Linlithgow

Linlithgow Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Iucha[1] Scots: Lithgae[2]
Town
Linlithgow Town Centre, showing the Burgh Halls (background) and the Cross Well (foreground), August 2018
Linlithgow Location within West Lothian
Population	12,840 (mid-2020 est.)[3]
OS grid reference	NS996774
Council area	West Lothian
Lieutenancy area	West Lothian
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LINLITHGOW
Postcode district	EH49
Dialling code	01506
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Scottish Parliament	Linlithgow
List of places UK Scotland 55°58′45″N 3°36′38″W / 55.97905°N 3.61054°W / 55.97905; -3.61054

Linlithgow (/lɪnˈlɪθɡoʊ/ lin-LITH-goh; Scots: Lithgae; Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Iucha) is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It was historically West Lothian's county town, reflected in the county's historical name of Linlithgowshire. An ancient town, it lies in the Central Belt on a historic route between Edinburgh and Falkirk beside Linlithgow Loch. The town is situated approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Edinburgh.

During the medieval period, the town grew in prominence as a royal burgh and residence around Linlithgow Palace. In later centuries, Linlithgow became a centre of industry in leather making and other materials, before developing rapidly in the Victorian era with the opening of the Union Canal in the 1820s and the arrival of the railway in 1842. Linlithgow was the former county town of the county but the Council now resides in nearby Livingston. Today Linlithgow has less industry and the economy of the town centre is focused on hospitality, heritage and tourism services. Linlithgow's patron saint is Saint Michael and its motto is St. Michael is kind to strangers. A statue of the saint holding the burgh coat of arms stands on the High Street. In 2019, the population of the Linlithgow ward (which includes the town and greater area) was 16,499.^[4]