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EuropeUnited KingdomScotland

Giffnock

Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe

About Giffnock

Giffnock is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Waterfoot, 38km from Loch Lomond.

Giffnock is a town located in Scotland, United Kingdom. With a population of 12,070, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Giffnock sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Giffnock to your route.

About Giffnock

Giffnock (; Scots: Giffnock; Scottish Gaelic: Giofnag, pronounced [ˈkʲifnak]) is a town and the administrative centre of East Renfrewshire in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies 3.7 miles (6.0 km) east of Barrhead, 5.6 miles (9.0 km) east-southeast of Paisley and 5.3 miles (8.5 km) northwest of East Kilbride,

Read more at the southwest of the Greater Glasgow conurbation. Giffnock has frequently been named amongst the least deprived areas in Scotland. It had been first place but that title went to Stockbridge, Edinburgh in 2020. Giffnock is mentioned in documents as early as the seventeenth century as a scattered agricultural settlement. In the late eighteenth century, Archibald Montgomerie, the Earl of Eglinton, was forced to partition the land into a number of smaller properties. The urbanisation and development of Giffnock began in the mid to late nineteenth century with the construction of several sandstone quarries, and this prompted the development of the first railway link with nearby Glasgow. Large-scale quarrying continued in Giffnock for almost a century. However, the quarrying ceased by the 1920s, and other uses were found for the quarries. An additional railway service began at the start of the twentieth century, closely followed by the arrival of Glasgow Corporation Tramways. Giffnock's relative closeness to Glasgow coupled with the local industry and good transports links helped it to develop into a suburban town, as many wealthy merchants chose to construct villas in its smog-free environs and commute daily to the city. Although heavy industry died out in the area during the early twentieth century, as part of Scotland's densely populated Central Belt, Giffnock has continued to grow as a dormitory town, supported by its position within the Greater Glasgow area, from roughly 1,425 residents in the early twentieth century to 16,178 in 2001. Expansion continues due to several new housing developments; however, much of the land is now urbanised or designated parkland, leaving little room for further expansion.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Giffnock

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Giffnock?

Giffnock offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Giffnock?

Plan your road trip to Giffnock with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Giffnock as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Giffnock located?

Giffnock is located in Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 55.8037 latitude, -4.2949 longitude.

What is the population of Giffnock?

Giffnock has a population of approximately 12,070 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.

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Quick Information

Population
12,070
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
Scotland
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
55.8037, -4.2949

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomScotlandTown

Worth the detour from Giffnock

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

museum

Riverside Museum

Glasgow's Zaha Hadid-designed transport museum on the Clyde, packed with classic cars, a recreated cobbled street of vintage vehicles, and the tall ship Glenlee moored outside.

7 km · about 15 min drive

natural wonder

Loch Lomond

Britain's largest freshwater lake by surface area, where Highland mountains meet Lowland shores in a landscape immortalised in song.

38 km · about 45 min drive

landmark

The Kelpies

Two 30-metre steel horse-head sculptures towering over the canal at Falkirk, a striking modern landmark off the M9.

41 km · about 50 min drive

castle

Stirling Castle

One of Scotland's largest and most important castles, sitting atop Castle Hill and closely associated with Scottish independence.

42 km · about 50 min drive

cafe

The Oak Tree Inn

A popular stopping point on the A82 beside Loch Lomond, where road trippers heading to the Scottish Highlands pause to take in one of Scotland's most beautiful lochs.

44 km · about 50 min drive

landmark

The Dunmore Pineapple

An outrageous 14m stone pineapple crowns this 1761 walled-garden folly, built for the Earl of Dunmore and rated among Britain's most eccentric buildings. Free to visit, hidden down a lane near Airth.

44 km · about 50 min drive

photogenic

Culross

Scotland's most complete 17th-century burgh: ochre-coloured Culross Palace, cobbled wynds and white-harled cottages on the Firth of Forth, preserved by the National Trust. Doubles as Cranesmuir in Outlander.

50 km · about 60 min drive

famous road

Electric Brae

Famous optical-illusion stretch of the A719 on the Ayrshire coast where cars appear to roll uphill. Drivers have pulled over to test the gravity-defying slope since the 1930s.

54 km · about 65 min drive

Driving roads near Giffnock

  • 54 kmElectric BraeFamous optical-illusion stretch of the A719 on the Ayrshire coast where cars appear to roll uphill. Drivers have pulled over to test the gravity-defying slope since the 1930s.
  • 59 kmQueensferry CrossingThe world's longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge, opened in 2017, carrying the M90 high over the Firth of Forth alongside its famous Victorian and 1960s neighbours: three centuries of bridges in one view.
  • 60 kmRest and Be ThankfulA famous viewpoint at the top of Glen Croe where 18th-century soldiers carved the name into a stone after completing the military road.
  • 71 kmThe Royal MileEdinburgh's historic spine of cobbled streets and closes linking the castle to Holyrood Palace, lined with landmarks.
  • 71 kmCalton HillAn accessible hilltop crowned with neoclassical monuments, giving the classic skyline view of Edinburgh at sunset.
  • 72 kmArthur's Seat, EdinburghAncient volcanic peak rising 251 metres in the heart of Edinburgh, offering panoramic city views from its dramatic summit.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

May to September

Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Giffnock.

Netherlee

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

1 km awayPop. 4,550

Thornliebank

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

1 km awayPop. 4,190

Stamperland

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

2 km awayPop. 3,630

Clarkston

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

2 km awayPop. 9,460

Busby

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

3 km awayPop. 3,220

Waterfoot

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 1,260

Carmunnock

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 1,250

Newton Mearns

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 28,210

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence