Kirkcaldy is a town in Fife, Scotland.

Understand

Known as "The Langtoon" Kirkcaldy is the UK's premier centre for linoleum manufacturing and as home to Raith Rovers Football Club. The population is some 50,000.

The town is a popular day destination for shoppers, and its mile long high street and two indoor shopping centres contain a good mix of local and chain stores. Other attractions include the Adam Smith Theatre, named after the economist who was born in the town, the museum and art gallery (featuring an extensive collection of Wemyss Ware and works by the Scottish Colourists, as well as two originals by Jack Vettriano).

Other famous people born in Kirkcaldy include: the "Demarcator of Standard Time" (Universal Standard Time) Sandford Fleming (1827-1915), and one of Scotland's most famous architects, Robert Adam (1728-92); Reformation figures Henry Balnaves and George Gillespie both hailed from the town as did, in more recent times, Frederick Coutts, 8th General of the Salvation Army.

In politics, Kirkcaldy counts sixth Governor-General of Australia, Ronald Munro-Ferguson and Sir David Steel (1938-)among its sons, the current British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown (1951-), although born in Glasgow, moved to Kirkcaldy at an early age and is the local UK Parliamentary Constituency's MP. In sport, twice World darts champion Jocky Wilson was born in the town and lives in the Lauder Road area. From popular culture, Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman comes from Kirkcaldy, as well as local 'it-boy' Iain McInnes. Jack Vettriano (1951-), the UK's most popular living artist, was born close by. It is also widely rumoured that former Soviet weight lifting champion, Michael Andrew Simpson was born and raised in the Templehall area of Kirkcaldy before emigrating to Minsk.

Val McDermid, journalist and author (titles include: Wire in the Blood and Distant Echo) was born and raised in Kirkcaldy, though her books' liner notes refer only to a 'small Scottish mining town'.

Get in

By Air

The nearest airport to Kirkcaldy is Edinburgh International Airport (EDI), situated 26 miles/42km from Kirkcaldy. Also sometimes known as "Turnhouse", Edinburgh Airport offers a wide range of domestic and international flights to destinations throughout the UK, Europe and North America.

Get around

Kirkcaldy is on the main Aberdeen to London and Penzance lines, so travel north and south is very easy. The bus station is about half a mile from the train station and the main operator, Stagecoach, offers frequent services to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other major centres.

The main arterial road, the A92, links to the M90 to the west, and takes travellers north to Glenrothes and Dundee.

Places of interest nearby include: Culross, 'the village that stood still', where 16th and 17th century cottages have been restored and occupied. Also here is Culross Palace and Culross Abbey.

Dunfermline is close to the west, and to the east, the famous 'East Neuk' of Fife is to be found, with its many attractive fishing villages such as Pittenweem, Cellardyke, Anstruther and Largo.

See

• Beveridge park - is worth a visit.

• Dunnikier Park, to the North of the town, has a fine municipal golf course.
• Ravenscraig Park affords magnificent sea walks and fine views of the historic Ravenscraigh Castle.

Do

• In spring of each year, a large travelling fair, known as the Links Market, visits the town for a week, occupying a mile long stretch of the town's esplanade. It is the largest travelling fair of its kind in Europe.
• The Art Gallery, in the War Memorial Gardens, contains a fine display of Scottish Colourists' work, and is the only municipally owned gallery in the UK to own and display Vettriano originals.
• The Museum contains a display of the town's industrial heritage, including a large collection of Wemyss Ware which was made in one of the town's (now closed) potteries.
• There are several clubs and 'trendy' bars in the town.
• The Adam Smith Theatre is close to the train station.
• Visit the Ice Rink, either to see Fife Flyers (Scotland's premier Ice Hockey team) or to skate.

Buy

Shopping is fine: most major chain stores are represented, but there are fewer independent shops.

The Mercat Shopping Centre is larger than the nearby Postings Shopping Centre. The High Street is about 3/4 mile long and is mainly pedestrianised.

Car parking is excellent, and inexpensive.

'Rejects' is a huge department store in St Clair Street, specialing in seconds and home furnishings etc.

The retail park contains the usual humdrum collection of soul-less units - Homebase, Halfords, Comet etc etc.

Eat

Valente's Chip Shop in Overton Road is a local curiosity. It is highly rated by locals, and a long queue is often to be seen in these premises as people queue up for their 'fish suppers'. Slow, but well worth a visit.

Drink

The Alpha Bar, in Hayfield Road, is a good example of a working class person's tavern. The language is strong, and the surroundings are bare, but here is to be found the real heart of Kirkcaldy. Not for the faint-hearted!

Sleep

Get out

Kirkcaldy is close to St Andrews a pretty mediaeval university town, situated next to the sea. St Andrews has the oldest university in Scotland (founded 1410), a ruined cathedral and castle, many golf courses, and is the home of the Royal and Ancient, the ruling body of Golf worldwide.