Lanark was granted its royal charter by King David I in the 12th century and two centuries prior to that it became home to the first Scottish Parliament. The town's St Nicholas Parish Church has what is believed to be one of the oldest church bells in the world. The Lanark Museum tell the story of a town whose annual highlight is Lanimer Day in June when the old burgh boundaries are checked and the Lanimer Queen is crowned in a well-established custom. The celebrations are based on King David I granting Lanark the status of Royal Burgh. A condition of the charter stated that the merchants of the town must inspect their boundary stones each year. Lanark claims to have carried out this duty every year since then in what has transformed into the Lanimar celebrations.
Lanark Museum, which houses a collection of items which illustrate the history of the town, is housed in the YMCA building. Other places of interest include Lanark Loch and Castlebank Park, which houses the former site of Lanark Castle. Nearby to Lanark is the World Heritage Site of New Lanark, the Falls of Clyde, Corehouse Nature Reserve and Corehouse Estate, where the remains of Corra Castle can be seen. The town has a vibrant high street with a selection of independent and high street shops as well as a variety of restaurants and cafes.
Bus services connect Lanark to the surrounding area and larger towns such as Motherwell, East Kilbride and Glasgow. The town's train station provides links to several destinations including Glasgow, Uddingston and Cambuslang. Lanark is easily accessible by road via the A721 and A71.