{"id":1346,"date":"2019-10-24T16:11:32","date_gmt":"2019-10-24T16:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/?p=1346"},"modified":"2020-12-16T17:24:29","modified_gmt":"2020-12-16T17:24:29","slug":"east-kilbride-the-five-minute-spare-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/east-kilbride-the-five-minute-spare-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"East Kilbride The Five Minute Spare Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

East Kilbride \u2013 usually just known as EK \u2013 is fairly close to Glasgow, just to the South East of the city in fact, and although there is a West Kilbride too, but the less said about that the better: well at least until we get round to writing our guide to it. East Kilbride is a sprawling urban area with row after row of housing estates that all look exactly the same. Between those and the roundabouts, you need to be careful\u2026 the last tourists to go in were never heard from again. Joking apart, asides from being a maze; East Kilbride has got some brilliant attractions that make it beloved by the entirety of Central Scotland. It\u2019s like Glasgow without the risk of getting punched as you walk past a pub (this actually happened to a friend once, outside 13th<\/sup> Note<\/a>, Glasgow). It\u2019s a nice, comfortable place that reminds us all of our miss-spent youths.<\/p>\n

Visiting East Kilbride? Got Five Minutes?<\/h1>\n
\"East

East Kilbride at its most tranquil
Image Billy Millin\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

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We put together a five-minute guide to the place us Scots affectionately call \u2018Roundabout City\u2019 to help you get the most out of your visit!<\/p>\n

Overall it would be fair to say EK has some beautiful little hidden gems\u2026 they\u2019re just more hidden than in other places. Do what we do: get off at the train or bus station, jump in a taxi and hand them the address of one of the places below. The taxi driver won\u2019t know where it is either, but at least it won\u2019t be your problem anymore.<\/p>\n

East Kilbride at a Glance<\/h2>\n

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As we said East Kilbride (A.K.A Roundabout City A.K.A EK) has some cool little places to check out. Here are our top five, though we will cover a few more in a minute.<\/p>\n

\"Calderglen

Even on a cloudy day the park has something to offer – it is a bit more bleak midwinter though…
Image By Katerina Kat\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Calderglen Country Park<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s so easy to spend a day here with the whole family. Legend has it that it started as a Deer Park and grew from there. Now they have an 18 hole golf course, an adventure play zone, a caf\u00e9, a Toddler\u2019s area, ornamental gardens. A tropical conservatory\u2026oh yes, and its own zoo. Definitely worth the East Kilbride day trip.<\/p>\n

The Village<\/a><\/p>\n

You can\u2019t pass through East Kilbride without stopping past the Village. This is the oldest part of town and has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Weirdly, East Kilbride wasn\u2019t designated as a New Town until 1947, when the influx of people moving to the country during WWII saw the population expand.<\/p>\n

The Village was home to the Comyn clan<\/a> until the 13th<\/sup> century. The castle and surrounding lands (the village as it was then) were stripped from them after a rivalry with Robert the Bruce. The lands were then passed to Clan Stewart and onwards to the Lindsays of Dunrod<\/a>. If you are interested in the Village check out the Theatre<\/a>\u00a0or take a trip out to the ruins of Comyn castle<\/a>\u2026 if you can hunt them down.<\/p>\n

The Plaza<\/a><\/p>\n

Shopping is a big part of why everyone in the Central Belt loves EK so much. When we were kids, our parents would take us to the Plaza to spend Christmas or birthday money. There\u2019s a build-a-bear, a Disney store, lots of food places, a few casinos, some pubs, and about a billion clothing shops. There\u2019s usually an ice rink in the centre too, oh, and a cinema. They changed the name some time ago to the EK Shopping Centre\u2026 but some of us still call Starburst Opal Fruits.<\/p>\n

The Dollan Aqua Centre<\/a><\/p>\n

If you happen to have a swimsuit packed in your bag, or if you want to entertain the kiddies while you sip a latte, then the Dollan Aqua Centre is a great place to do it. They have the swimming pool, a relaxation area, a gym if you are that way inclined \u2013 and then an additional gym because why not? They also run mind, body and soul classes that might be good for your stress level after all those roundabouts.<\/p>\n

Langlands Moss<\/a><\/p>\n

Langlands Moss is a bogland moor nature reserve that forms an important natural habitat \u2013 peat. In the old days this moor would have been farmed for its peat. Crofters would cut the peat into squares then dry it out over time. Once dried, peat will burn for hours. It formed an important part of heating Village homes\u2026 and nowadays it is rightly protected.<\/p>\n

If you are a hiker, biker, or runner, then the Langlands Moss<\/a> is a great place to be. It\u2019s also good for wildlife spotting\u2026 just take an extra jacket and a scarf.<\/p>\n

Where to Eat, Drink and Party in East Kilbride<\/h2>\n

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When it comes to nightclubs, you can lose years of your life in Crystals<\/a> \u2013 but in a good way! If you want to feed the family then try the Harvester<\/a>. It has a little beer garden for you to sit outside and a global menu. If more upscale dining is your thing then try the Oiishi Japanese<\/a> restaurant. Since EK is such a big business town you have a lot of choice for \u2018business dining\u2019.<\/p>\n

In terms of the best pub, the locals love the Village Inn<\/a>. However, you are so close to Glasgow it is a ten minute train ride to the whole of town.<\/p>\n

Other Notable East Kilbride Attractions<\/h2>\n

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There are a number of other fun things to do in East Kilbride: some are free, some not-so-free.<\/p>\n

Free things to do in EK:<\/p>\n