In fact, the second largest in all of the Lothians behind only Edinburgh
Just after Edinburgh
Livingston is the second largest settlement in the Lothians after Edinburgh. When one considers that prior to the 1960s, few people outside of its immediate area had ever heard of it, it is remarkable that over 50,000 people have chosen to make it their home in the past forty odd years. This is an accomplishment that is truly remarkable. All of that changed in 1962 when the government was looking for a suitable place to relocate Glasgow's over spill population.
They only had one city in mind;
which was Livingston.
A beautiful area
They chose this beautiful area on the banks of the River Almond with its beautiful scenery of the Pentlands hills to the south and the Bathgate hills to the north to be the attractive site for the fourth of Scotland's five designated new towns. This area is midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. East Kilbride, Irvine, Cumbernauld, and Glenrothes are some examples of similar towns that were founded at the same time. Livingston is one of the most successful of the five. One of the most prosperous of the five, Livingston is now the:
administrative;
economic;
and shopping center for the entirety of West Lothian.
Livingston wouldn't be what it is today if it weren't for the "Livingston Development Corporation," more commonly known as the LDC. The LDC was initially located on the top floor of the Scotsman buildings before moving to their purpose-built offices within Livingston village. Without the LDC, Livingston wouldn't be what it is today.
LDC is fundamental
a company that made Livingston famous
The concept behind the master plan for Livingston was that it should be the first new town in Britain to be planned with the intention of serving as a regional center for the entirety of its surrounding area.
It's success
It was also very successful in regulating the growth and expansion of the new town, with the scheme dictating that the new town should expand in an orderly fashion from east to west. This was accomplished with great success.
growth and expansion
orderly fashion - from east to west
As a result, the first people to move into the new town were housed in the already established village of Livingston station, but the construction of the first significant housing development began on the hillside near Craigshill. A Swedish industrialized method of building was used there in order to meet the government's demand for one thousand new homes every year.
Many international companies have opened their representative offices in Scotland because of the fantastic opportunities available here. You can also try to open your own business here, of course all this is possible only after you have settled down to live here as well.
Are you familiar with the Outlanders phenomenon? I mean the movie “Anna and the Apocalypse” and the video game “Murderous Pursuits”. In this case, you should definitely get acquainted with Blazing Griffin. Blazing Griffin, based in Glasgow, is the fantastic team responsible for all these amazing creations.
Scotland has recently grabbed the attention of the world thanks to the popularity of the TV series “Traveler”, and it’s easy to see why. Some of Scotland’s most famous landmarks have served as filming locations, and the expertise of Scottish workers and businesses is usually vital to the overall success of the production and the outcome.
To motivate yourself to set up your own business in Scotland, you can find out more about Blazing Griffin, a digital studio specialising in traditional and experimental game development, with a full-service film production and post-production background. The studio is headquartered in Glasgow and employs around fifty professionals who have helped the company achieve significant success. One of the company’s latest projects, Anna and the Apocalypse, has just been sold to MGM Orion for wide distribution in the US.
The company’s post-production departments manage international workflows for high-end TV and film producers from around the world, while developing their own product.
All of the above would not be so popular and relevant if it were not for Scotland’s quality education, which guarantees success and future career security. Scotland’s excellent education system provides a highly skilled workforce for a wide range of industries. Low living and operating costs complement the high quality of life in the countryside. All this attracts potential residents and workers from all over the world, including from the European Union.
castles in Glasgow Scotland
Should you move to Scotland?
The real question is not whether to move to Scotland, because there are many advantages in other countries as well. Scotland has a large number of parks, a low crime rate and a high standard of living.
Eighty-three percent of Scots believe that if we had a choice to live in the UK or in our own country, we would choose Scotland. Almost a fifth of respondents in the same survey said they would never leave their current place of residence. There must be a good reason why, despite Scotland’s fickle weather, its residents would not want to live elsewhere. Unlike the question “Should I move to Scotland?”, the question “Which part of Scotland should I move to?” is more appropriate because of the many benefits and excellent quality of healthcare throughout the country.
Top Benefits of Scotland
Scotland offers a wide variety of environments and lifestyles, from the tranquility of the Highlands to the hustle and bustle of the central belt. A total of 24,000 Scots responded to the RightMove Home Happiness Index survey and their answers have helped to identify the top five places to live in Scotland. The top cities in Scotland are Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, Falkirk and Inverness.
Design, manufacturing and life sciences have largely replaced traditional industries such as distilling and agriculture.
Only you know what is best for you, your family and your career. So decide for yourself!
There are a number of convincing reasons why trips to West Lothian, especially to Livingston, are usually a good idea. Someone may ask: What are they? Let me just name a few things to do in Livingston:
rich history,
diverse population,
plenty of services, and
wide open areas.
See what’s going on and where you can stay, eat, and play during your stay. Immediately plan your next weekend trip, family holiday, or relaxing retreat to West Lothian.
A variety of Fun Things to Do
Learn about the diverse cultures that make up our nation. Wander across Scotland’s modern shopping malls, historic downtowns, and quaint hamlets.
The food and drink are both top-notch. Bathgate, a bustling Scottish town surrounded on all sides by gently sloping hills, is a traditional place in every sense of the word. Find out more about its past and look into the present to see what it has to offer.
Scotland is home to several historic communities that are known for their golfing prowess and their warm hospitality to visitors.
A Magnificent Relic from the Past Linlithgow is a historic town that successfully combines modern amenities with its historic charm by offering visitors a wide range of interesting sights, activities, and places to eat and drink.
Superb for the Retail Industry The county town of West Lothian is Livingston, and it’s a great place to spend the day since it’s a modern, lively hub with much to see and do for both tourists and locals.
Amidst Broxburn and Uphall
All year long, entry is completely free. This West Lothian treasure is perhaps the best-kept secret in the area, lying between Broxburn and East Calder.
Linlithgow
Near Linlithgow, over a total area of 370 hectares (913 acres), you may partake in a wide variety of exciting pursuits. Admission is free, and it’s open all year.
Parking is extremely limited and will be strictly monitored, so please plan accordingly. Visitors who have paid to see the castle and gardens are the only ones allowed inside. Explore the inside of a medieval fortress that has been maintained to a large extent and was formerly used to protect the region surrounding the Firth of Forth. A stunning setting that portrayed the infamous Fort William in the Outlander TV series.
Western Calder
Everyone, no matter their age, can find something to enjoy at the Five Sisters Zoo. Take a trip to the center of West Lothian and spend some time enjoying the countryside there.
Torphichen Preceptorium
Torphichen The building itself is off-limits, but the grounds are open for exploration. We are making significant efforts to gradually reopen the places you appreciate while keeping everyone safe. Church’s tower and transepts, were initially built in the 13th century by the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem but extensively renovated in recent centuries.
Kirknewton
Just west of Edinburgh lies Jupiter Artland, a contemporary sculpture park that has received a number of prizes. Jupiter Artland spans 100 acres of grassland, woodland, and indoor exhibition space, and features more than 30 permanent and one-of-a-kind site-specific artworks. The site also has a well-planned calendar of events and exhibitions throughout the year.
Whitburn
The flying demonstrations at Professor Hoot’s Owl School happen every day, rain or shine, and you may learn about owls from all around the world.
Wooded walking routes, a play area, picnic, and BBQ facilities, a visitor center, a golf course, a driving range, a bowling green, and the Scottish Owl Centre can all be found in this popular 68-hectare (168-acre) tourist destination near Whitburn.
The rich history, fantastical stories, and delectable cuisine of Scotland make it a fascinating destination. However, even native Scots like me may benefit from brushing up on these interesting tidbits.
Settle in and join us as we explore the history, language, and culture of Scotland, as well as some of the best tourist destinations in the world.
Statement town
Even though Edinburgh is a city universally adored, its rich past is little unknown.
Edinburgh, like Rome, was laid out on seven hills, and it also has more historical landmarks than any other city. There are a lot of variants where to stay in North Wales or any other part of the United Kingdom.
It’s likely that the first skyscraper was built on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s Old Town. This must have been an incredible sight to see in the 17th century!
Islands
While the Isle of Skye is certainly well-known, you may not realize that Scotland is really home to around 800 individual islands.
There are just around 130 of Scotland’s 790 islands inhabited by people. Lewis and Harris, the main island of Shetland, and the main island of Orkney may be considered our busiest islands, whereas the smallest islands in the archipelago only have a few dozen residents.
Islandhopping
Planning prepared is essential whether you’re taking the boat or the aircraft to our islands.
The shortest passenger flight in the world takes off from Orkney.
You can go from Westray to Papa Westray in only two minutes. This is something that can only be done in Scotland.
One of the few remaining beach runways in the world is located here on the island of Barra.
cities in motion mods
Rarest items
You undoubtedly already know that Scotland is rather ancient, but did you realize that so much of its history is still around today?
The Fortingall Yew is an old yew tree that might be anywhere from 3,000 to 9,000 years old, making it one of the oldest living objects in Europe.
In addition, Perthshire is home to the Meikleour Beech Hedge. This beech hedge is 30 meters tall and 530 meters in length; it was established in 1745. The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes it as the world’s largest hedge.
One of the largest and most complete stone circles in Britain and Europe is located in the Outer Hebrides, and it is known simply as the Calanais Standing Stones. They date back to circa 2,900 BC in antiquity.
In addition, the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness (two stone circles), Skara Brae (an old Neolithic town), and Maeshowe make up the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (a Neolithic chambered tomb). Here, you have the opportunity to learn about a civilisation that has been extinct for almost five thousand years.
Fiction and tales
Myths and tales abound in Scotland; everyone has heard of Nessie, the country’s most infamous monster, but nobody has ever really seen it.
Did you know that the mythical unicorn is also the symbol of our nation?
It is believed to have originally appeared on a Scottish coat of arms in the 12th century, and that its usage there represented virtues such as innocence, strength, and chivalry.
The Gilchrists
The first residents, MR and Mrs. James Gilchrist, along with their son Robert, moved in on schedule in April 1966 to number 39 Broom Walk. This was accomplished in order to meet the government's demand. Nearby, former Rangers goalkeeper Billy Ritchie opened the first shop, which would later become the Craigshill covered shopping center, which would go on to become one of the wonders of its age. Howden, Ladywell, Knightsridge, Dedridge, Eliburn, Deans and Carmondean, DeerPark, Bankton, and Murieston are just a few of the place names that followed and became well known in the Livingston New Town.
