Discover Alexandria

Alexandria offers several starting points for planning a trip: local history, a heritage centre, a park walk and bus connections to Balloch. If you are looking for a hotel in Alexandria, these specific themes can help you organise your interests. The places below range from a listed landmark to an important link between the town centre and the River Leven. This is one way to get to know the town through its historical and practical connections.

Historic places and names

Smollett Fountain is a Category B listed historic landmark. It stands at the corner of Main Street and Bank Street. Its precise location at this junction places the fountain within the townscape; its listed status is as much a part of its context as the specific spot where you can find it on a map.

Another historic name in Alexandria is Argyll Motor Works. The works are at the northern end of the town and are now known as Lomond Galleries. If you come across both names, they refer to the same place: Argyll Motor Works is the historic name, while Lomond Galleries is the name used today. This change of name offers a concrete way into the town’s history, without suggesting that the two names refer to different destinations.

History at the Vale of Leven Heritage Centre

The Vale of Leven Heritage Centre is on the first floor of Alexandria Library. It presents the history of the Vale of Leven through the museum collections of West Dunbartonshire Council. The objects on display include printing blocks and fabric samples from the local textile industry. These objects give the subject a tangible focus: printing blocks sit alongside fabric samples, making the history of local industry easier to understand through specific items.

The Heritage Centre also displays archaeological finds from Alexandria that are 4,000 years old. The exhibition therefore includes both objects from the local textile industry and finds with a specifically stated age. These varied themes offer more than one historical point of interest for travellers interested in the history of the Vale of Leven. The locations are also clearly identified: the centre presents the history of the Vale, and the archaeological finds on display include items from Alexandria.

Getting around and spending time outdoors

Alexander Street is an important link between Alexandria town centre and the River Leven. The street connects these two specific points in the town. If you are finding your bearings, this link to the river can help you place the centre of Alexandria in context.

Christie Park offers a different side to a stay. A circular path there runs around lawns, formal planting and mature trees. The description of the path brings together open green spaces, landscaped planting and established trees. Alongside the historic themes, the park walk offers another way to spend time in Alexandria.

Bus connections to Balloch

The Trossachs Explorer strengthens bus connections to and from Alexandria and Balloch. If you are including both places in your travel plans, this connection can be useful for getting around. Check the latest timetable before travelling, as service details may change.

Discover more destinations: Balloch, Clydebank, Gartocharn, Dumbarton

Return to the wider travel overview: West Dunbartonshire.