Blantyre is the birthplace of famed explorer David Livingstone and the town is situated by the River Clyde, 8 miles southeast of Glasgow.
The Blantyre area was a centre for large manufacturing of cotton-related products during the 18th century and was heavily involved in coal mining during the 19th and 20th centuries. In October 1877 the town was the site of the Blantyre Mining Disaster when 207 miners died in an explosion. A monument to the disaster sits at the High Blantyre Cross.
Blantyre was the birthpace of the 19th-century explorer and missionary David Livingstone. One of the most popular attractions in the town is the David Livingstone Centre, which is located in the house he was born in - a former mill building where Livingstone also began his working life. The museum tells the story of Livingstone's life and also includes a cafe, gift shop, playpark and African garden. Next to the David Livingstone Museum is an iron suspension bridge over the River Clyde. This gives pedestrian access to Bothwell Castle which is around half a mile from the town. The ruins of Blantyre Priory stand opposite Bothwell Castle.
The town has a variety of local eateries and a range of traditional shops. Blantyre sits by the M74 motorway, making it easily accessible by road. The town has its own railway station with regular services from Glasgow, Motherwell, Lanark and Larkhall, while there are bus links to Glasgow and East Kilbride.