Livingston

Livingston sits in the heart of West Lothian, one of Scotland's post-war new towns built around wide roads, shopping centres and green pockets rather than a historic core. It works well as a base for exploring the wider Lothian area, with good motorway links making it an easy stop whether you're passing through or settling in for a few days of family activities.

Most visitors stay at the chain hotels clustered near the town's main roads, including the Premier Inn Livingston Bathgate and Premier Inn Livingston M8 Jct3, both handy for quick access in and out. For something with a bit more character, the Mercure Livingston Hotel and Bankton House Hotel offer a step up, while the Best Western The Hilcroft Hotel West Lothian and Livingston Lodge Hotel round out the mid-range options. Chain Runner by Marstons Inns combines a pub with rooms, and Home from Home Bed and Breakfast gives a quieter, more personal alternative for those who'd rather skip the hotel chains altogether.

Families are well catered for here. Almond Valley Heritage Trust is the standout attraction, a working farm and museum set along the River Almond that gives a real sense of the area's rural and industrial past. For active days out, Innoflate Livingston brings inflatable obstacle courses for burning off energy, Livingston Skate Park draws in boarders and bikers, and Spacebugs at Craigwoods offers soft play for younger children. On a rainy day, Vue Livingston is the reliable fallback for a trip to the cinema.

Livingston isn't a destination built around scenery or heritage streets, but it earns its keep as a practical, well-connected base in West Lothian. Between the farm at Almond Valley, the activity centres for children, and a dense cluster of chain and independent eateries, it suits families and travellers who want convenience without giving up on things to do.