Ayr
Things to do in Ayr
Discover more about Ayr and its surroundings:
About Ayr
The Royal Burgh of Ayr in the south-west of Scotland is situated on the Firth of
Clyde and is the largest coastal town in South Ayrshire. It’s a lively and active town
with great shopping that combines High Street stores with quality independent retailers;
fantastic transport links that make it accessible by road, rail, air, land or sea; and
a multitude of leisure and cultural opportunities that provide lots of different things to do.
Ayr is a popular tourist destination – especially for day visitors – and thousands of people take
to our beaches and open spaces whenever the sun appears. As we can’t always guarantee the sun will
shine(!), regardless of the weather, there’s always lots to do in and around Ayr and we’re very
proud of our thriving event and festivals
programme that runs throughout the year.
Overall, there’s always somewhere to go and something to do in Ayr and, with such easy transport links,
there’s no excuse for not paying us a visit!
Ayr shopping
This famous county town offers excellent shopping facilities and counts branches
of the main multiple stores alongside a wide range of interesting individually owned
shops. Add a selection of bars and restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets, many
serving local produce and Ayr Town Centre has everything you need for a great day
out.
Business
Local businesses and retailers are the lifeblood of Ayr town centre and the Council is committed to
working with them to make a difference for our people and communities. A huge amount of work is
underway to ensure Ayr lives up to its potential as a retail and employment destination and that’s
already making a difference with the volume of vacant retail space decreasing from 9.8% in
2012 to 4% in 2015.
To support business start-ups and growth, the Council has created the aptly-named Ambition enterprise
and employment programme. This offers advice, support, funding and even business incubator space
and has helped support 285 new jobs, safeguard 665 jobs, and help 500 young people find work
across South Ayrshire.
Leisure
Energetic visitors can choose from a range of outdoor sports including tennis, bowling
and golf, whilst the town's Citadel Leisure Centre,
situated at Ayr Harbour, is a first class venue for indoor activities including swimming and keep fit.
There’s also a packed arts and culture programme available at the
Gaiety Theatre.
Golf courses in Ayr
Ayr boasts three public golf courses – Belleisle, arguably the
finest public parkland course in the United Kingdom; Seafield, located in the magnificent
grounds of Belleisle, offers a classic combination of links and parkland course;
and Dalmilling, set between Ayr's famous racecourse and the A77, plays over open
parkland.
A stroll around one of Ayr's beautifully kept parks and gardens which include Belleisle,
Rozelle and Craigie or an exhilarating walk along the seafront promenade provide
a more leisurely experience.
Robert Burns
Scotland's National Bard, Robert Burns, was born in Alloway, on
the southern outskirts of Ayr. A visit to the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
is a must to see the poet's birthplace, Burns Cottage, the Burns Monument, Brig
O'Doon and Alloway Kirk.
Fairtrade
Ayr was awarded Fairtrade Town Status on 26 February 2007. Local businesses,
retailers, caterers, organisations and schools are providing Fairtrade products in Ayr.