All you need to know about Ayr

Ayr is a large town on the west coast of Scotland, located 37 miles south of Glasgow. It’s the most populated settlement in Ayrshire and the 12th most populated settlement in the whole of Scotland, with a population of more than 47,000. The main language spoken in Ayr is English and the currency is the British pound.

Before Ayr was established as a town more than 5000 years ago, the area was occupied by Mesolithic hunter-gathers. Later in the 13th century, Ayr was established as a Royal Burgh by King William the Lion, wherein it served as the main market place and harbour in the county of Ayrshire.  As the result of Ayr’s successful harbour, the town’s textile, wool, linen and shoemaking industries thrived.

Today, Ayr is a popular tourist destination with a charming seafront and racecourse. It has a large central shopping centre,  situated between the high street and train station, and receives a high number of visitors each year.

There are many things to see and do in the town. The Robert Burns Birthplace museum is a must-visit attraction which celebrates the life and times of famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Other sites worth seeing include Heads of Ayr Farm Park, Burns National Heritage Park and the Rozelle House Galleries. The town also boasts a number of beautiful historic castles such as Grenan Castle and Culzean Castle.

The A77 runs laterally to Ayr and connects to various other parts of the UK including Glasgow. Ayr is easily accessed by train, with the main train station being located in the town centre. There are over 100 local bus services which run from Ayr to various location destinations. The closest airport to Ayr is Glasgow Prestwick Airport and roughly five miles away.  

Complete your trip to Ayr with a stay in a SilverDoor serviced apartment. 

Serviced apartments in Ayr

What our clients say about us.

Our Awards

SAA Winner
Emmas EMEA
SAA Winner
BTAs
Emmas APAC 2023 Winner

Our Certificates