Coatbridge and neighbouring Airdrie are towns in the Clydeside region of the Central Belt, Scotland. A working class and industrial town, Coatbridge earned the name Iron Burgh in its heyday, while Airdrie was known for weaving and textiles. The main attractions are a museum about the industrial history of Coatbridge and a country park.
- Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Heritage Way, ML5 1QD, +44 1236 638460. Apr-Oct: 10AM-5PM daily; Nov-Mar: 10AM-4PM. An interesting museum with a number of displays and activities. The exhibition hall includes displays and interactive exhibits on the history of the mines and furnaces, the people and includes some working machinery. Outside is a replica of the world's first iron-hulled vessel and an engineering pavilion. A tram ride will take you to one of the old mines (tours available) and the "Miner's Row", which recreates the living conditions of the miners during different eras. There is also a traditional sweet shop, a kids play park, a gift shop and cafe. Free to enter. There is a small fee for the tram ride (tickets purchased at the gift shop).
- Dumpellier Country Park, Townhead Rd, ML5 2HD, +44 1236 422257. June-Aug: 10:30AM-7:30PM; Apr-May & Sept: 10:30AM-5PM; Oct-Mar: 10:30AM-4PM. Large park built around two lochs with picnic grounds, ducks, a kids play area, a visitor center, woodlands and many walking trails. Boats can be rented for cruising on the water. Free. Bumper boats can be rented for £2-4 for 5 min, canoes are £2-4 per half hour.
Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Heritage Way, ML5 1QD, +44 1236 638460. Apr-Oct: 10AM-5PM daily; Nov-Mar: 10AM-4PM. An interesting museum with a number of displays and activities. The exhibition hall includes displays and interactive exhibits on the history of the mines and furnaces, the people and includes some working machinery. Outside is a replica of the world's first iron-hulled vessel and an engineering pavilion. A tram ride will take you to one of the old mines (tours available) and the "Miner's Row", which recreates the living conditions of the miners during different eras. There is also a traditional sweet shop, a kids play park, a gift shop and cafe. Free to enter. There is a small fee for the tram ride (tickets purchased at the gift shop).
Dumpellier Country Park, Townhead Rd, ML5 2HD, +44 1236 422257. June-Aug: 10:30AM-7:30PM; Apr-May & Sept: 10:30AM-5PM; Oct-Mar: 10:30AM-4PM. Large park built around two lochs with picnic grounds, ducks, a kids play area, a visitor center, woodlands and many walking trails. Boats can be rented for cruising on the water. Free. Bumper boats can be rented for £2-4 for 5 min, canoes are £2-4 per half hour.
- Time Capsule, 100 Buchanan St, ML5 1DL, +44 1236 449572. Waterpark hours M-F 1PM-8PM, Sa-Su 10AM-8PM; Ice rink 10AM-5:30PM. Activity complex with a waterpark, skating rink and gym. The waterpark is for all ages — ride the flumes and waterslides, catch a wave in the wave pool or work on your strokes in the 25 m pool. There's also a kid's play area and a sheltered section for very young children. £7 (adult), £5 (child).
Time Capsule, 100 Buchanan St, ML5 1DL, +44 1236 449572. Waterpark hours M-F 1PM-8PM, Sa-Su 10AM-8PM; Ice rink 10AM-5:30PM. Activity complex with a waterpark, skating rink and gym. The waterpark is for all ages — ride the flumes and waterslides, catch a wave in the wave pool or work on your strokes in the 25 m pool. There's also a kid's play area and a sheltered section for very young children. £7 (adult), £5 (child).
- Crown Jewel, 293 Bank St, ML5 1EG, +44 1236 433080. M-Th 5PM-11PM, F-Sa noon-11:30PM, Su 2PM-11PM. Large selection of Indian dishes. Also has online ordering and delivery. £10-15.
- Shimla Cottage, 109 Sunnyside Rd, ML5 3HR, +44 1236 436030. M-Th 4PM-midnight, F-Sa noon-midnight, Su 2PM-midnight. Large selection of Indian dishes. £10-15.
- The Mint, 16 Academy St, ML5 3AU, +44 1236 441191. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F-Sa 11:30AM-1AM, Su 12:30PM-midnight. Smaller menu with mix of burgers, some traditional favourites (steak pie, fish & chips) and Italian dishes. Two courses £10 for lunch and £12 for dinner.
Crown Jewel, 293 Bank St, ML5 1EG, +44 1236 433080. M-Th 5PM-11PM, F-Sa noon-11:30PM, Su 2PM-11PM. Large selection of Indian dishes. Also has online ordering and delivery. £10-15.
Shimla Cottage, 109 Sunnyside Rd, ML5 3HR, +44 1236 436030. M-Th 4PM-midnight, F-Sa noon-midnight, Su 2PM-midnight. Large selection of Indian dishes. £10-15.
The Mint, 16 Academy St, ML5 3AU, +44 1236 441191. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F-Sa 11:30AM-1AM, Su 12:30PM-midnight. Smaller menu with mix of burgers, some traditional favourites (steak pie, fish & chips) and Italian dishes. Two courses £10 for lunch and £12 for dinner.
- Whifflet Arms, 68 Whifflet St, ML5 4EJ, +44 1236 433326. M-F 11AM-11PM, Sa-Su 10AM-midnight. Pub with live music and DJs on weekends, a beer garden and big-screen TVs for watching the game. Reviewers indicate the food and atmosphere are good and the prices reasonable.
Whifflet Arms, 68 Whifflet St, ML5 4EJ, +44 1236 433326. M-F 11AM-11PM, Sa-Su 10AM-midnight. Pub with live music and DJs on weekends, a beer garden and big-screen TVs for watching the game. Reviewers indicate the food and atmosphere are good and the prices reasonable.
Situated on one of the main roads (M8/A8) and rail lines between Glasgow and Edinburgh, it is easy to move on to either city. Other options include:
- Kilsyth and Cumbernauld — Two towns to the north of the city where you can visit the remains of the Antonine Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Stirling — Historic city with the well preserved Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument and the historic battlefields of Bannockburn and Stirling Old Bridge. It can be reached by taking the M73 north from the city to the M80.
[[Kilsyth]] and [[Cumbernauld]] — Two towns to the north of the city where you can visit the remains of the Antonine Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
[[Stirling]] — Historic city with the well preserved Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument and the historic battlefields of Bannockburn and Stirling Old Bridge. It can be reached by taking the M73 north from the city to the M80.