A bustling market town known locally as Queen of the South (also, handily, the name of its football club), Dumfries is a small but active town bursting with entertainment and activities. From historic castles that have helped shape Scottish history to the Robert Burns Centre, a fascinating museum dedicated to the famous Scottish author, and forward-thinking theatres, cinemas and live music venues, there are so many things to see and do that you’ll never be left wondering what to do in Dumfries. Plus, with our Dumfries hotel, you’ll be perfectly placed to take in all the action. Factor in some of the oldest pubs in Scotland, a well-rounded café and restaurant scene, and some lively bars and clubs, and you have a thriving town that’s ripe for exploring.
Things to do in Dumfries
Shopping
With over 30 stores and cafés, Loreburne Shopping Centre is one of the leading shopping outlets in Dumfries. Located a short walk from the River Nith, big name stores include JD Sports, Monsoon and Specsavers, and there’s a large onsite car park.
A purpose-built out-of-town retail park, the Peel Centre is a large modern shopping space home to Matalan, Sports Direct, Pets at Home, B&M, T.K. Maxx and Poundworld, with a Tesco superstore just next door. Handily, the Peel Centre is located in the middle of the short drive from Dumfries town centre to our Dumfries hotel.
Getting Around
The largest nearby international airport is Glasgow Airport, a 90-minute drive from Dumfries that welcomes nearly 10 million passengers each year. The 65-mile journey will take around two hours by train, with a transfer in Glasgow Central, while a bus journey is cheaper but takes around 40 minutes longer, again with a transfer at Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow. You can make your travel plans easier by checking into our Glasgow Airport hotel.
A two-platform station, Dumfries Railway Station is located on the northern edge of the town centre and connects Dumfries with Carlisle, Newcastle and Glasgow on a regular basis.
Perth Shopping
