Paisley hotels

Hotels in Paisley

A mere seven miles from Glasgow, Paisley is Renfrewshire's largest town and the second biggest in Scotland. Book a Paisley hotel with us and discover a town with a rich history that is part of the very fabric of Scotland.

Textile town

Paisley grew in prominence during the Industrial Revolution and became renowned for its textile production. Although of Iranian origin, the Paisley pattern rose to fame because of its production in the town and was adopted by the psychedelic scene during the late 1960s. Recording artist Prince strongly identified himself with the design during the 1980s, naming both his studio and a song, Paisley Park.

Countryside

On the Gleniffer and Brownside Braes, to the south of the town, lies 480 acres of upland park consisting of moorland, woodland and hill farming areas. The park is located on the fringe of the Clyde Plateau lavas. The Gleniffer Braes Country Park affords excellent opportunities for walks in the woods and along streams. There are miles of paths suitable for a leisurely stroll or longer treks. Keep an eye open for sparrowhawks, kestrels, skylarks and meadow pipits. Children will enjoy the play areas, and there are some great views over Paisley, the Lower Clyde Valley and beyond.

Abbey

In the centre of the town lies Paisley Abbey on the bank of the White Cart Water. This is where Irish monk, St Mirin, established a chapel in the late 6th, early 7th century. It was dissolved in 1560, after which it became the parish church of Paisley. The monk's name was appropriated in 1877 by the town's newly-formed football club, St Mirren. See if you can spot an oddity among the abbey's 12 gargoyles. During refurbishment of the building in the early 1990s, one of the carved grotesques was modelled on the eponymous creature from the 1979 film, Alien.

Thomas Coats

Paisley-born thread manufacturer, philanthropist and devoted Baptist, Thomas Coats, had a church constructed in his memory following his death in 1883. Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church joins the abbey as one of the most impressive sights in the town. Built in the Victorian Gothic style, the church has fine wood and stone carvings and from its tower you'll get great views of the town.

Also bearing Coats' name and gifted to the town by him, Coats Observatory - Scotland's oldest - opened in 1883. Here you can enjoy a planetarium film and tour, and the opportunity to view celestial bodies through powerful telescopes.

Restaurants and cafés

There's a good range of cafés and restaurants in Paisley, many of which have a distinctly Italian flavour. There's the contemporary cuisine of Cardosi's, the traditional dishes of Bella Roma and the self-styled 'new age culinary heaven' of La Rambla who also serve Spanish and Mexican food.

Shopping in and around Paisley

Paisley is home to a number of well know retailers and many of them can be found in the Piazza Shopping Centre and the Paisley Centre.