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Kilmarnock town centre

Kilmarnock, the largest town and the main shopping centre in East Ayrshire, is ideally situated close to the Ayrshire coast and with excellent transport links from Glasgow and around Ayrshire.

The town centre is an eclectic mix of historic and modern and its retail offer includes a broad range of independent specialists offering some exceptional quality products.

Parks

We are fortunate to have parks in and around the town centre. The beautiful Kay Park is just a short walk from the town centre, the Howard Park lies to the south of John Finnie Street and to the north of the town centre is the Dean Castle Country Park with its many facilities and activities.

Johnnie Walker

One of the most internationally famous names in the world started his business in Kilmarnock - Johnnie Walker marketed his Walker's Kilmarnock Whisky in the town. He is commemorated by a statue close to the Laigh Kirk in the town centre.

Nearby in Strand Street is the Johnnie Walker Bond, a former whisky warehouse which has been restored to full use as a key administrative centre for East Ayrshire Council.

Robert Burns

At The Cross in the town centre is a statue of Robert Burns and the printer, John Wilson, commemorating the publication of the first edition of Burns' poems close to that site in 1786.

Sculptures

In King Street, The Cross and at Foregate Square there are modern sculptures by Shona Kinloch which add a modern and fun twist into the town’s public art.

Victorian street

John Finnie Street is renowned as one of the finest examples in Scotland of a Victorian street with its beautiful red sandstone buildings.

Bank Street and New Laigh Kirk

Bank Street is a narrow cobbled street with a medieval layout with the New Laigh Kirk as a main feature. The church has a compelling history and it is also believed that Edgar Allan Poe was sent here to copy inscriptions from gravestones as part of his schooling.

Cultural venues

Kilmarnock has a strong cultural offering with the Dick Institute and The Palace Theatre complex in the town centre and the groundbreaking Burns Monument Centre offering a world class genealogy facility in the Kay Park.

Kilmarnock shopping

Kilmarnock offers a great mix of shopping, with some of the largest national retailers located alongside a selection of over 60 independent retailers offering a personal service that is second to none.

What makes Kilmarnock special is the independent and specialist shops providing a broad range of products and services. Music, weddings, children's clothing, hand-made stationary, art galleries, gifts, on trend fashion is just a sample of what is available.

Kilmarnock also has several family run independent furniture shops all within proximity of one another offering good quality furniture. 

Most of the independent shops are located in the Foregate, Bank Street, John Finnie Street and Titchfield Street.

Contact Information

Community Led Regeneration Team
Council Headquarters
London Road
Kilmarnock
KA3 7BU
Telephone: 01563 576075