The town of Livingston is the beating heart of West Lothian, and tourists from all over the United Kingdom come to experience the numerous things to do in Livingston.
Livingston is the eighth largest town in Scotland and has grown substantially since its designation in 1962, absorbing the many towns, churches, and villages.
Separated into various areas, such as Livingston New Town & East Calder, Livingston is now a collection of Scottish new towns with a vibrant culture and an ever-expanding population. When you visit West Lothian, a trip to Livingston is definitely in order!
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Things to do in Livingston
Make the most of your trip to Livingston by visiting its top attractions for tourists. Day trippers love to come here when they stay in the surrounding cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Linlithgow to see Livingston’s abundance of excellent attractions.
The town boasts beautiful sights, such as the Livingston Dedridge, West Lothian College, and the Almond Valley Heritage Centre. Livingston has so many things to do that it’s challenging to decide what you should be spending your time doing while in this idyllic town.
See our top picks for things to do in Livingston.
Livingston Designer Outlet
With over 70 boutiques, restaurants and cafés, a cinema and mini-golf on-site, there is something for everyone at Livingston Designer Outlet & Shopping Centre.
The Livingston Designer Outlet is the largest in Scotland and is the perfect place to bring home a range of world-class brands while on holiday in Livingston.
If you want to find a bargain, you can choose from a wide range of designer brand outlet stores, including Fred Perry, Kurt Geiger, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger, and labels like Nike and Adidas.
Five Sisters Zoo
The Five Sisters Zoo is in West Calder, fifteen minutes south and west of Livingston, and is home to various animals, including lions and bears!
While you are visiting this popular attraction in Livingston, you get the chance to meet some amazing creatures! The zoo’s animal encounters experiences are great fun, and you can get close up to all kinds of animals, including royal pythons, leopard geckos, tenrecs, and creepy crawlies!
Almond Valley Heritage Centre
Livingston is an excellent place to visit while visiting this part of Scotland, with the Almond Heritage Centre being the perfect destination for families. The Almond Valley Heritage Centre is close to the River Almond and is surrounded by rolling fields, woods, and lush spaces – Picturesque!
Here are some of the most popular activities you can experience while visiting this Heritage Centre:
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Shale Oil Museum
Travel through the informative Shale Oil Museum of the Heritage Centre, where you can learn how shale oil production helped the region of West Lothian grow for decades.
Livingston’s shale oil was the fortified tower of production that provided a backbone for much of Livingston’s industrial history and how towns created many jobs and businesses for much of Livingston’s population.
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Livingston Mill and Farm
Within West Lothian sits the Livingston Mill and Farm, home to some of the most adorable farm animals you will ever see.
Say hi to impressive Clydesdale horses, cows, reindeer, rabbits, turkeys, and more! The Livingston Mill and Farm is an excellent day with the family, so why not visit?
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The Parrafin Works
The Parrafin Works is one of the best ways for your children to spend some time letting out their energy! This playground is inspired by the pipeworks of Livingston’s oil industry and businesses, providing a fun-filled few hours of exploration and entertainment.
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Train and Tractor Rides
Catching a ride on a carriage pulled by train or tractor is one of the best ways to explore the Almond Heritage Centre in Livingston. This short trip that takes you around the Centre’s highlights is the best way to travel!
Union Canal
The Union Canal runs from Falkirk to Edinburgh, with many visitors travelling to the Union Canal to enjoy a light spot of fishing in its waters while in the new town of Livingston.
Roach and Perch are the most common fish in these waters and can easily be caught using bait. Nothing beats the taste of freshly caught fish while sitting in the town centre and enjoying the great weather!
Macdonald Houstoun House
The Macdonald Houstoun House Spa is just a seven-minute drive away from Livingston town centre. This luxury spa in Uphall, West Lothian, is the perfect day out for couples that want to relax and unwind during their holiday in Livingston, Scotland.
Here you will find several Elemis spa treatments on the menu, and you can also use the spa’s 18-metre indoor swimming pool and sauna before or after your treatment.
Howden Park Centre
The Howden Park Centre in West Lothian is the most exciting venue for arts performances, theatre, and exhibitions. On the south side of Livingston, the Centre has it all, including a beautiful auditorium, café houses and bars, and venues for hire.
You can enjoy a wide variety of incredible shows while visiting the Centre, with notable acts like actress Su Pollard, Bon Jovi Forever, and comedian Gary Meikle! Check out their website for upcoming shows and details.
Matugga Distillers
For a wholly unique rum experience, take a trip to Matugga Distillers! They blend Eastern African ingredients and a Scottish distilling process to create a beautiful union of flavours and colours.
Matugga rum is an aromatic, flavourful, and smooth blend that is delicately balanced for every sip you take. The distillers at Matugga will be overjoyed to explain the details process of creating their rum when you visit and try their elegant blend.
Escape Livingston
Do you have what it takes to escape from one of the best escape rooms in the UK? Escape Livingston will put your criminal investigation and puzzle perception to the test as they challenge you with three different unique and thrilling escape rooms.
Solve your way out of a room of witchcraft and wizardry, pull off a museum heist, or break out of prison while at Escape Livingston. This high-paced adventure is one you should not miss out on!
You can find Escape Livingston on the south side of town, right next to the esteemed West Lothian College.
Tony Macaroni Arena
Named after the acclaimed Tony Macaroni series of Italian restaurants, the Tony Macaroni Arena is the premier stadium of Livingston and West Lothian.
Near the Livingston Civic Centre on Howden South Road and adorned in yellow, the arena is a fantastic place to visit. You can almost hear the cheering fans as you explore the stadium grounds.
Whether you’re a fan of football, rugby, or one of the many other sports clubs that the Tony Macaroni Arena hosts, you will undoubtedly feel the electric atmosphere when you visit this incredible location.
Deer Park Golf & Country Club
On the north side of Livingston, this established golf course and country club has been at the heart of the West Lothian region for almost 30 years and prides itself on being one of the best attractions for any resolute golfer.
Deer Park Golf Club has 18 unique holes to test your skills against, featuring nine well-positioned water hazards, sand bunkers, and lush greenery that provides excellent views while you play.
The Country Club, located on the east side of Livingston, also has a collection of luxury services and amenities to enjoy nearby after the game, like spa treatments, a gym, and various cafes and restaurants.
Livingston Village
Near the famous River Almond, Livingston Village is very much the centrepiece of West Lothian. This cornerstone hub will likely be where you set out to experience what this town centre and this village offer.
Wander the vibrant streets, enjoy one of many cafes in Livingston Village, and house yourself in some of the best accommodation this village offers, like Livingston Inn, a coaching inn on your way to the town on the north side of town.
Take a tour through the magnificent Livingston Village; you won’t regret it!
Livingston FC
If you want a surge of adrenaline while on holiday in Livingston, watching a Livingston Football Club match will do the trick! The Livingston Football Club, formerly Meadowbank Thistle, stands against many of Scotland’s finest.
In recent years, they’ve hit the top five and climbed higher and higher up the Scotland Premier League. Watch as they face off teams from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the rest of the UK! Take a look at their website for more information on matches, and treat yourself to a visit to the Tony Macaroni Stadium before enjoying a 90-minute heart-pounding game.
You’d be doing a disservice by not attending one of the incredible matches this club offers while visiting Livingston in West Lothian.
Almondell & Calderwood Country Park
Tucked out of sight in the valley of the Almond River, the Almondell & Calderwood Country Park is a hidden gem that very few get to see while in Livingston, West Lothian.
This untouched sanctuary is home to fantastic wildlife – roe deer, woodpeckers, herons, and foxes all can be seen while visiting Almondell and the surrounding area.
The two beautiful country parks of Almondell and Calderwood are some of the best-preserved natural parks in West Lothian, so make sure to set aside time to take in the natural beauty of these nearby destinations.
Eliburns Park
Enjoy some time at the beautiful and lush Eliburns Park, one of the best places to spend an afternoon with the family.
