Livingston Car Hire

Guide to Livingston

History

Although Livingston’s History as a ‘New Town’ (established to accommodate overspill residents and businesses from Scotland’s cities) starts in 1962, its history of human settlement stretches back much further. The town’s name has its roots in a Flemish business magnate named De Leving, who was granted land in the area in the 11th century and even built a fortified tower here. Remnants of his entrepreneurial activities soon disappeared, but he left the name ‘Leving’s Toun’ which eventually became ‘Livingston’. It later came to prominence as a coaching stop on the Edinburgh to Glasgow route and later as a hub for Scotland’s electronics industry. It’s also the site of 1979’s infamous ‘Livingston Incident’ when council worker Robert Taylor allegedly saw a flying saucer-shaped UFO in in the woods near Dechmont Law!

Sport

The main draw in terms of professional sport in Livingston is the towns football club, Livingston F.C. It was originally founded in 1943 as the works team Ferranti Thistle, was renamed Meadowbank Thistle in 1974 and played at Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium. It currently campaigns in the Scottish Premiership from its home stadium Almondvale. It finished third in its first Premiership season in 2001 and qualified for the UEFA Cup, then won the Scottish league Cup in 2004.

Famous faces

Some notable individuals form Livingston include footballer Scott Arfield, politician Hannah Bardell, actress Missy Malone, and Olympic skater Elise Christie. The late Robin Cook was MP for Livingston and Foreign Secretary between 1997 and 2001, and musicians Nina Nesbitt and David Cicero are also associated with the town. Last but not least, former Livingston F.C. manager Jim Leishman is still a legendary figure in the town for guiding the club through some of its most successful seasons.

Things to do in Livingston

Shop til you drop

There is no question that Livingston is one of the best places in Scotland to shop. The Centre Livingston boasts over 150 shops, including names like Asda and Beaverbrooks, Hotel Chocolat, JD Sports, Lush Cosmetics, Pandora, Superdry and Xile Clothing. Alternatively, if you want to pick up some designer labels for low prices, the neighbouring Livingston Designer Outlet is your bag. Here you can pick up the likes of Adidas, Barbour, Boss, Clarks, Fred Perry, Kurt Geiger, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Unver Armour and Vans at an absolute snip – then chill out with a coffee as your credit card cools down.

Nightlife

If you’ve got some downtime, Livingston and its environs have a superb selections of pubs and evening entertainment venues. For starters, the Torpichen Inn is a welcoming village bar which serves a wide selection of drinks and features fascinating Tam O’Shanter murals, the Ballencrieff in neighbouring Bathgate is great for live music, and The Saltire at the Carmondean Centre is a good spot for reasonably priced drinks and live sport. Later in the evening, Dreadnought Rock is one of Scotland’s longest-established rock club and other more mainstream options include EQHQ and Club Earth.

Arts and culture

The arts and culture scene in Livingston is more varied than you might expect. If you want to tread the boards and learn the latest singing, dancing and acting techniques (and you’re in town for long enough!), the Proscenium Stage School has you covered, while Hipsters and Hobos offers foraging and wild food courses that teach you to live off the fat of the land. Howden Park Centre is Livingston’s major venue for live music, theatre, comedy and dance, as well as various arts and craft classes, and there’s a free guided Art Walk around public artworks in the town centre.

Eating out in Livingston

Traditional Fare

Fancy some traditional hearty British fare to warm you up of an evening? The Livingston Inn on the Main Street serves old school classics like roast beef dinners with all the trimmings, lamb shank, gammon steak and more. It’s a lovely old building with several comfy guest rooms – so you can stay overnight and enjoy a deliciously filling breakfast in the morning too.

Italian excellence

In the mood for an eatery that serves sumptuous Italian dishes and a whole lot more? Try La Vita Viva in Mid Calder. Delish pasts dishes include salmon ravioli, rich lasagne and spicy penne picante, the spicy Etna pizza is ideal for anyone who enjoys a spicy culinary challenge, you can choose steak cooked to your taste, and there are even signature chicken kebabs served with salad and rice or chips. For dessert, satisfy your sweet tooth with an indulgent chocolate brownie or a strawberry meringue – divine!

Franchise feasts

If you’d rather opt for safe options and choose a chain that you know all of your travel party will enjoy, all the usual favourites are here. However, top picks might be Five Guys with their famous build-your-own burgers and voluminous French fry bags, or Nando’s with its mind-meltingly hot Portuguese/South African chicken dishes. If these don’t suit, between the high street and the shopping centres, you’ll find the full A-Z of British food franchises for your delectation.

Transport in Livingston

Airports

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is nearest to Livingston, at just 7 miles away, while Glasgow (GLA) is 35 miles away, and Dundee (DND) is 43 miles away. If picking up your hire car at any of these locations is your most convenient choice, we’re here to help and your choice of car rental partners at Edinburgh is particularly good – you can hop in your vehicle and be at your Livingston hotel in a matter of minutes.

Public transport

Livingston’s public transport network consists of buses and trains. You can catch a bus from the terminal on Almondvale Avenue to any destination in town and to many other towns and cities. Meanwhile, Livingston North Train Station has services to the rest of West Lothian and beyond. Finally, if you’re out for the night, there are plenty of taxi services which can take you safely back to your lodgings.

Driving

It’s not too difficult to drive in Livingston but the town does have more than its fair share of roundabouts (this isn’t uncommon in New Towns). So please check the road signage and choose your lane carefully. Apart from that, observe the speed limits, wear your seatbelt and you’re good to go. It’s also perfect for manageable road trips to Edinburgh, Glasgow Perth, St Andrews and Dundee – and if you factor in some overnight stays, you can even head off for a leisurely tour of the scenic Highlands!