2 days ago
Historic Scottish town with 'charming' streets with some of UK's cheapest houses
Homes in town sold for an average of £154,688 last year, with prices rising from the previous year.
A historic town in East Ayrshire, has been named one of the cheapest places to live in the UK, with locals praising its vibrant shopping scene and friendly atmosphere. Ranked by property website Rightmove as the most affordable location in Scotland for first-time buyers, Kilmarnock offers average property prices far below the national average.
According to Rightmove, homes in Kilmarnock sold for an average of £154,688 over the past year. Flats went for an average of £75,868, while semi-detached properties fetched £161,391 and terraced houses £115,793. Prices were up seven percent compared to the previous year and four per cent higher than the 2022 peak.
With a population of over 47,000, Kilmarnock's housing costs are more than five times lower than London, where the average flat is priced at £590,543. The town's mix of cultural heritage, green spaces and shopping options has helped make it an attractive choice for buyers.
Kilmarnock boasts an impressive list of cultural landmarks, including Scotland's largest Burns Monument, the Dick Institute and the Palace Theatre. The town centre offers a variety of independent shops alongside well-known high street names.
Tourism board VisitScotland described Bank Street as 'a charming cobbled street in the historic core, with the elegant John Finnie Street boasting one of the best examples of provincial Victorian architecture in Scotland.' It also highlighted Dean Castle and Country Park as 'a fantastic day out for all the family' and praised the Burns Monument Centre's location in the scenic Kay Park.
For many residents, the town's appeal lies in its character and accessibility. Andrew Reith, 41, of Zenith Coins, who has worked in Kilmarnock for five years, said: 'The town has some nice parks, and there are a few places for public entertainment. The shopping area is quite popular, and both tourists and locals enjoy wandering around it.
'What I feel is that the town could benefit from a couple of large organisations, such as factories, to create more job opportunities for people living in the area.'
However, others say the town still faces challenges. One resident told The Express: 'Many people in Kilmarnock rely on Government benefits and lack ambition and zeal to work.
"Most people are looking to send their children to the schools in Troon which is around 15 to 20 minutes away from Kilmarnock and is home to some of the most affluent people in the town.'
While some streets offer homes priced between £75,000 and £84,000, others feature properties worth £500,000.
Tracey Oakley, a property adviser with Donald Ross Residential, noted: 'Kilmarnock is a huge area and it would not be right to say that the houses are cheap [everywhere] here. The town is not very far from Glasgow and has a lovely shopping centre.
'The properties which are put on the market are being sold in just two to six weeks, showing its popularity among the buyers.'
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East Ayrshire Council says the town's vibrancy is being boosted by regeneration efforts.
David McDowall, head of economic growth, said: 'We are happy to see Kilmarnock is featuring as one of the more economical places to live…
"Over the past 15 years, our Regeneration and Business Support teams have attracted investment to enable the redevelopment of the town centre… breathing new life into the town's conservation area.'
He added that Kilmarnock has 'weathered the storm of closures of the mass industries such as whisky bottling, shoe making, carpet making, textiles and heavy engineering' and is now 'experiencing a resurgence' with new small and medium enterprises.
