened by Rangers goalkeeper Billy Ritchie.

Employment followed as Cameron Ironworks moved to the area, followed later by Sky TV, Motorola, Gore-Tex and NEC. The LDC also provided a new City Stadium for Meadowbank Thistle Football Club which was renamed Livingston FC, another brilliant move by the town planners. Livingston Rugby Club was also quickly established.

The expansion of Livingston continued, based on new neighbourhoods surrounding local shops and services rather than one giant city expansion.

In 1979 one of the LDC's employers, Robert Taylor, claimed to be knocked unconscious from an encounter with a UFO. The incident has never been proved or disproved and remains one of the most notable UFO sightings in the UK.

In 1996 the LDC had done its job and the end was marked with a series of landmark sculptures which were commissioned on the main roundabouts. West Lothian Council took over the running of this thriving planned community and it continues to grow with the “Silicon Glen” industries.


Present Day Livingston

Currently Livingston has grown to a population of over 50,000. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside with the Pentlands Hills to the south and the Bathgate Hills to the north.

The town has two main shopping centres: The Centre and the newer Livingston Designer Outlet, formerly known as McArthur Glen. The town now offers some of the best shopping in Scotland.

The area has excellent transport links with both Glasgow and Edinburgh. Livingston is close to the M8 and has rail links from the station at Bathgate.>

Things to Do Around Livingston

Apart from the excellent shopping Livingston has several attractions nearby.

There are three country parks in West Lothian with ranger-led activities, woodland walks, orienteering and other recreational opportunities. Beecraigs, Polkemmet and Almondell/Calderwell Country Parks all have excellent Visitor Centres.

The Whitburn Community Museum has an interesting display about the Levi Jeans factory as well as the history of local mining.

The Howden Park Arts Centre offers a season of drama and arts performances.

 

Weather: Livingston Weather Forecast

Here's a 5 day weather forecast for Livingston from the Met Office:



Directions
Show map of Livingston...


Attractions near Livingston
Livingston's Countryside (< 1 Mile)*
The Ranger Service, based at Polkemmet Country Park, offers activities, clubs and advice to the public.
Almondell & Calderwood Country Park (3 Miles)*
A large country park incorporating two previously private estates, featuring many woodland and riverside walks, picnic areas, barbecue sites and open spaces for children to run and play in.
Beecraigs Country Park (5 Miles)*
Just three miles south of historic Linlithgow, nestled high in the scenic Bathgate Hills, West Lothian Council caters for a wide range of leisure and recreational interests within its 370 hectare (913 acre) Country Park.
more attractions in Livingston and things to do in Livingston ...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

What's near Livingston

Attractions:
  Livingston's Countryside  1 Mile
  Almondell & Calderwood Country Park  2 Miles
  Beecraigs Country Park  5 Miles
more attractions in Livingston...
 
Towns:
  Uphall  1 Mile
  Pumpherston  2 Miles
  East Calder  2 Miles
more towns near Livingston...
 
Estate Agents:
  Your Move  1 Mile
  Your Move  4 Miles
  Your Move  6 Miles
Hotels:
  The Da Vinci's Hotel  1 Mile
  Ramada Livingston  1 Mile
  Premier Inn Livingston (M8/J3)  1 Mile
more hotels in Livingston area...
 
Bed and Breakfast:
  Ashcroft Farmhouse Guest House  3 Miles
  Bankhead Farm  3 Miles
  Highfield House  3 Miles
more bed and breakfasts near Livingston...
 
Self Catering:
  Crosswoodhill Farm Holiday Cottages  5 Miles
  The Nook  8 Miles
  Gowanbank Barn  8 Miles
more self catering near Livingston...
 
Campsites:
  Linwater Caravan Park  3 Miles
  Loch House Farm Caravan Park  7 Miles
  Tibbie Shiels Inn Campsite  30 Miles
TIC: Edinburgh Airport Tourist Information Desk     Tel:  8 Miles



Sponsored Links


Towns near Livingston
Uphall Tourist Information (1 Mile)*
Pumpherston Tourist Information (2 Miles)*
Pumpherston is a small shale mining village situated 12 miles west of Edinburgh. It was once the central oil refinery for shale from the late 1800's to the early 1960's. Red spent shale bings surrounded the area for years.
East Calder Tourist Information (2 Miles)*
more towns near Livingston...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Hotels near Livingston
Ramada Livingston (1 Mile)*
Perfectly placed for touring central Scotland, the Ramada Livingston lies just 30 minutes from Glasgow city centre and just 20 minutes from historic Edinburgh.
Macdonald Houstoun House (3 Miles)*
Built in the 1600s and host to Mary Queen of Scots, Macdonald Houstoun House is a hotel steeped in Scottish history.
Cairn Hotel (4 Miles)*
Come to the Cairn Hotel and put yourself in a truly enviable location, just 20 minutes from Edinburgh and 30 minutes from Glasgow.
more Livingston hotels (and nearby)...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Self Catering near Livingston
Apartments By Castle, Edinburgh (13 Miles)*
Location, Location, Location - excellent two bedroom self catering apartments by, beside and looking directly onto Edinburgh Castle in the historic Old Town area of Edinburgh city centre.
Edinburgh Vacation Apartments (13 Miles)*
This luxury apartment situated in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town is only 10 minutes walk to Princes Street.
Your property could be here
Advertising your self catering property or holiday cottage on AboutBritain.com will get you noticed by thousands of potential guests every day.
more self catering near Livingston ...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Popular Pages

     National Trust | Estate Agents     

 Copyright © 1999-2012 Excelsior Information Systems Limited. All rights reserved.
Press Room  Terms of Use  Privacy  Link to Us  Index  Site Map