Between Edinburgh And The English Border Is A Bustling Town With Parks, Tasty Restaurants, And Creative Vibes

Scotland has its places of toil and industry and areas of lovely artistry strewn throughout its beautiful lands. These are combined in the charming town of Galashiels, which boasts murals and statues telling of its imaginative art scene, while its textile mill history can be seen in the form of multiple repurposed structures. It still retains its textile trade in busy, modern businesses that are surrounded by lush green spaces and a thriving international food scene with numerous flavorful options.

Travelers arriving by air will want to land at Edinburgh Airport (EDI) and will only have an hour's drive ahead of them to reach Galashiels. Airport transfers, trains, and buses will also take travelers to town. From the Carter Bar landmark at the border with England, it takes but a 40-minute drive. The town contains just over 10,000 residents who, compared to other places of birth, are overwhelmingly Scottish. It takes pride in its history, preserving over 180 historical listed buildings, many of which are previous mills.

Locally shortened to "Gala," the town of Galashiels, Scotland, has a long, bustling history of textile production dating back to the late 1700s. While it's no metropolis, for its diminutive size, one can still see its busy status as people walk the streets and parking spaces are filled by those going about their daily lives. Its Borders Innovation Park is currently partway through a 15-year effort designed to further promote industrial growth, per the Scottish Borders Council. It has its places of peace and quiet, yet Galashiels is not slowing down.

For all of its industry, Galashiels doesn't do away with the natural beauty that fills and surrounds it. Nestled at the southern edge of town is the gorgeous Gala Policies, where locals walk their dogs, hike its outer trail, and enjoy the shade of vast, old oak trees and towering redwoods. Some especially venerable specimens look as if they've sprouted from the pages of "Lord of the Rings." The park is being protected and improved with a decade-long program to preserve the ancient woods.

Right in the middle of town lies a park made for fun. Simply named as Public Park, it contains a sizable children's playground, a skate park, and a football pitch for a great deal of active recreation, much like what is found in the family-friendly parks of the coastal town of Great Yarmouth. Dog owners will be happy to know that their furry friends may run unleashed in the grassy field to get some real exercise. The field is home to several events throughout the year, like music festivals and fun fairs, which keep this lively town well entertained.

The largest of Galashiels' parks is the Ladhope Recreation Ground, found along the northern edge of town. It contains the Galashiels Golf Club, which dates all the way back to 1884, providing verdant scenery with evergreen trees on its border. A 2-mile hiking trail circumnavigates the park, consisting mostly of smooth, grassy walkways that lead through the trees and over the scenic hills. It's a quiet getaway to take a break from the bustling town.

Galashiels is abuzz with an active art scene that brings style and flair to this textile hub. It even mixes textiles and art with an extraordinary display called the Great Tapestry of Scotland, a sprawling 160-panel work, hand-stitched by a thousand pairs of hands. It tells of Scotland's history, going back 420 million years! The town encourages local artists with a creative space called the Little Art Hub, which invites artists to innovate and the public to enjoy a community space with all manner of happenings.

On the corner of one of Galashiels' busiest intersections stands the Coulter's Candy statue, bringing artistic whimsy to the busy streets in a similar way to the epicenter of London's thriving art scene in Shoreditch. Across the street, one can enjoy creative flavors at Gala Tandoori, with tasteful and stylish furnishings and a wide and varied selection of classic Indian fare, which a customer on Google stated has "a huge range of options for me as a vegan, and it was great for once to be struggling to choose!"

The international culinary options continue around the corner at Lovely by Pandyk, a restaurant with a combination of the usual café breakfast fare and hearty Ukrainian mains for a mixture of Western and Eastern European tastes. Much like the vibrant foodie gem of Birmingham, the selection of dining options in Galashiels is quite diverse, and even its takeaway spots are of quality. Annie's Cafe & Takeaway serves inventive baked creations alongside comforting savory dishes. Galashiels is hard at work, pleasing the eyes and the taste buds of locals and visitors alike.