The Eliburns Park has many amenities and services to use here; you can walk down the verdant woodland walks, play on a kick pitch or the Park’s three football pitches, and it is the perfect picnic area to overlook the rest of the city.
The Park is also dog-friendly, so any pooches and pups you take on your journey will love it as much as you do.
Livingston Skatepark
If you want a taste of the vibrant youth culture of the new town of Livingston and the West Lothian region, take a trip down south to the Livingston Skatepark.
This skatepark was opened in 1981, a critical point in skating history when other skateparks in Britain were closing. It became a national icon and soon expanded its series of intense ramps, bowls, and even a beginner’s area.
It’s not often that you can see a piece of skating history in the United Kingdom, but the Livingston Skatepark certainly is one of them.
Delta Force Paintball
Test your strategy and skills when taking on friends and coworkers in Delta Force Paintball. You can capture victory in various game modes by using a mask, a paintball gun, and the tactically-placed terrain Delta Force provides.
This attraction is perfect for an end of the year corporate event, or even a hen or stag do and brings out the competitive side of everyone.
Linhouse Glen
Just north of Linhouse Water is the stunning Linhouse Glen, which shows off the great environments of Scotland like the far-reaching heathland, dense woodlands, and species-rich grasslands.
Home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, you can smell fragrant orchids and see a variety of impressive birdlife as you make your way through the rolling vistas.
Enjoy some time at this beautiful natural glen while visiting Livingstone & West Lothian.
Murieston Trail
If you’re interested in exploring more of the natural world, the Murieston Trail is your place. This woodland trail snakes through scenic natural landscapes with a meadow and playpark for you to stop by and enjoy the beauty of Murieston.
The trail finishes at Cambridge Pond, where you can have fabulous picnics and spend a sunset evening admiring the serene waters and the wildlife that flock to it.
Murieston Trail is a great destination that you should make time for if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Klondyke Garden Centre
The Klondyke Garden Centre is a tranquil destination that offers you a great way to connect with the many different flowers and plants.
The Centre is the perfect place for dates, made even better by visiting the Topiary Coffee Store. The Coffee Store has everything from a quick snack to a hearty lunch, with traditional teas sourced from the Garden’s produce!
The Klondyke Garden Centre is a great place to relax in Livingston, and you may even find yourself taking home a humble sapling from the Garden’s nursery.
Breich Water
Walk along with the River Almond when you make your way down the Breich Water trail. The Breich Water path is a great way to spend some time with the family after a big hearty lunch at one of the excellent cafes in Livingston New Town.
You could even spot kingfishers, sandpipers, and even dippers as you walk along the path and cross the bridges of this excellent River Almond walking trail.
Breich Water offers a great way to see the beautiful River Almond while in Livingston, West Lothian, so try a morning to walk along this gorgeous path.
Xcite Livingston
If you’re craving a bit of exercise and relaxation while on your holiday in Livingston, then Xcite Livingston has all the amenities and world-class facilities waiting for you.
Just east of West Lothian College, Xcite has an excellent gym, fantastic swimming pool, sauna and steam room, and even a cafe for you to enjoy.
Being on holiday also means taking care of your mind and body, so make some time for Xcite Livingston while in West Lothian.
Almondvale Centre
When you think of a holiday, you think of shopping, and the Almondvale Shopping Centre on Almondvale Avenue is just the cure you need to shop ’til you drop.
Not only does this Centre have top-class brands, but a collection of excellent diners and exhibits throughout the Centre that is decorated throughout the year. Almondvale Shopping Centre has it all, from fine dining to fast food and luxury to affordable brands.
You can even try their Aerial Adventure, a series of harnessed climbing challenges that take you along the walls of the Centre itself!
More things to do in Edinburgh & The Lothians
- Things to do in Bathgate
- Things to do in Edinburgh
- Things to do in Haddington
- Things to do inLinlithgow
- Things to do inNorth Berwick
- Things to do inSouth Queensferry
Thinking Of Booking A Trip? Check Out Our Top Accommodation Options In Livingston
