Linlithgow

Scotland > Central Scotland > West Lothian > Linlithgow

The historic town of Linlithgow located half way across the central lowlands of Scotland. The population is 14,000 and it is situated 22 miles west of Edinburgh and 38 miles east of Glasgow, off the (M9) Motorway giving good road links to Stirling, the Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow and further south. The historic core of the town is still very evident. Linlithgow grew from medieval times around the historic Royal Palace and St. Micheals Parish Church. The palace and church, set in extensive parkland on the south of the small loch remain at the heart of the town.

The High Street, has a medieval street pattern, meandering to the south of the loch and the palace lawns. It contains the centre of the towns hotels, shops, public houses, commercial offices and restaurants.

The old High Street, which has been designated a "Conservation Area", contains a wide variety of retailers from old family businesses to their modern day conterparts.

The visitor to the town will find an interesting retail centre with high quality craft and souvenir shops, antique dealers and family businesses not usually found in modern shopping malls.

Linlithgow has become one of the most desirable residential towns in central Scotland. Housing development has been growing for the last 30 years.

Nearby Linlithgow Palace stands, built in the reign of James I in 1424 and continued for the next 200 years. Mary Queen of Scots was born in Linlithgow Palace in 1542. Between 1650 and 1651, Oliver Cromwell occupied the royal residence and Bonnie Prince Charlie stopped off at the Palace on his journey south in 1745. The Palace is located on the south side of Linlithgow Loch. It is cared for by Historic Scotland