Motherwell, Scotland — You may be tempted to pass through this town to get to Glasgow or Edinburgh, but with so many amazing things to do in Motherwell you’d be missing out on visiting one of the best holiday locations in Central Scotland.
This small hamlet, just south-east of Glasgow, has an incredible range of attractions from adrenaline-pumping theme parks, exotic zoos, a beautiful range of natural parks, and many more!
Famous for its steel industry, Motherwell provides steel and metals to the rest of Lanarkshire, Scotland, and London. The Ravenscraig steelworks railway is a notable attraction for those interested in the steel making history of Motherwell.
Before you get your travel plans ready, read through this thorough and informative guide to get the most out of your holiday in Motherwell, Lanarkshire!
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North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre
The North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre’s tower is a beautiful piece of architecture that holds sweeping galleries & exhibitions, a close-up look at the region’s history, and spectacular views of the areas around Motherwell and North Lanarkshire.
The Centre, near Ladywell Road & east of Timothy Pont, makes for a great family outing. A dynamic playground and climbing gym will delight your children while you learn about this large town in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
If you’re visiting Motherwell for the first time, treat yourself to the panoramic sights from the viewing tower.
Strathclyde Country Park
At a staggering 400-acres, the Strathclyde Country Park is Motherwell’s crown jewel in the heart of its hamlet. It is one of the most iconic country parks in Scotland.
This bountiful venue shows off the natural beauty of the Clyde Valley and River and brings in thousands of people every year.
Strathclyde Country Park is a hub for activities such as rowing, firework events, and nature walks. With its playground, watersports centre & cafe, and fun boats, the park is also an excellent spot for family & children-orientated activities.
Missing out on Strathclyde Park means missing out on the beating heart of Motherwell, so make sure to include it on your to-do list.
Baron’s Haugh Nature Reserve
Experience and connect with Mother Nature at Baron’s Haugh Nature Reserve, one of Motherwell’s prime educational destination parks.
Dedicated to keeping the wildlife’s overall population up in the face of pollution, you can walk one of four trails and see a host of delicate wildlife such as ducks, swans, butterflies, and more!
Take the opportunity to do a guided walking tour of the parks and visit Baron’s Haugh Nature Reserve while in Motherwell.
Dalziel Park Hotel & Golf Club
Practise your swing game while staying at the Dalziel Park Hotel — the height of luxury found in Motherwell.
This Hotel is a romantic getaway just waiting to happen and is host to many glamorous celebrations over the year for newly-weds, engagements, and corporate parties.
With superior services at this refined location, you’ll never want to leave the golf club, its parks, and the leisure facilities on your stay! Check their website page for reservations.
M&D’s Scotland’s Theme Park
Visiting Motherwell is a wild ride, and in the case of M&D’s Scotland’s Theme Park, we mean that literally. One of only a few theme parks in and around Motherwell that organisations cover, you will not stop feeling the thrill while you’re here.
The theme park is home to a wide range of themed rides, zoos, parks, and even an ancient Roman era fort and bath-house. The bath-house can be viewed from inside the park.
Whether you’re with your children and want to enjoy a single fun-filled day of face painting, parks, and rollercoasters, or you want to fully commit and grab their full season pass for yourself, you can’t miss out on this adventurous Lanarkshire location.
Motherwell Concert Hall
Motherwell Concert Hall boasts some of the finest and most unique performances in North Lanarkshire.
Renovated and reopened in part by the North Lanarkshire Council in 2011, this category A-listed building now holds host to amazing concerts, shows, plays, and more every week!
If you want to get your groove on to live music and theatrical performances while in Motherwell, the Motherwell Concert Hall is the place to be.
Motherwell FC
“Motherwell, Motherwell, Motherwell!” These are some of the powerful and pulse-racing chants you may hear while watching Motherwell FC square up against other teams in England and Scotland such as East Kilbride, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, and others.
Experience the nail-biting games as Motherwell FC makes their way up the Scotland Premier League log and faces some of the best football clubs in the United Kingdom.
The Motherwell FC stadium is an instantly recognisable site, with many locals taking their whole squad of friends to the games. If you’re a football fan, you should definitely experience one of their iconic matches at least once.
Carfin Grotto
The Carfin Grotto welcomes over 70,000 pilgrims from England and beyond each year to its holy site, all paying tribute to the Holy Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes.
The Shrine provides good aid to those who visit it and is one of the most visited destinations in England. Look out for the various depictions of Jesus and the Virgin Mary on and around the grotto’s parks.
This holy grotto is an ancient religious well of spirituality that offers respite to all those who visit it.
Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility
Fun times await at the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, where they host everything from ping pong tournaments to dojo sports and more!
This sports centre is the best place in town to train at, spend time with your family and kids in the parks, and enjoy the recreational activities available. A cafe is conveniently located within the facility that you can enjoy after sweating it out.
The Regional Sports Facility in Central Scotland awaits those who want to keep active during their stay in Motherwell while being entertained by the prowess of the local sportspeople.
The Cameronians
Covering 300 years of history, the Cameronians is a massive collection of Scottish weaponry.
Based just across the Strathclyde Loch in Hamilton, this attraction boasts war-torn display banners, soldiers’ uniforms, and one of the most expansive collections of Scottish rifles in England.
Visitors point out how dedicated the collection is to its mission, so don’t miss out on one of Motherwell’s most interesting attractions.
Amazonia
Right within M&D’s Scotland’s Theme Park is the Amazonia, one of the many zoos in the town that are sure to catch your eye.
Amazonia is home to a wide variety of reptiles, insects, and mammals, all with live demonstrations that allow you to interact with and pet the animals.
While you’re in the town of Motherwell, make sure to check out Amazonia, one of the best zoos and theme parks in North Lanarkshire.
Dalzell Estate Japanese Gardens
These beautiful Japanese Gardens are situated just north-east of the splendid Dalzell Estate. The gardens offer amazing walking trails of stunning Japanese flora, with resident waterfowl calling it their home.
The historic Dalzell Estate is visible from much of the walking trails. Dalzell Estate is a mighty castle that was recently renovated into a block of pristine flats.
Hamilton Mausoleum
Just outside of Motherwell is the Hamilton Mausoleum. The towering Hamilton Mausoleum can be seen from the motorway and beyond.
Built in 1842 by David Hamilton, this architectural marvel once housed the interred the 10th Duke and his family. Its incredible and immaculate design shows off this royal purpose.
Guests can enjoy fascinating guided tours demonstrating the building’s grandiose features and its ‘whisper corner’. It is also home to the second-longest echo.
The Hamilton Mausoleum is one attraction in South Lanarkshire that you don’t want to miss as you’re touring the country.
Cadzow Castle
The ruins of Cadzdow Castle bring in tourists to Motherwell from all around the world. Built by the powerful Hamilton family, this castle served as a place of last resort for the Hamiltons.
The castle is located south of Motherwell in Chatelherault Country Park overlooking the River Avon. It can only be viewed from the exterior. Duke’s Bridge is an excellent viewing spot.
David Livingstone Birthplace
Just 15-minutes outside of Motherwell is one of Lanarkshire’s most significant attractions, the David Livingstone Birthplace, which honours the famed abolitionist and explorer.
Livingstone’s Birthplace represents the history of Scotland, culture, and learning within a truly global context. It is an incredible way to enjoy this historical man’s journey.
Strathclyde Loch
This loch is perfectly situated next to the Country Park, wedged between Motherwell, Bothwell, and Hamilton. The Strathclyde Loch unites these towns and parks of Scotland and is the prime location for a picnic with the family.
Enjoy the gorgeous views and activities next time you’re in Motherwell.
Motherwell Cathedral
The Motherwell Catherdral church brings the communities of Northern Lanarkshire together and is one of the most stunning cathedrals to visit while in the area.
With stunning architecture and grand stained-glass windows, don’t miss out on this beautiful holy cathedral church.