This portion of our web guide to Scottish cities and towns focuses on Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland.
Designated in 1962, Livingston was the fourth post-World War 2 "new town" built in Scotland, and was named for the village of the same name that was incorporated into the new town. The town was built around a collection of small villages, including Livingston Village, Livingston Station, and Bellsquarry, and has several named residential areas or neighbourhoods, including Adambrae, Almondvale, Craigshill, Deans, Dedridge, Eliburn, Howden, Kirkton, Knightsridge, Ladywell, and Murieston. There are also several large industrial estates, such as Alba Business Park, Brucefield Industrial Estate, Houston Industrial Estate, and Kirkton Campus. As defined by the General Register Office for Scotland, Livingston includes Uphall Station and Pumpherston.
Livingston is situated about fifteen miles west of Edinburgh, and thirty miles east of Glasgow. Other nearby villages include Kirknewton, Polbeth, and West Calder.
The earliest mention of Livingston was an early 12th-century charter as Villa Levingi (Leving's Town). Before its designation and development as a new town in 1962, Livingston was a collection of small villages that were home to only a few hundred people. Today, Livingston is home to more than fifty-six thousand people and some thriving industries.
Livingston played a significant role in the Scottish industrial revolution, when coal mining and shale oil extraction were its major industries.
In the 12th century, the area now included in the town was home several Scottish clans, including the MacGregors and the MacKinnons. Today, Livingston is a modern town, although its history can still be seen in its architecture and landmarks, including the Livingston Old Parish Church and the Livingston Mill. Museums and art galleries also highlight the area's heritage.
Philip Livingston, who represented New York in the First Continental Congress, a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, thus one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, is believed to have been a descendant of the founding family of Livingston, Scotland.
Livingston is the eighth-largest settlement and the third-largest town in Scotland. The River Almond runs through the town centre.
The town centre is on the southern edge of the Almond Valley, and includes a collection of shops and services. The town centre is bounded by a ring road to the east, which was purposefully planned, distinguishing it from several other town centres. North of the town centre is Howden Park, which adjoins Howden House, an 18th-century building that now houses an arts centre and private housing space. Private sector offices are concentrated at the eastern and western edges of the town centre, and along Almondvale Boulevard. The town centre also includes a swimming pool, a gym, restaurants, pubs, and hotels. West Lothian College and Almondvale Football Stadium are at the north-western edge of the town centre.
The Livingston Civic Centre opened in 2009. The building housed the Lothian and Borders Police until Police Scotland was created in 2013. It currently houses an office of Police Scotland, the Livington Sheriff Court, the Justice of the Peace Court, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership.
In summary, Livingston is located in West Lothian, Scotland. The largest town in the region, it was designated as a new town in 1962, and developed along the banks of the River Almond, originally incorporating a village of the same name.
Online resources for the town or any other governmental agencies housed within the town, as well as Livingston businesses, industries, educational institutions, places of worship, organizations, and individuals, are appropriate topics for this category.
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Recommended Resources
A community-based website for the town of Livingston, in West Lothian, the site features a history of the current town, Livingston Village, and an overview of the Centre, the Livi Lions and other sports programs and teams, and VUE Cinema. Information on how to get to the town is posted, and local attractions, things to do, dining establishments, libraries, and books on the town are highlighted. Government services, health facilities, and recreational programmes are included.
http://livingstonalive.com/
With over eighty shops, restaurants, and cafes, Livingston Designer Outlet has a wide selection of stores including well-known fashion brands like Fred Perry, Kurt Geiger, Lacoste, and Tommy Hilfiger, and athletic labels like Nike and Adidas. Its shopping, dining, and entertainment outlets are featured, along with gift cards, hands-free shopping, events, and featured promotional offers, and career opportunities. Nearby hotels and local attractions are acknowledged.
https://livingston-designer-outlet.co.uk/
Open Tuesday through Saturday, Neptune Studio is an independent salon in Livingston, Scotland, offering blow, style, and colour services, the latter of which requires a skin test for new clients, and must be paired with a cut and blow or post-color blow dry. The Studio's team is introduced, and workshops are scheduled from time to time. Other resources include customer reviews, its location, a map, and opening times. A selection of products may be purchased online.
https://www.neptunestudio.org/
Ristorante La Campana & Cocktail Bar
Specializing in traditional and modern Italian cuisine with Scottish influences, the restaurant is located along Hamilton Square, Murieston, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. Situated near Livingston South Station, the restaurant can accommodate up to a hundred people. Its a la carte menu, lunch menu, special dinner menu, takeaway menu, kid's menu, gluten-free menu, and drink menu may be viewed online, and gift vouchers and online bookings are available.
https://www.lacampana.co.uk/
James Young's Bathgate works were one of the first to produce refined mineral oils on a commercial scale. From this enterprise came an oil industry centred in West Lothian that competed against cheaper imported petroleum for nearly a century. This website was developed to commemorate and encourage research into the area's oil heritage, and many of its online resources are associated with the collection of the Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry is part of Almond Valley Heritage Centre.
https://www.scottishshale.co.uk/
