South Lanarkshire

South Lanarkshire is an administrative area in central Scotland that runs from the built-up northern suburbs of Glasgow down to the rolling landscapes of the Southern Uplands. The territory includes both industrial towns with old factory sites and small market towns sitting among hills and farmland.

The council area came into being in 1996 when Scotland reorganized its local government system and brought together territories that had been administered separately before. The reform merged several smaller units into a larger district.

The region contains the first designated new town in Scotland, East Kilbride, which was established in 1947 for post-war population redistribution.

The M74 links Glasgow with the southern settlements and makes driving through the area fairly straightforward, while train connections from Hamilton run in multiple directions. The northern end sits closer to urban facilities, whereas the southern part is more rural and requires longer travel times.

The New Lanark cotton mill complex sits on the banks of the Clyde and displays worker housing and factory buildings from the late 18th century that remain standing today. Visitors can walk through the workshops and see how the spinning machines once operated.

Location: Scotland

Inception: 1996

Capital city: Hamilton

Part of: Strathclyde, Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Region

Shares border with: Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders, West Lothian, Glasgow

GPS coordinates: 55.60000,-3.78333

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:36