New Lanark World Heritage Site

Timeline and owners

New Lanark was founded 1785 and opened in 1786 by David Dale, a Glasgow banker and entrepreneur, and Richard Arkwright, the inventor and pioneer of industrial cotton spinning. The partnership dissolved after a year, and David Dale continued to run New Lanark for over 15 years before his son-in-law, Robert Owen, took over for the next 25 years.

The cotton mill was in operation for two centuries until 1968 and at one time was thought to be the largest industrial facility in the world. It became a world-renowned blueprint for what could be the ideal working and living environment for workers and their families.

Car

New Lanark is easy to reach. The heritage site is located around an hour's drive from Glasgow (25 miles/40 km) or Edinburgh (35 miles/56 km). The village has a large car park but if you leave your car at home, you’ll be making the village safer for pedestrians and helping to reduce air pollution which can erode the site’s structures.

Train

The nearest train station is Lanark and trains run every hour from Glasgow Central or Motherwell to Lanark. Local buses and taxis are then available at the bus stance, adjacent to Lanark railway station.

Plan your journey with ScotRail

Bus

There is also a bus service between Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow and Lanark, operated by First Glasgow and Stuart Coaches service no 240X.

Plan your route with Traveline Scotland.

Shuttle bus

There are two electric shuttle-bus services which run in line with the opening of the visitor attraction. One from the car park at the top of the hill to the village and back, and the other which drives a circuit around Lanark and the surrounding area – perfect for those with mobility issues or wishing to reduce their carbon output. The buses use electricity produced by the hydroelectric turbine which is powered by the currents of the River Clyde.