Motherwell

Motherwell is an industrial town in the Clydeside region of central Scotland, with a population of 32,840 in 2020. It's 16 miles southeast of Glasgow, and divided by the motorway and River Clyde from neighbouring Hamilton.

Understand
The town name derives from an ancient "Lady Well" or holy well. It was a tiny hamlet until the railway arrived in 1848, when it rapidly grew into an iron and steel-making centre supplying the heavy industries of Glasgow and elsewhere. This growth continued in the 20th century, and the huge Ravenscraig steel-making complex was built on a greenfield site east of town. But by the 1980s other nations were undercutting British Steel, there was a damaging strike, major customers such as car manufacturers were lost, and the industry collapsed. Ravenscraig became a wasteland which is only now being rehabilitated for housing. Steel production continues at Dalzell and Clydebridge, and the town's other employments are public services (such as the council and police bases), call centres and light industry.

Get in
From Glasgow or the south approach along M74, exit at junction 6 and follow A723 into town. From Edinburgh follow M8 and cross by A725 onto M74.

By air
From Glasgow airport take Bus 500 to Buchanan station then bus or train as below. From Edinburgh airport there's likewise a direct bus to Buchanan station.

By rail
Motherwell is on the West Coast mainline and has trains from Glasgow Central every 15 minutes or so, taking 20-40 min. The fast trains continue to Carlisle, Preston, Manchester Piccadilly and airport; to Edinburgh, Newcastle upon Tyne, York, Leeds and down through the Midlands to Penzance; and to Warrington, Birmingham New Street and London Euston. The London services include the Caledonian Lowland Sleeper, which leaves Euston Su-F near midnight to reach Motherwell for 7AM; southbound times are similar. But for long-distance routes to town it's often quicker to travel into Glasgow for a non-stop train.

Slow trains from Glasgow Central to Motherwell also call at Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Blantyre, Hamilton and Airbles. Some continue via Wishaw and Carluke to Lanark, or via Coatbridge to Cumbernauld.

is central in town. It's being rebuilt, not a moment too soon, so expect some upheaval and temporary facilities until it is complete, maybe late in 2023.

Airbles station only has the slow trains but may be more convenient for the south side of town.

By bus
Inter-city coaches don't call here, you usually have to go via Glasgow, but travel via nearby Hamilton for the hourly X74 bus between Glasgow, Moffat and Dumfries.

First Bus X11 runs from Glasgow Buchanan Station every 30 min, taking 30 min to Motherwell and continuing south to Wishaw and Newmains.

First Bus 240 runs from Buchanan Station via Birkenshaw and Bellshill to Motherwell, taking 75 min, and continuing to Craigneuk, Wishaw and Overtown. It runs every 30 min 5AM-10:30PM, every ten min daytime. As Night Bus N240 it also runs around 00:15 and 03:00 very early Saturday and Sunday from Sauchiehall Street.

JMB Bus 41 runs M-Sa every 15 min from Hamilton to Motherwell then Wishaw, Carluke and Lanark.

First Glasgow Bus 201 runs daily every 10-20 min from Petersburn and Airdrie to Coatbridge, Bellshill, Motherwell, Hamilton, Burnbank, East Kilbride and Hairmyres Hospital.

There isn't a bus station. Buses follow Muir St A721 to the railway station and shopping centre.

Get around
The centre is compact and walkable. You need a car to reach the Theme Park, especially with little ones, as there isn't a bus. Dalzell Estate is a long walk, but hourly bus 244 runs from town centre down Adele St, dropping you at the north edge of the park.

Taxi operators are Redline (+44 1698 266633) and Unitedmaxis (+44 1698 266333).

See

 * See Hamilton four miles west for the Duke of Hamilton's mausoleum and Chatelherault Country Park.
 * is the sorry ruin of a neo-gothic mansion of 1820.
 * See Hamilton four miles west for the Duke of Hamilton's mausoleum and Chatelherault Country Park.
 * is the sorry ruin of a neo-gothic mansion of 1820.
 * See Hamilton four miles west for the Duke of Hamilton's mausoleum and Chatelherault Country Park.
 * is the sorry ruin of a neo-gothic mansion of 1820.

Do

 * has a regular programme of events. It's within the Civic Centre and council offices at the junction of Windmillhill St and Airbles Rd.
 * Football:
 * Golf: courses near town are Bellshill north, Colville Park GC northeast and Wishaw GC east. There are more to the west near Hamilton.
 * Football:
 * Golf: courses near town are Bellshill north, Colville Park GC northeast and Wishaw GC east. There are more to the west near Hamilton.

Buy

 * ASDA and Aldi are south next to the shopping centre, and reached by walkways.
 * ASDA and Aldi are south next to the shopping centre, and reached by walkways.

Eat

 * There's a fast food strip from the railway station south into Brandon shopping centre.
 * Toby Carvery is at M74 jcn 5 next to the Holiday Inn Express. It's open daily 07:00-23:00.
 * Toby Carvery is at M74 jcn 5 next to the Holiday Inn Express. It's open daily 07:00-23:00.
 * Toby Carvery is at M74 jcn 5 next to the Holiday Inn Express. It's open daily 07:00-23:00.
 * Toby Carvery is at M74 jcn 5 next to the Holiday Inn Express. It's open daily 07:00-23:00.

Drink

 * There's a strip of pubs along Merry Street east of the station. These include Horseshoe Bar at the junction with Muir St, Railway Tavern at no 31, The Brandon Works a JD Wetherspoon at no 61, Woodcutter Bar at no 127, and Burns Tavern at no 210 on the corner of Dalziel St.
 * Another strip runs south towards Windmillhill St. Here are The Brandon Bar, New Century Bar at no 49, Windmill Tavern at no 75, and Steelworks Bar & Grill (formerly Jack Daniels) round the corner on Glencairn St.
 * Electric Bar is west, next to Airbles railway station, while The Bullfrog is south along the road to Wishaw.

Sleep

 * The caravan site is at M74 jcn 5 next to the Holiday Inn Express. It's open all year, with 45 camping pitches and 107 caravan hook-ups.

Stay safe
Motherwell is generally a safe area, but there are some rundown areas such as Forgewood and Carfin where you might not want to walk at night.

The town centre has its quota of raucous drunks of an evening, but the pub strips are visibly policed, with CCTV cameras and pub security staff.

The Police Station is at 217 Windmillhill Street just south of the centre.

Connect
As of Aug 2022, Motherwell and its approach roads have 4G from O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from EE and Three.

Wifi is widely available in public places. There's public internet at Motherwell Library at 35 Hamilton Road, by the railway bridge.

Go next

 * Hamilton a few miles west is industrial but has Chatelherault Country Park.
 * New Lanark is a well-preserved 18th-century mill complex and model town.
 * Glasgow and Edinburgh both rank as must-see and are easily accessible by train or by road.