Things to do in Falkirk
Falkirk is a heavy industry region and administrative centre for the local council. It is a large town supported by the Falkirk community trust as an interesting, historical, and exciting destination for local and international visitors located between Edinburgh and Glasgow in the Forth Valley and close to the historic county of Stirling. There are also 27 trains a day between the Falkirk district and the Stirling region. Tickets are available online on the Cross Country Trains or The Train Line website.
Like in many of Scotland’s fine towns and villages, there are countless things to do in Falkirk district, including visiting outstanding attractions, landmarks, and events. Oh, and don’t forget about the entire Falkirk High Street main road in town for shopping. When you get to High Street in Falkirk between Glasgow and Edinburgh, you will find plenty of cafés, bistros, and restaurants to enjoy that sell a wide range of incredible food. There is plenty of brand and non-brand retail stores that sell clothing, homeware, and everything you can think of.
There is much to do in the Falkirk area, which adds to the town’s popularity. There is also a visitor centre, the Scottish Segway Centre, if you are looking for more information on the history of the Falkirk district and how to navigate the town or to book day trips and tours services.
Whether you want to experience Falkirk with your children or have a dating day with your loved one, based on your preferences, there is something for everyone out and about in the Falkirk area.
Other than shopping in the town centre High Street or visiting one of many beautiful parks, if you are in search of something fun to do, then look no further. Apart from local attractions in the Falkirk area, there are many more activities, including E-biking, sky-high trampolining, playing Divergent games in escape rooms, and the FTH theatre to experience some drama.
To learn more about things to do in Falkirk, or for future day trips bookings in the Falkirk district and surrounding area, you can look for information on our website or visit the town centre website. If your ideal date is to visit Falkirk in October, just remember that it is a transitional month between a cool summer and wet winter.
While some places, like castle ruins or speckled church, don’t require a booking, places like the Callendar house does. Be sure to check whether bookings at any places that pique your interest, such as landmarks, attractions, or events, require bookings.
The Kelpies & The Helix
The Helix Park in the Falkirk area was designed as a project to improve connections between 16 communities within the Falkirk council in Scotland.
The Helix is home to the Kelpies – two mythical creatures that look like horses with their heads above the ground, lighting up when it’s night. Standing 30 metres tall in Falkirk and each weighing over 300 tonnes, these are the largest equine sculptures in the world, and one of the biggest tourist attractions within the Falkirk area.
The Kelpies cover more than 350 hectares of space between Falkirk district and Grangemouth. In the Helix, you will find the Plaza Cafe and natural surroundings, including a woodland, lagoon, and wetlands. There is also an Adventure Zone play area for children, pathways that span over miles, and incredible scenery.
Falkirk Wheel and Antonine Wall
If you are looking for something different, then you can check out the Falkirk wheel where you will also find the Antonine Wall, in Tamfourhill, Central Scotland. It is a rotating boat that connects two scenic canals, the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal.
The Falkirk Wheel opened in 2002 with a plan to reintroduce canals in Central Scotland. In recent years, the Falkirk wheel has successfully connected the two canals for the first time since the 1930s, and by doing so, has also connected Edinburgh and Glasgow.
This was done when a 21st-century landmark structure was built was resurrected to reconnect the canals in the early 2000s – Definitely, a must-see attraction when visiting the Falkirk district.
Falkirk Stadium
If you are a Scott, then you probably have a big interest in football. And, what better way to celebrate the incredible sport, than at one of the most popular attractions in all of Falkirk? You can visit the Falkirk stadium, which was built in 2004 if you are looking to spend the day watching football and other events with friends and family.
The Falkirk stadium is the home ground of a few local clubs, such as the Scottish League One club Falkirk, East Stirlingshire, and the Lowland Football League. The Falkirk stadium is among some of the biggest landmarks in the town of Falkirk.
Callendar House
Have you ever heard about Callendar House? If you live in or visit Scotland, there’s no doubt that you have to take the opportunity to explore the history, especially the Falkirk area.
As one of the many things to do in Falkirk, when you visit the Callendar House, you can expect a 6-century massive castle-looking house, the type you would think to find in a fairytale book.
The Callendar House’s location is on the grounds of Callendar Park in Falkirk, a mansion that has seen wars, an industrial revolution, and many rebellions. It has accommodated historical figures, with the most popular being Mary, Queen of Scots.
Visiting the Callendar House mansion, you can expect costume interpreters who bring some of Scotland’s history to life, listen to stories, and enjoy authentic Georgian food.
Callendar Estates
If you live in a city or bustling town, then you can escape to a scenic outdoor setting to a milk farm in the countryside, which is still located close to the Falkirk district town centre.
At Callendar Estate in the Falkirk district, you can enjoy many outdoor activities, such as cycling, walking, riding, or even a Segway experience. There are many trails to discover, all that is covered in grounds that carry a part of Scotland’s rich history in the United Kingdom.
You can plan a family-friendly outing to Callendar Estate in Falkirk, where you will also find a lovely café, milk barn, and indoor play area for children.
Xtreme Karting Falkirk
Looking for a fun activity? Whether you are an adult or are looking for something adventurous for the kids (between 10 – 15 years old), Xtreme Karting is perfect for you!
This is just one place in the Falkirk district where you can experience motorsport with friends or family. It is the very first karting centre in the Falkirk area, but also all of Scotland. It has a 5-star rating and is a thrilling, yet safe activity for most of the family.
Apart from the 30,000 sq ft kart track in the Falkirk area, which features a bridge/ underpass section, sweeping corners, and hairpin bends, there is a designer lounge area that has large windows for you to view the track. You can also view it from the side of the track. Both of these areas are also equipped with race timing displays that allow you to keep up with the action as it happens in real-time.
Muiravonside Country Park – Falkirk Council
This country park is set on the river banks of the Avon River in the Falkirk district in the UK. The site has 70 hectares filled with picturesque gardens, woodlands, and parkland, all that once formed the Muiravonside Estate. Major features on the parks’ grounds are also connected by a path network.
Exploring the woodlands in the Falkirk district, you can expect a big variety of trees, such as tall oak, hazel, ash, birch, and yew. There are also shrubs, including bluebell, primrose, cuckoo-pint, and dog’s mercury. Apart from the greenery, you can expect to see some of Scotland’s beloved birds, like the green woodpecker, nuthatch, and flycatcher.
Many people visit the park regularly to experience wide-open spaces and scenic walks. There is also a perfectly laid out footpath that leads to the Union Canal.
The Pineapple
The Pineapple is also known as the Dunmore Pineapple, which is on the list as one of the top things to do in Falkirk, is a very popular place to explore in England.
The property is historic and includes a mansion, two large gardens with a wall each, among many other things to discover. The wall used for the garden’s surrounding area had a purpose from the 18th century to create a microclimate against the cold in the Falkirk district, for planting fruit and vegetables. There are two gardens on the grounds to enjoy a walk or picnic with the family, with the biggest covering 6 acres.
In the building, there is also a hot house in the wall built in 1761. When you view it in Falkirk, you can expect a magnificent historical building with unique architectural styles.
Dollar Park
Dollar Park is a beautiful parkland in an area surrounding the Falkirk district in the United Kingdom with a lot of horticultural attractions and leisure activities.
Entering the north part of the park in Falkirk, you can expect to find active recreational activities, a tennis court, an 18-hole putting area, and a playground for kids. There are also pathways, a range of mature trees, and a sculpture of Sheila McKechnie, an OBE, Scottish trade unionist, housing campaigner, and consumer activist.
Dollar Park is ideal if you want to plan an educational visit, experience monthly market stalls, and civil partnership ceremonies. The parks are also used for wedding services.
Tappoch Broch & Torwood Castle
If you are adventurous and seek mysterious land in Falkirk, there is a forest, Tappoch Broch, approximately 2 miles north-east of the town, Denny in the Falkirk council area. Within the forest, you will find Torwood Castle, a ruined L-shaped castle from the 16th century.
Although the risk level of entering the Falkirk castle is considered low, the castle has been neglected, for a very long time. The estimated year the castle was built in Falkirk is 1566, which we all know was a rather interesting time in the history of Scotland.
Falkirk Old Parish Speckled Church
In the Falkirk area, there is an old church known as the Old Parish Speckled Church or Falkirk Trinity Church, which is a congregation of the church of Scotland. History suggests that the church is one of the oldest landmarks in Falkirk, dating back as far as the 7th century.
Keeping some of its original charm and steeple, the church site was redone and the church rebuilt in the 19th century. Today, the church building is recognized as a listed building in Falkirk. As it contains much of the Falkirk district’s history, the old church right in the centre of the town is certainly worth the visit.
Zetland Park
There are many exquisite parks in the Falkirk district, yet there’s something about Zetland Park that’s different. If you have an interest in visiting parks around town, then Zetland Park is a must for the whole family.
Apart from being scenic, much like a green oasis, the park also has an interesting story behind it and was gifted to the people of Grangemouth in 1880 by the Earl of Zetland. Today, it is recognized as the perfect place for escaping the busy town or city life and is ideal if you want to take a stroll or have a picnic outdoors in nature.
Other Things To Do in Central & West Scotland
- Things to do in Balmaha
- Things to do in Biggar
- Things to do in Drymen
- Things to do in Dunblane
- Things to do in Grangemouth
- Things to do in Lochearnhead
- Things to do in Loch Lomond
- Things to do in Stirling
