Livingston is the fourth post-war new town to be built in Scotland, designated in 1962. It is located approximately 15 miles (25 km) west of Edinburgh and 30 miles (50 km) east of Glasgow, and is bordered by the towns of Broxburn to the northeast and Bathgate to the northwest.
Livingston is the largest town in the West Lothian area. It was built around a collection of small villages, Livingston Village, Bellsquarry and Livingston Station (now Nether Dechmont or Deans ). It contains a number of residential precincts or areas. These include Craigshill, Howden, Dedridge, Ladywell, Knightsridge, Murieston, Adambrae, Deans and Eliburn. Its neighbouring villages include Polbeth, West Calder, East Calder, Mid Calder, Uphall Station and Pumpherston. Livingston itself is the 7th largest town in Scotland, based on 2004 population estimates. The 2001 census showed the town had a population of 50,826 (24,451 male and 26,375 female) and an urban agglomeration population (including Mid Calder and East Calder) of 59,511.
Livingston is also the second largest settlement in the Lothians after Edinburgh. Until 1963 the area surrounding the ancient village of Livingston was open farm land. The name was taken from this village which dates back to 12th Century when a Flemish entrepreneur called De Leving was granted land in the area. He built a fortified tower which is long since gone and the settlement that grew up around it became known as Levingstoun, Layingston and eventually Livingston.
'''Road'''
Livingston has excellent connections to the central Scotland road network. The M8 bounds Livingston in the north. A899 dual carriageway spine road passes north south along Livingston's eastern edge and connects the M8 in the north to the A71 in the South and has the A89 to the west.
'''Buses'''
Livingston has a central bus terminal located on Almondvale Avenue between the two shopping centres in the town centre. This provides regular services to surrounding towns and villages. First Group are the main bus operator in Livingston, other operators include E&M Horsburgh, Passenger Travel, Blue Bus, Davidsons Buses, SD Travel, Prentice Westwood and Nordi Travel. Livingston has buses to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Airport, Ocean Terminal, Oban, Lanark and Falkirk . There are 7 stances at the bus terminal.
'''Rail'''
Livingston has two railway stations; Livingston North and Livingston South. Livingston North is located adjacent to the Carmondean Shopping Centre between Eliburn and Deans and sits on the Edinburgh-Bathgate line. Livingston South is located at the Murieston Shops and sits on the Edinburgh-Shotts-Motherwell-Glasgow Central Line. Livingston North is part of a new line that will go to Glasgow Queen Street and Airdrie.
'''Airports'''
Livingston is 15 km west of Edinburgh Airport which has regular flights to UK and international destinations.
'''Ferry'''
Livingston is in relative close proximity to the port of Rosyth in Fife. This runs three sailings a week to and from Zeebrugge in Belgium.
After almost 50 years of rapid growth, what was once "Livingston New Town" has for some time just been known as Livingston.
Livingston was the fourth of the Scottish new towns built to accommodate overspill from Glasgow's highly populated city centre following the Second World War.
Livingston now covers over ten square miles of the River Almond valley to the south of the line of the M8 motorway, and has a population of around 50,000. The key to Livingston's success has been its location just 15 miles west of Edinburgh and 30 east of Glasgow.
At the heart of Livingston is the Almondvale Shopping Centre. Parts of this date back to the early 1970s, but it has grown steadily since.
As for the name of the town, it was taken from the existing Livingston Village, one of a number of old settlements which add character to their newer neighbours. Livingston actually dates back to the 1100s when a Flemish entrepreneur called De Leving was granted land in the valley. He built a fortified tower, and the settlement that grew up around it became known as Levingstoun and, later, Livingston.
'''Racing Karts'''
Arrol Square Deans, Livingston EH54 8QZ Telephone: 01506 410 123 Open 7 days 10am - 10pm
'''Ten pin Bowling'''
Deer Park Golf and Country Club Golf Course Road Livingston, West Lothian EH54 8AB Telephone : 01506 446 699
'''Game of Golf'''
Deer Park Golf and Country Club Golf Course Road Livingston, West Lothian EH54 8AB Telephone : 01506 446 699
'''BUBBLES LEISURE POOL'''
Almondvale Boulevard Livingston West Lothian EH54 6QT Telephone: 01506 777 870 Open Every day
Livingston offers a unique shopping experience, with 2 major shopping centres with another under construction, and another three medium large retail parks and a cluster of small local stores located throughout the different areas.
Livingston is the fourth of Scotland_fs five "new towns", and started construction in 1963. By 1970 most of the towns residential zones had been constructed. The first phase of Almondvale Shopping Centre was completed in 1976 to facilitate the needs of the local residents and workers. The first major refurbishment was completed in 1988 by Land Securities. During the refurbishment, the centre was extended by 230,000 sq. ft in 1996, creating phase 2 of the already very successful development, bringing the size of the centre to over 550,000 sq. ft.
In early 1999, construction started on phase 3 of the development with the construction of McArther Glen Designer Outlet Centre, (now renamed to Livingston Designer Outlet in 2007) and was opened three months behind schedule in October 2000, with other work continuing into 2001. During this time, ASDA Wal Mart constructed a new supercenter behind Almondvale Shopping Center. This supercenter is the largest of its kind in Europe. This brand new development opened up over 80 new shops, 20 bars and restaurants, a fitness Suite, 4000 new car parking spaces and an 8 screen 'Circuit Cinema' cinema complex.(Re-named in 2005 to VUE) In early 2007, another 15 shops were constructed within the centre replacing the "At home" area. Many businesses within this unit never re-opened in a new single unit.
Phase 4 of the Almondvale development started in March 2007, which removed the Safeway supermarket and its car park. Also, between the Livingston Designer Outlet and Almondvale Centre, the car park was removed to make way for The Elements, a groundbreaking shopping center costing __135,000,000.
The Elements contains 35 brand new shops, with Marks & Spencer and Debenhams as anchor stores. Within this development, there will be socialising areas, rooftop bars restaurants and a Winter Garden, bringing the Almondvale Centre Development to over a million sq. ft. The old Safeway carpark has been developed into a new 3 story car park providing another free 1500 spaces.
The Elements opened on October 16th 2008, joining with the Almondvale centre to become 'the centre'.
'''Italian Restaurants'''
Da Vinci's Hotel Hawk Brae, Ladywell West, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6TW 01506 460841
Ristorante Felicita 1, Beveridge Square, Dedridge, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6QF 01506 429191
La Vita 35b, Main St, Mid Calder, Livingston, West Lothian EH53 0AW 01506 885138
Massimo Restaurant Almondvale Crescent, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 7EP 01506 462203
'''Chinese Restaurants'''
Cathay Cuisine 25, Main St, Deans, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 8BE 01506 409988
Hong Chinese Restaurant & Take Away 149a, Uphall Station Rd, Pumpherston, Livingston, West Lothian EH53 0PB 01506 441832
Sapphire Restaurant Units 2 & 3, Bankton Centre, Murieston, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 9DA 01506 417272
Imperial Palace 14, Marrfield Terrace, Uphall Station, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 5PY 01506 438656
China Glen Mcarthur Glen Designer Outlet, Almondvale Avenue, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6QX 01506 420011
'''Indian Restaurants'''
Khushis 15, Bank St, Mid Calder, Livingston, West Lothian EH53 0AS 01506 884514
Zaika Restaurant 3, Follyburn Place, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6BF 01506 461561
Raj Poot Restaurant 90, Uphall Station Rd, Pumpherston, Livingston, West Lothian EH53 0LW 01506 431166
Ashoka Shak Unit 26, Mcarthur Glen Designer Outlet, Almondvale Avenue, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6QX 01506 416622
'''American Restaurants'''
Frankie & Benny's Unit 2, Almondvale South Retail Park, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6XG 01506 465420
Da Vinci's Hotel - Brooklyn Bar Hawk Brae, Ladywell West, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6TW 01506 460841
Chicargo Rock Cafe Unit 1, McAster Design Outlet Centre, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6QX 01506 463123
'''Fast Food'''
Spud U Like Ltd Designer Outlet Village, Almond Vale Bouleard, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6QP 01506 461446
Macdonalds 2 Almondvale Avenue, Livingston West Lothian. EH54 6QX 01506 413200
KFC Almondvale Retail Pk Almondvale South Livingston, EH54 6RQ 01506 465473
Harry Ramsdens Unit 5/Almondvale Av, Livingston, EH54 6QX 01506 400714
'''Pubs'''
The Carvery Brucefield Industrial Estate, Rutherford Square, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 9BU 01506 417788
The Granary Almondvale Boulevard, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6QN 01506 410661
Beefeater Restaurant & Pub Deer Park, Deer Park Avenue, Knightsridge, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 8AD 01506 439202
Livingston Inn 2 Main St. Livingston Village West Lothian EH54 7AF 01506413054
Almond Bank - JD Wetherspoons Almondvale Boulevard Livingston West Lothian 01506 424190
'''Premier Inn Livingston'''
2 star hotel, 74 rooms Starlaw Road, Livingston EH48 1LQ, Scotland
Friendly value hotel located close to downtown; 27 km to Edinburgh International.
'''Macdonald Houston House'''
3 star hotel, 71 rooms Uphall Nr Edinburgh, West Lothian, Livingston EH52 6JS, Scotland
16th century manor house set in 20 acres of gardens & woods; close to Edinburgh airport; ideal for a business or leisure stays.
'''Best Western Hilcroft Hotel'''
32 rooms East Main Street, Livingston EH47 0JU, Scotland