Paisley

Paisley was founded about 800 years ago around an abbey. It was favoured by the kings of Scotland, several of whom are buried in the abbey grounds. The town's wealth grew largely on the textile industry. With the industrial revolution, Paisley expanded rapidly. Large textile factories and thread works run by Coats and Clark provided employment. The town became famous of a particular style of intricately woven Persian pattern on cotton shawls. This pattern is widely known as 'Paisley' to the present day.

By plane

Glasgow Airport (GLA) is within the town's boundaries. A large number of airlines fly from here to many locations throughout the UK, Europe and beyond. The airport terminal is just from Paisley town centre. Frequent buses run between the town centre and the airport.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) is about from Paisley. There is a train link from Prestwick Airport to Paisley Gilmour Street station.

By train

Paisley Gilmour Street station is on the Glasgow to Greenock and Glasgow to Ayrshire lines. The train from Glasgow Central Station takes approximately 15 minutes.
's line also connects Paisley with Glasgow Central Station. However, this line is slower as there are many more stations on route.

By car

The M8 motorway passes Paisley on the north side near the airport. Exits 27, 28 and 29 of the M8 motorway take you to the north-east, north (airport) and north-west of the town. The M77 passes a few miles to the south east of Paisley. This route connects to Kilmarnock and other locations in South Ayrshire. The A737 connects Paisley to Northern Ayrshire.

By bus

Frequent bus service run between Paisley and Glasgow Buchanan Street bus station.

By boat

There is a short passenger ferry which runs from Yoker in Glasgow to Renfrew. A frequent bus service connects from this ferry to Paisley town centre.

There are many car hire firms located in Paisley, especially near the airport and the Phoenix retail park on the North West side of the town. Bus services run throughout the town and neighbouring villages. Taxis come in two forms: private hire cars which are cheap but must be booked by telephone in advance or public hire cars which may be hailed in the street. All public hire taxis are white and have wheelchair access. Taxis usually sit on the taxi rank at the airport or outside Gilmour Street Station. All public hire taxis are metered whereas the private hire cars usually calculate the fare using the car's odometer and a fare chart based on the number of miles travelled.

• Paisley Abbey

  phone: +44 141 889-7654
  address: Abbey Close
  Sections of the building date back 800 years. Now a Protestant church, it is the only abbey in Scotland to have survived the reformation. Several kings of Scotland are buried here.

• Paisley Museum and Art Galleries

  phone: +44 141 889-3151
  address: High Street
  A large number of displays include local industry and weaving plus a natural history section. The galleries mainly show works by Scottish artists. The museum building dates to 1871 and was build by Glasgow architect John Honeyman and was paid for by Sir Peter Coats

• Russell Institute

  address: Causeyside Street
  An architecturally interesting building, dating from the 1930s, on the corner of New Street and Causeyside Street.

• Coats Observatory

  phone: +44 141 889-2013
  address: 49 Oakshaw St West
  The observatory was built in 1883 to house a 5-inch equatorial telescope. The original telescope can still be seen and used.

• The Arts Centre

  address: New Street
  Formerly the 'Liegh Kirk' (Low Church) of the town, the building is now a vibrant arts centre where you can take in a live performance or relax in the cafe and bar areas.

• Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church

  address: High Street
  This large red sandstone building, constructed in the neo-Gothic style during the 19th century, dominates the centre of the town.

• Sma' Shot Cottages

  phone: +44 141 889-1708
  address: 15 Shuttle St, PA1 2HZ
  These examples of 18th and 19th century weavers cottages that have been preserved in their original state, proved an incite into life of ordinary people two hundred years ago.

• Paisley Thread Mill Museum

  phone: +44 141 847 1111
  address: 12 Seedhill Rd, PA1 1JS

• John Neilson Institution

  phone: +44 141 889-2360
  address: Orchard Street West
  Opened in 1952, this old school building displays some interesting architecture. The building has now been converted into modern housing.

• Lagoon Leisure Centre

  phone: +44 141 889-4000
  address: Christie St, PA1 1NB
  Contains swimming pools and an ice rink as well as other sports equipment and gyms. Ice hockey, curling and leisure skating can be played in the ice rink which has also staged boxing events.
• Watch football ie soccer at

  St Mirren FC

  phone: +44 141 889 2558 (enquires), +44 141 840 6130 (tickets)
  address: St Mirren Park, Greenhill Road PA3 1RU
  They play in the Scottish Premiership, the top tier of Scottish football. Their home ground (as of 2019 named the "Simple Digital Arena"), capacity 8000, is north of town centre near Paisley St James railway station.

• Fernie Guided Tours of PaisleyA guided tour on foot round some of the sites and buildings of Paisley.

• Glenifer Braes Country ParkExtensive pathways run along the crest of this hill as far as Barrhead and Johnstone.

The University of the West of Scotland is located in the centre of the town. Reid Kerr college is on Renfrew Road in the North of the town.

• Farmers MarketFresh local produced produce at good prices direct form the producer. Come early for the best choice.

• Shimla House Restaurant

  address: 40 Moss St
  Indian style restaurant. Serves buffet style, eat what you want, or from the menu.

• Cafe India

  address: 8 New St
  Indian food.

• Antica

  address: 4 Silk St
  Italian fish and chip shop.

