• Understand
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Learn
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Contact
• Stay safe
• Get out

Paisley is a large town in Renfrewshire, Central Scotland.

[edit] Understand

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 know as 'Paisley' to the present day.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Glasgow International Airport is within the town's boundaries. A large number of airline fly to here to many locations throughout the UK, Europe and beyond. The airport terminal is just 2km from Paisley town center. Frequent buses run between the town centre and the airport.

Glasgow Prestwick International Airport is about 40 miles form Paisley. There is a train link from Prestwick Airport to Paisley Gilmour Street station.

[edit] By train

Paisley is on the Glasgow to Greenock and Glasgow to Airshire lines. The train form Glasgow Central Station takes approximately 15 minutes. The Paisley Canal line also connects Paisley with Glasgow Central Station. However, this line is slower as there are many more stations on route.

[edit] 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.

[edit] By bus

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] Get around

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 fair using the car's odometer and a fair chart based on the number of miles travelled.

[edit] See

• <see name="Paisley Abbey" alt="" address="Abbey Close, Paisley." directions="In the centre of town, beside the Town Hall." phone="+44 141 889 7654" email="info@paisleyabbey.org.uk" fax="" url="http://www.paisleyabbey.org.uk" hours="M-Sa 10AM-3:30PM" price="">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.</see>

• <see name="Paisley Museum and Art Galleries" alt="" address="High Street, Paisley." directions="" phone="0141 889 3151" email="" fax="+44 141 889 9240" url="" hours="Tuesday - Sa 10-5PM; Su 2-5PM; M Closed" price="Entry is free.">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</see>

• <see name="Russell Institute" alt="" address="Causeyside Street, Paisley." directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">An architecturally interesting building, dating form the 1930's, on the corn of New Street and Causeyside Street.</see>

• <see name="Coats Observatory" alt="" address="Orchard Street West, Paisley." directions="" phone="+44 141 889 2013" email="" fax="+44 141 889 9240" url="" hours="Su 2-5PM, T-Sa 1-5PM, Public telescope viewing: T 7:30-9:30PM, Oct-Mar." price="">The observatory was built in 1883 to house a 5 inch equatorial telescope. The original telescope can still be seen and used. </see>

• <see name="The Arts Centre" alt="" address="New Street, Paisley." directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">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.</see>

• <see name="Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church" alt="" address="High Street, Paisley." directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="F 2-4PM, 11 May-30 Sep. Su 11AM." price="">This large red sandstone building, constructed in the Gothic style during the 19th century, dominates the centre of the town.</see>

• <see name="Sma Shot Cottages" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+44 141 889 1708" email="" fax="" url="" hours="2 Apr-27 Sep on W and Sa 12-4PM." price="Entry is free.">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.</see>

• <see name="Paisley Thread Mill Museum" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""></see>

• <see name="John Neilson Institution" alt="" address="Orchard Street West, Paisley." directions="" phone="+44 141 889 2360" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Opened in 1952, this old school building displays some interesting architecture. The building has now been converted into modern housing.</see>

[edit] Do

[edit] Learn

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

[edit] Buy

• <buy name="Farmers Market" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="on the last Saturday of every month, the stalls are open at 9am." price="">Fresh local produced produce at good prices direct form the producer. Come early for the best choice.</buy>

[edit] Eat

[edit] Drink

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

• <drink name="Cafe Borgia" alt="" address="New Street, Paisley." directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">A young persons bar.</drink>

• <drink name="The Arts Centre" alt="" address="New Street, Paisley." directions="" phone="+44 141 887 1007 " email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">A small modern bar upstairs form the cafe.</drink>

• <drink name="Abbey Bar" alt="" address="Lawn Street, Paisley." directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">A classically styled bar catering mainly for middle aged people.</drink>

• <drink name="Lord Lounsdale" alt="" address="Lounsdale Road, Paisley." directions="Near the RAH Hospital." phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">An upmarket pub that is popular with the locals.</drink>

• <drink name="Hogshead" alt="" address="45 High St, Paisley." directions="" phone="+44 141 840 4150" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">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.</drink>

• <drink name="Last Post" alt="" address="County Square, Paisley." directions="" phone="+44 141 848 0353" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Formerly the main post office building, now converted into a very large bar over two levels. A popular choice with people of all ages.</drink>

• <drink name="O'Neils" alt="" address="New street, Paisley." directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">A popular place to start a night out, frequented by all ages.</drink>

• <drink name="Russels" alt="" address="59 High St, Paisley." directions="Opposit the Museum and Library" phone="+44 141 889 2853" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">A popular student oriented bar close to the University.</drink>

• <drink name="Vienna's Nightclub" alt="" address="New Street, Paisley." directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">A popular dance club open well into the small hours.</drink>

[edit] Sleep

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[edit] Contact

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

[edit] Stay safe

The north western area known as Ferguslie Park is most certainly a not a tourist friendly area.

[edit] Get out

• Glasgow city is just 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 century. They can be easily accessed by both car and train form Paisley.

• Arran, Rothsey and Greater Cumbray (Millport) are three islands in the Clyde area. 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 for Paisley. The rail service connects with the ferries form Troon and Stranrar to Belfast.