Welcome to Glenrothes

Glenrothes is located on the south bank of the River Leven, in the Scottish county of Fife, approximately 435 miles north of London and 20 miles north-east of Dunfermline.

The town has a population of around 38,500. Administratively it is within the unitary council region of Fife which covers an area of approximately 1,325 sq kms and which has a population of around 350,000.

Lying at the heart of Fife, it was designated as one of Scotland's New Towns in 1948 and is the administrative and political centre for the county. It is a thriving commercial and retail centre with some fine architecture, and it enjoys a vibrant community spirit. Although not considered a visitor destination, there are some notable attractions in the vicinity and its central location makes it an excellent base from which to explore Fife.

The town was created in 1948 from a small group of farming communities and is one of the Scottish new towns. Originally the town was built to house miners, many of whom came from the Glasgow area, who were needed to work in the local mines. Today, the town is part of Scotland's Silicon Valley, with a large electronics industry. It is the centre of Fife Council's operations, and Fife Constabulary are based in the town.

Historically the town's economy was based upon paper making and coal mining. Today, the major industry is electronics and the town is part of Scotland's Silicon Glen. Traditional paper mill industries still operate here. Glenrothes also has an airport.

The name Glenrothes derives from the Leslies of 'Rothe' who owned most of the land in the area, and 'glen' because the town lies in the Leven Valley.