• Cardosis

  address: 4 Storie St
  A small, but upmarket, Italian restaurant with excellent food. Booking recommended.

• Domino's Paisley

  address: 41 Gauze Street
  Take-away pizza shop.

• Kwang Tung

  address: 41 George St
  Chinese restaurant popular with students.

• Koh-I-Noor

  phone: +44 141 889-7909
  address: 40 New Sneddon St
  Formerly a manor house, converted into an upmarket Indian restaurant.

• The Mirage

  address: 59 Broomlands St
  Indian food at a good price.

• Dantes

  address: 38 Causeyside St

• Shezan Tandoori

  address: 80 Glasgow Rd
  Good quality, low cost Indian food in the east end of the town. Buffet service lunch and dinner.

• Carlitos

  address: 9-11 Renfrew Rd
  Italian restaurant and tapas bar.

• kwok Basserie

  phone: +44 141 887-3475
  address: 28 Moss St
  Chinese food. Buffet available.

• Tortellini

  address: 16 Shuttle St
  Italian restaurant and pizzeria.

• Lombardi's

  address: 30 Old Sneddon St

• Night Palace

  address: 45 Old Sneddon St
  Chinese food.

• Thai Siam

  address: 5 St. James St
  Thai food.

Most of the night clubs and restaurants are to be found around Shuttle Street, New Street and Storie Street.

• Cafe Borgia

  address: New Street
  A young persons' bar.

• The Arts Centre

  address: New Street
  A small modern bar upstairs form the cafe.

• Abbey Bar

  address: Lawn Street
  A classically styled bar catering mainly for middle-aged and elderly people. On Fridays there is a DJ who plays 1960s, 70s and 80s music. On Mondays there is a very well-attended open music night where a wealth of local talent is on hand to entertain.

• Club 69

  address: 40 New Sneddon Street
  There are numerous night clubs in Paisley but if you are serious about your dance music there is really only Club 69 for underground Techno and House.

• Gabriels Bar and Diner

  address: 33 Gauze St
  An extremely large modern bar, suitable for all ages. It hosts a popular karaoke/disco on Saturdays at 9PM.

• Gilmours

  address: Near Gilmour Street Rail Station
  Unremarkable pub, tends to be full of very young drinkers and all that entails. Hosts karaoke every day, even Mondays.

• Lord Lounsdale

  address: Lounsdale Road
  An upmarket pub that is popular with the locals.

• Hogshead

  address: 45 High St
  A new bar of the popular Hogshead chain. Smart classical pub interior with a pleasant atmosphere though more expensive than other bars in the town.

• Last Post

  address: County Square
  The former main post office building, now converted into a very large bar over two levels. A popular choice with people of all ages.

• O'Neils

  address: New street
  A popular place to start a night out, frequented by all ages.

• Russels

  address: 59 High St
  A popular student-oriented bar close to the University.

• Vienna's Nightclub

  address: New Street
  A popular dance club open well into the small hours. This club was notorious for violence in its days as "Club 30" although it appears to now be a student-friendly club with many stewards watching out for you.

• The Bull

  address: New Street
  A Paisley institution. A good atmosphere and some private rooms for larger groups

• Canal Station Bar

  address: 1 Stow Brae
  A bar near the town centre. Also serves food.

• Marriott Courtyard Glasgow Airport Hotel

  phone: +44 141 843 4800
  address: Marchburn Dr, Abbotsinch
  About 3 miles from the town centre.

• Holiday Inn

  phone: +44 141 847-8202
  address: Glasgow Airport, Abbotsinch

• Premier Inn Hotel Glasgow Airport

  phone: +44 870 242 8000
  address: Whitecart Road, Glasgow Airport

• Ashtree House Hotel

  phone: +44 141 848-6411
  address: 9 Orr Square
  15 room hotel

• Travelodge

  phone: +44 141 848-1359
  address: Marchburn Dr, Abbotsinch

• Scotia Airport Hotel

  phone: +44 141 237 7730
  address: 91 New Sneddon St

• Glynhill Hotel & Leisure Club

  phone: +44 141 886-5555
  address: 169 Paisley Rd, Renfrew
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• Muirholm Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +44 141 889-3854
  address: 4 Calside Avenue
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• Normandy Hotel

  phone: +44 141 886-4100
  address: Inchinnan Road, Renfrew

The Library on the high street, in the centre of the town, has public internet facilities.

The taxi rank next to Paisley Gilmour Street railway station attracts a lot of trouble at the weekends, usually around "closing time" in the pubs. Sometimes there are stewards at the rank, sometimes not.
The north-western area known as Ferguslie Park is most certainly not a tourist friendly area. The same applies to Gallowhill.

• Glasgow city is 15 minutes by train form Paisley making it convenient for day trips to the various attractions there.
• The Clyde Coast and Ayrshire towns were popular tourist destinations during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They can be easily accessed by both car and train from Paisley.
• Arran, Bute, and Great Cumbrae (Millport) are three islands in the Firth of Clyde. Trains from Paisley Gilmour Street station connect with the ferries for each of these for easy day trips or overnight jaunts.
• Ireland is easily accessed from Paisley. The rail service connects with the ferries from Troon and Stranraer to Belfast.