Kilmarnock Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
town and former burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, UK
About Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock grew up in the 19th and early 20th centuries from a small market town into a busy industrial centre, then went into decline. One illustrative example is its best-known product, Johnnie Walker whisky. John Walker (1805-1857) was a general grocer, and a teetotaller. Brewing and distilling were traditional farm trades in Ayrshire as elsewhere, but small scale, erratic in quality and heavily taxed, which fostered illicit stills and smuggling. The Excise Act of 1823 greatly reduced tax and facilitated legal distilling, and Scotch whisky blossomed into a profitable large scale industry. Walker's business therefore focussed on whisky. He was never a distiller himself, but blended whiskies to order for his customers, at a time when blending at source was not permitted. The Spirits Act o
Top Attractions in Kilmarnock
Explore the best things to see and do in Kilmarnock:
- ★Burns Monument Centre
- ★Dean Castle
- ★Dick Institute
- ★Galleon Centre
- ★Kilmarnock FC
- ★The Garage
Where to Eat in Kilmarnock
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Mamitas
- 🍴The First Edition
- 🍴The Longhouse
- 🍴Wheatsheaf Inn
Where to Stay in Kilmarnock
- 🏨Dean Park Guest House
- 🏨Douglas Hotel
- 🏨Fenwick Hotel
- 🏨Park Hotel
- 🏨Portmann Hotel
- 🏨Premier Inn
Kilmarnock Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: