Editing West Lothian

{{Short description|Council area of Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = West Lothian
| native_name             = {{Unbulleted list
 |{{native name|gd|Lodainn an Iar}}
 |{{native name|sco|Wast Lowden}}
 }}
| settlement_type         = [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|Lieutenancy]] and [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|council area]]
| image_skyline           = 
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of West Lothian Council.svg
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_type       = 
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = West Lothian UK location map.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = West Lothian shown within [[Scotland]]
| coordinates             = {{coord|55|55|N|3|30|W|region:GB_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Scotland]]
| subdivision_type2       = 
| subdivision_name2       = 
| subdivision_type3       = [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|Lieutenancy area]]
| subdivision_name3       = 
| subdivision_type4       = 
| subdivision_name4       = 
| established_title       = Unitary authority
| established_date        = [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|1 April 1996]]
| established_title1      = 
| established_date1       = 
| established_title2      = 
| established_date2       = 
| named_for               = 
| seat_type               = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat                    = [[West Lothian Civic Centre]]
| parts_type              = 
| parts                   = 
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://westlothian.gov.uk/councillors-and-democracy |title=Councillors and Democracy |website=West Lothian Council |access-date=15 September 2024}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Local government in Scotland|Council]]
| governing_body          = [[West Lothian Council]]
| leader_title            = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name             = {{UK council control|GSS=S12000040}}
| leader_title1           = 
| leader_name1            = 
| leader_title2           = 
| leader_name2            = 
| leader_title3           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3            = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MPs
 |[[Kirsteen Sullivan]] ([[Labour and Co-operative Party|L]])
 |[[Gregor Poynton]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 }}
| leader_title4           = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSPs]]
| leader_name4            = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MSPs
 |[[Angela Constance]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 |[[Fiona Hyslop]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 }}
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000040}}
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_rank               = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council area rank|GSS=S12000040}}]]
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of        = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total        = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000040}}
| population_rank         = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council population rank|GSS=S12000040}}]]
| population_density_km2  = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000040}}
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = 
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = 
| demographics1_info1     = 
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1    = 
| demographics2_info1     = 
| timezone1               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1             = +0
| timezone1_DST           = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +1
<!-- Codes -->
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code               = 
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-WLN]]
| blank1_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info             = S12000040
| website                 = {{URL|westlothian.gov.uk}}
}}

'''West Lothian''' ({{langx|sco|Wast Lowden}}; {{langx|gd|Lodainn an Iar}}) is one of the 32 [[council areas of Scotland]], bordering (in a clockwise direction) the [[City of Edinburgh council area]], [[Scottish Borders]], [[South Lanarkshire]], [[North Lanarkshire]] and [[Falkirk (council area)|Falkirk]]. The modern council area was formed in 1975 when the [[West Lothian (historic)|historic county of West Lothian]], also known as Linlithgowshire, was reshaped substantially as part of local government reforms; some areas that had formerly been part of [[Midlothian (historic)|Midlothian]] were added to a new West Lothian [[Districts of Scotland|District]] within the [[Local government areas of Scotland 1973 to 1996|Region]] of [[Lothian]], whilst some areas in the north-west were transferred to the Falkirk District and areas in the north-east were transferred to the [[Edinburgh (district)|City of Edinburgh]] District. In 1996 West Lothian became a unitary authority area, using the same name and territory as in 1975.

West Lothian lies on the southern shore of the [[Firth of Forth]] and is predominantly rural, though there were extensive coal, iron, and shale oil mining operations in the 19th and 20th centuries which created distinctive red-spoil heaps (locally known as "[[bing (mining)|bing]]s") throughout the council area. The old county town was the [[royal burgh]] of [[Linlithgow]], but the largest town (and the second-largest town in the Lothian region after Edinburgh) is now [[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]], where [[West Lothian Council]] has been based since 2009 having previously used facilities across three sites. Other large towns in the county include [[Bathgate]] (a town with medieval origins that developed extensively during the industrial revolution) and the historic mining settlements of [[Armadale, West Lothian|Armadale]], [[Fauldhouse]], [[Whitburn, West Lothian|Whitburn]], [[West Calder]], [[Uphall]], and [[Broxburn, West Lothian|Broxburn]].

==History==
{{for|the history of the pre-1975 county|West Lothian (historic)}}
In 1975, as a result of the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], the boundaries of West Lothian were adjusted: the 1973 Act abolished the traditional counties and burghs, instead creating a system of [[Local government areas of Scotland 1973 to 1996|Regions]] and [[Districts of Scotland|Districts]]. West Lothian was made a district of [[Lothian|Lothian Region]] but lost the burgh of Bo'ness and the district of Bo'ness to Falkirk District of [[Central Region, Scotland|Central Region]], and the burgh of Queensferry and the district of [[Kirkliston]] plus part of [[Winchburgh]] to the [[Edinburgh (district)|Edinburgh district]] of Lothian Region. It gained [[East Calder]] and [[West Calder]] districts from Midlothian. The two-tier system was abolished by the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]], and the district of West Lothian was made into a [[council areas of Scotland|unitary council area]] named [[West Lothian Council]].

==Government and politics==
===Council===
[[West Lothian Council]] is the [[Local government in Scotland|local authority]] for the West Lothian area and has 33 elected members. [[Councillors]] are generally elected every five years, with the next election falling in Spring 2027.

The current council composition is:

{|class="wikitable"
|-
|width="5"|
| style="width:140px;"|'''Party'''
| style="width:180px;"|'''Councillors'''
|-
|style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Scottish National Party}}"|
|[[Scottish National Party]]
|15
|-
|style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}"|
|[[Scottish Labour Party|Labour]]
|11
|-
|style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}"|
|[[Scottish Conservative Party|Conservative]] 
|4
|-
|
|[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]
|1
|-
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|2
|}
[[File:Livingston Civic Centre from the west - geograph.org.uk - 1627821.jpg|thumb|[[West Lothian Civic Centre]]]]
Following the abolition of West Lothian County Council in 1975, the new West Lothian District Council chose to use the former Burgh Chambers of [[Bathgate]] Town Council (built in 1966) as its headquarters, extending the building in 1976 and renaming it Lindsay House.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chambers par excellence: Bathgate's fine new image |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=26 December 2022 |work=West Lothian Courier |date=18 February 1966 |location=Bathgate |page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bathgate, South Bridge Street, Lindsay House, District Council Office |url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/217854/bathgate-south-bridge-street-lindsay-house-district-council-office |website=Canmore |publisher=Historic Environment Scotland |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> The district council retained the [[County Buildings, Linlithgow|county buildings]] in [[Linlithgow]] as additional office space.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=19773|page=1457|date=14 November 1975|city=e}}</ref> In November 2009, the new [[unitary authority]], West Lothian Council, centralised its services at the new [[West Lothian Civic Centre]] in [[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8378976.stm  |title=Alex Salmond unveils £50m Livingston civic centre|date=25 November 2009|newspaper=BBC| access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref>

===Parliamentary representation===
West Lothian is represented in the [[Scottish Parliament]] by two constituency members and seven regional members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).<ref name=MSP>{{cite news |url=https://www.parliament.scot/PublicInformationdocuments/YMSP_Lothian_Eng.pdf |title=Your MSPs - Lothian |publisher=The Scottish Parliament |date=29 December 2020 |access-date=29 December 2020 |archive-date=19 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319065642/https://www.parliament.scot/PublicInformationdocuments/YMSP_Lothian_Eng.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] West Lothian is represented by two members of Parliament. [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) [[Gregor Poynton]] represents the [[Livingston (UK Parliament constituency)|Livingston constituency]].<ref name="2024Election">{{cite web |url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/82669/General-Election-Results-2024/ |title=General Election Results 2024 |publisher=West Lothian Council |access-date=8 July 2024}}</ref> [[Kirsteen Sullivan]] represents the [[Bathgate and Linlithgow (UK Parliament constituency)]]<ref name="2024Election"/> Until 2024, the area included the [[Linlithgow and East Falkirk (UK Parliament constituency)]].

The [[West Lothian question]], referring to whether Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish MPs should be allowed to vote on English laws, is so named because it was supposedly first raised by [[Tam Dalyell]] while he was MP for West Lothian.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-29281818 |title=Scottish referendum: What is the 'English Question'?|work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=19 September 2014 |access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=Econ14>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21620194-scotlands-place-united-kingdom-settled-time-deal-its-much-larger-neighbour-now |title=Now for the English question |newspaper=The Economist |date=27 September 2014 }}</ref>

==Settlements==
{{Location map+|Scotland West Lothian
 |caption={{left|The largest settlements in West Lothian}}
 |float=right
 |width=500
 |places =
{{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.8834|-3.5157}}|position=left|label='''[[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.902359|-3.643097}}|position=top|label='''[[Bathgate]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.934|-3.471}}|position=left|label='''[[Broxburn]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.97905|-3.61054}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Linlithgow]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.897801|-3.704736}}|position=left|label='''[[Armadale, West Lothian|Armadale]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.86210|-3.68719}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Whitburn, West Lothian|Whitburn]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.896|-3.462}}|position=left|label='''[[East Calder]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.872|-3.621}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Blackburn, West Lothian|Blackburn]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.827229|-3.709073}}|position=right|label='''[[Fauldhouse]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.960|-3.464}}|position=left|label='''[[Winchburgh]]'''|label_size=}}

<!-- Bordering council areas -->
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|56.039|-3.44|}}|position=left|label=''[[Fife#Settlements|Fife]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.964|-3.449|}}|position=right|label=''[[City of Edinburgh (council area)#Settlements|{{Center|City<br>of<br>Edinburgh}}]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.78|-3.44|}}|position=right|label=''[[Scottish Borders#Settlements|Scottish Borders]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.785|-3.66|}}|position=right|label=''[[South Lanarkshire#Settlements|South Lanarkshire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.84|-3.83|}}|position=right|label=''[[North Lanarkshire#Settlements|North Lanarkshire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Lothian|coordinates = {{coord|55.93|-3.81|}}|position=right|label=''[[Falkirk (council area)#Settlements|Falkirk]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
}}

The creation of the modern council area in 1975 drastically altered West Lothian's boundaries. Significant towns not included in the modern county are the coastal burghs of [[Bo'ness]] and [[South Queensferry|Queensferry]] and the town of [[Kirkliston]]. Large parts of the southern urban area of Livingston which were historically within [[Midlothian (historic)|Midlothian]] were, however, transferred to West Lothian.

Largest settlements by population:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Settlement
!Population ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref name="auto">{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
|-
|[[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Livingston}}
|-
|[[Bathgate]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Bathgate}}
|-
|[[Broxburn]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Broxburn}}
|-
|[[Linlithgow]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Linlithgow}}
|-
|[[Armadale, West Lothian|Armadale]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Armadale}}
|-
|[[Whitburn, West Lothian|Whitburn]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Whitburn}}
|-
|[[East Calder]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=East Calder}}
|-
|[[Blackburn, West Lothian|Blackburn]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Blackburn (West Lothian)}}
|-
|[[Fauldhouse]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Fauldhouse}}
|-
|[[Winchburgh]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Winchburgh}}
|-
|}

<gallery mode="traditional" class="center">
File:Armadale from the north-west.jpg|The town of Armadale
File:Bathgate_aerial.JPG|The town of Bathgate seen from the air
File:Linlithgow Palace from Cockleroy Hill.jpg|Linlithgow Palace in Linlithgow, seen from Cockleroy Hill
File:Livingston, West Lothian.JPG|The town of Livingston seen from the air
File:Whitburn - geograph.org.uk - 150688.jpg|The town of Whitburn
</gallery>

==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"
|+ 
! rowspan="2" |Ethnic Group
! colspan="2" |[[2001 United Kingdom census|2001]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Census Dissemination Unit |first=Mimas |date=5 May 2011 |title=InFuse |url=https://infuse2011gf.ukdataservice.ac.uk/ |access-date=24 June 2022 |website=infuse2011gf.ukdataservice.ac.uk |language=English}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |[[2011 United Kingdom census|2011]]<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Scotland's Census 2011&nbsp;– Table KS201SC |url=http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ods-web/standard-outputs.html |publisher=scotlandscensus.gov.uk |access-date=3 November 2015 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107044126/https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ods-web/standard-outputs.html%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |[[2021 United Kingdom census#2022 census for Scotland|2022]]<ref name="2022census_Scot">{{cite web |url=https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/media/trbdxzme/scotland-s-census-2022-ethnic-group-national-identity-language-and-religion-chart-data.xlsx |title=Scotland's Census 2022 - Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion - Chart data |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=21 May 2024 |website=Scotland's Census |publisher=[[National Records of Scotland]] |access-date=21 May 2024 }} [https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/search-the-census#/search-by Alternative URL] 'Search data by location' > 'Local Authority (CA2019)' > 'West Lothian' > 'Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion' > 'Ethnic Group'</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
![[White people|White]]: Total
!156,581
!98.66%
!170,850
!97.56%
!171,816
!94.78%
|-
|White: [[Scottish people|Scottish]]
| 144,533
| 91.07%
| 153,815
| 87.84%
| 147,073
| 81.13%
|-
|White: [[White British|Other British]]
| 9,281
| 5.85%
| 10,204
| 5.83%
| 12,959
| 7.15%
|-
|White: [[Irish Briton|Irish]]
| 1,169
| 0.74%
| 1,209
| 0.69%
| 1,290
| 0.71%
|-
|White: [[Irish Traveller|Gypsy/Traveller]]<ref group="note" name="auto">New category created for the 2011 census</ref>
| –
| –
| 79
| –
| 70
| –
|-
|White: [[White Polish|Polish]]<ref name="auto" group="note" />
| –
| –
| 3,273
| 1.87%
| 5,568
| 3.07%
|-
|White: [[White Other (United Kingdom Census)|Other]]
| 1,598
| 1.01%
| 2,270
| 1.30%
| 4,853
| 2.68%
|-
![[Asian people|Asian]], [[Asian-Scots|Asian Scottish]] or [[British Asian|Asian British]]: Total
! 1,345
! 0.85%
! 2,941
! 1.68%
! 5,056
! 2.79%
|-
|Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: [[British Indian|Indian]]
| 184
| 0.12%
| 641
| 0.37%
| 1,315
| 0.73%
|-
|Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: [[British Pakistani|Pakistani]]
| 795
| 0.50%
| 1,420
| 0.81%
| 2,338
| 1.29%
|-
|Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshi]]
| 10
| –
| 11
| –
| 45
| –
|-
|Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
| 248
| 0.16%
| 498
| 0.28%
| 810
| 0.45%
|-
|Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: [[British Asian|Asian Other]]
| 108
| 0.07%
| 371
| 0.21%
| 548
| 0.30%
|-
![[Black people|Black]], [[Black Scottish people|Black Scottish]] or [[Black British]]<ref group="note">Category restructured for the 2011 census</ref>
!26
! –
! –
! –
! –
! –
|-
![[Black people|African]]: Total
!65
!–
!457
!0.26%
!1,439
!0.79%
|-
|African: [[Black people|African]], [[Black Scottish people|African Scottish]] or [[Black British|African British]]
| –
| –
| 445
| 0.25%
| 165
| 0.09%
|-
|African: [[Black British|Other African]]
| –
| –
| 12
| –
| 1,274
| 0.70%
|-
![[British African-Caribbean community|Caribbean]] or [[Black British|Black]]: Total
!–
!–
!118
!0.07%
!163
!0.09%
|-
|[[British African-Caribbean community|Caribbean]]
| 47
| –
| 50
| –
| 68
| –
|-
|[[Black British|Black]]
| –
| –
| 50
| –
| 15
| –
|-
|Caribbean or Black: [[Other Black|Other]]
| –
| –
| 18
| –
| 80
| –
|-
![[British Mixed|Mixed or multiple ethnic groups]]: Total
!338
!0.21%
!534
!0.30%
!1,912
!1.05%
|-
!Other: Total
!312
!02.0%
!218
!0.12%
!888
!0.49%
|-
|Other: [[British Arabs|Arab]]<ref group="note" name="auto"/>
| –
| –
| 104
| 0.06%
| 329
| 0.18%
|-
|Other: Any other ethnic group
| –
| –
| 114
| 0.07%
| 559
| 0.31%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Total:
!158,714
!100.00%
!175,118
!100.00%
!181,278
!100.00%
|}

==Culture, Landmarks and Community==
===Landmarks===
[[File:Scotland-2016-West_Lothian-Hopetoun_House_01.jpg|thumb|right|Hopetoun House built between 1699 and 1701 sits within West Lothian]]
[[Cairnpapple Hill]] is a scheduled ancient monument and hill with a dominating position in central lowland Scotland with extensive views.

[[Torphichen Preceptory]] is a 12th-century church in the village of [[Torphichen]]. It comprises the remains of the [[preceptory]] (headquarters) of the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John of Jerusalem]] in Scotland.

Historic houses in West Lothian include [[Linlithgow Palace]], a ruined palace that was one of the principal residences of the monarchs of [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]] in the 15th and 16th centuries and is the birthplace of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]]. It is now a visitor attraction in the care of [[Historic Environment Scotland]].<ref name="LinlithgowPalace">{{cite web |title=Linlithgow Palace | url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/linlithgow-palace/ |publisher=[[Historic Environment Scotland]] |access-date = 31 December 2020}}</ref>

The [[House of the Binns]] is an early 17th century historic house and estate near [[Philpstoun]].<ref name="ntsbinns">{{cite web|title=House of the Binns | url =https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/house-of-binns/ |publisher=[[National Trust for Scotland]] |access-date = 31 December 2020}}</ref> The house is the historic home of the Binn family whose owners included [[Tam Dalyell of the Binns|Sir Thomas Dalyell]] a [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scottish]] [[Cavalier|Royalist]] [[general]] in the [[Wars of the Three Kingdoms]], and [[Tam Dalyell|Sir Tam Dalyell]], a member of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] from 1962 to 2005.<ref name="ntsbinns"/>

[[Hopetoun House]] is a large country house and estate near South Queensferry that was built between 1699 and 1701, and was designed by [[William Bruce (architect)|Sir William Bruce]]. The house was then hugely extended from 1721 by [[William Adam (architect)|William Adam]] until his death in 1748, being one of his most notable projects. The interior was completed by his sons [[John Adam (architect)|John Adam]] and [[Robert Adam]].<ref name="Hopetoun">{{cite web|title=House and Grounds |date=25 May 2015 |url=https://hopetoun.co.uk/house-and-grounds/ |publisher=Hopetoun |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref> [[Midhope Castle]] is a 16th-century [[tower house]] on the Hopetoun estate that was used as a location in the ''[[Outlander (TV series)|Outlander]]'' TV series on [[Starz]] as the main character, Jamie Fraser's family home called Lallybroch (Broch Tuarach).<ref name=Midhope>{{Canmore |num=49168 |desc=Midhope Castle |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="Outlander">{{cite web|title=Midhope Castle |date=28 December 2015 |url=http://www.outlanderlocations.com/locations/midhope-castle/ |publisher=Outlander Locations |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

====Castles====
{{Main|List of castles in West Lothian}}
There are a variety of castles and other historic fortifications in West Lothian, including medieval mottes, tower houses and Renaissance laird's houses, as well as relatively modern castellated mansions.<ref name="Salter">{{cite book | last=Salter | first=Mike | title=The Castles of Lothian and the Borders | date=1994 | publisher=Folly Publications | isbn=978-1-871731-20-0}}</ref> Examples include [[Cairns Castle]], [[Duntarvie Castle]], [[Midhope Castle]] and [[Staneyhill Tower]].<ref name="Salter"/>

===Community facilities===
[[File:Deer_feeding_at_Beecraigs_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1749463.jpg|thumb|right|Beecraigs Country Park in the Bathgate Hills]]
There are several public [[Country Park|country parks]] in West Lothian, including [[Beecraigs]] [[Country Park]] (a 370 hectare park between Bathgate and Linlithgow with forests, a visitor centre and a loch), [[Polkemmet Country Park]] (a 68 hectare park near Whitburn with woodlands, river walks and outdoor facilities), and [[Almondell and Calderwood Country Park]] along the Almond river valley near Mid Calder.<ref name=Beecraigs>{{cite web |url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/34121/Beecraigs-Country-Park | title=Beecraigs Country Park| access-date=31 December 2020 | publisher=West Lothian Council}}</ref><ref name=Polkemmet>{{cite web |url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/polkemmet | title=Polkemmet Country Park| access-date=31 December 2020 | publisher=West Lothian Council}}</ref><ref name=AandC>{{cite web |url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/almondell-and-calderwood | title=Almondell and Calderwood| access-date=31 December 2020 | publisher=West Lothian Council}}</ref>

[[Blawhorn Moss]] is a raised bog located near Blackridge that has been a [[National nature reserve (Scotland)|national nature reserve]] since 1980 and is the largest and least disturbed raised bog in the Lothians.<ref name=Blawhorn>{{cite web |url=https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/scotlands-national-nature-reserves/blawhorn-moss-national-nature-reserve | title=Blawhorn Moss| access-date=31 December 2020 | publisher=[[NatureScot]]}}</ref>

====Health====
Public healthcare in West Lothian is administered by [[NHS Lothian]] within [[NHS Scotland]].

The main hospital for West Lothian is [[St John's Hospital, Livingston|St John's Hospital]] in Livingston. The hospital has a dedicated [[Accident and Emergency]] department with 550 beds and opened in 1989.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk/collections/LHB64/lhb64_tlfa.htm |title=LHB64 St John's Hospital |access-date=26 November 2020 |publisher=Lothian Health Services Archive}}</ref><ref name="RIERAD">{{cite web|url=http://www.rierad.scot.nhs.uk/stjohns.pdf |title=St John's Hospital Livingston |access-date=1 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715133748/http://www.rierad.scot.nhs.uk/stjohns.pdf |archive-date=15 July 2007}}</ref> St Johns is a [[teaching hospital]] for the [[University of Edinburgh Medical School]].<ref name="St Johns">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/GoingToHospital/Locations/StJohnsHospital/Pages/default.aspx |title=St John's Hospital at Howden |publisher=[[NHS Lothian]] |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref> Other public hospitals include [[Tippethill House Hospital]] a [[community hospital]] in [[Armadale, West Lothian|Armadale]] and [[St Michael's Hospital, Linlithgow|St Michael's Hospital]], a [[community hospital]] in [[Linlithgow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/GoingToHospital/Locations/Pages/StMichaelsHospital.aspx |title=St Michaels Hospital |publisher=[[NHS Lothian]] |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/GoingToHospital/Locations/Pages/TippethillHospital.aspx| title=Tippethill Hospital |publisher=[[NHS Lothian]]  |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

West Lothian previously had a psychiatric hospital with general hospital in the [[Dechmont]] area called [[Bangour Village Hospital]].<ref name=Bangour1>{{Canmore |num=77518 |desc=Dechmont, Bangour Village Hospital, Hospital Block |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref> The hospital opened in 1904 and eventually had beds for 55 officers and 2571 other ranks.<ref name=Bangour1/> The hospital started closing in the 1990s and closed completely in 2004 after the remaining services were transferred to St John's Hospital.<ref name=Bangour1/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk/catalog/records/lhsab001/lhb40x.html |title=Bangour General Hospital |access-date=1 April 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071109120800/http://www.lhsa.lib.ed.ac.uk/catalog/records/lhsab001/lhb40x.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 9 November 2007}}</ref>

The [[Linburn Centre]] is a health centre for blinded war veterans at [[Wilkieston]].<ref name=Linburn>{{cite web |url=https://sightscotland.org.uk/veterans/how-we-can-help/our-centres/linburn-centre| title=Linburn Centre |publisher=Scottish War Blinded |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref> The centre is located within the estate of Linburn House, a country house which was demolished in 1955.<ref name=oldlinburnhouse>{{Canmore |num=200657 |desc=Wilkieston, Old Linburn House |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

====Museums====
The [[Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry]] was created in 1990, to preserve the history of the shale industry in West Lothian and beyond.<ref name="ShaleMuseum">{{cite web|url=https://www.scottishshale.co.uk/IntroPages/IntroMuseum.html|title=About the Museum|publisher=Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>  It is sited on a former mill at Millfield, near Livingston and is attached to the Almond Valley Heritage Centre, a large farm and play area.<ref name="AlmondHeritage">{{cite web|url=https://www.almondvalley.co.uk/ATExploreSite.html|title=Explore the Almond Valley Site|website=Almondvalley.co.uk|access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

In Bathgate, the Bennie Museum is a museum of local history and heritage that is run by volunteers under the management of a charitable trust. It opened in 1989 and is housed used in two former derelict cottages donated by the Bennie family to the local community in 1980.<ref name="Bennie1">{{cite web|url=https://www.visitwestlothian.co.uk/things-to-do/ancestry/bennie-museum/ |title=Bennie Museum |publisher=Visit West Lothian |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="Bennie2">{{cite web|url=https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/bathgate/benniemuseum/index.html |title=Bennie Museum |publisher=Undiscovered Scotland |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="Bennie3">{{cite web|url=https://www.benniemuseum.org.uk/contentw/ |title=Home page |publisher=Bennie Museum|access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

The Linlithgow Museum is a volunteer-run local history museum in [[Linlithgow]].<ref name="LinlithgowMuseum1">{{cite web|url=https://www.linlithgowmuseum.org/about |title=About Us |publisher=Linlithgow Museum |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="LinlithgowMuseum2">{{cite web|url=https://www.visitwestlothian.co.uk/things-to-do/history-heritage/linlithgow-museum/ |title=Linlithgow Museum |publisher=Visit West Lothian |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref> The museum is housed in the Linlithgow Partnership Centre, along with the West Lothian Family History Society and library.<ref name="PartnershipC">{{cite web|url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/linlithgowpartnershipcentre |title=Linlithgow Partnership Centre - Tam Dalyell House |publisher=West Lothian Council |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

Military Museum Scotland is a [[military history]] museum in [[Wilkieston]] that covers Scottish military history from the [[First World War]] to the present day.<ref name="MilMuseum1">{{cite web|url=https://www.visitwestlothian.co.uk/things-to-do/history-heritage/military-museum-scotland/ |title=Military Museum Scotland |publisher=Visit West Lothian |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="MilMuseum2">{{cite web|url=https://military-museum-scotland.business.site/#summary |title=Summary |publisher=Military Museum Scotland |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

The [[Museum of Scottish Railways]] is a railway museum located within the station yard of [[Bo'ness]] at the [[Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to the official Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway site|url=https://www.bkrailway.co.uk/|access-date=21 February 2022|website=www.bkrailway.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Museum of Scottish Railways, Bo'ness – Museums|url=https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/museum-of-scottish-railways-p779261|access-date=21 February 2022|website=www.visitscotland.com|language=en}}</ref>

====Zoo====
[[Five Sisters Zoo]] is a privately owned [[Zoological park|zoo]] located in [[Polbeth]], [[West Calder]] opened in 2005. The zoo has grown into one of West Lothian's top visitor attractions and was awarded ‘Best Family Day Out’ at the 2024 Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Debbie |date=2024-05-23 |title=Popular West Lothian zoo named 'best family day out in Scotland' |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/popular-west-lothian-zoo-named-32875443 |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Tesco Distribution Centre, Livingston, West Lothian.JPG|thumb|right|Tesco's Distribution Centre for Scotland and Northern Ireland between Livingston and [[Bathgate]]]]
West Lothian has a diverse economy and as of 2020 had approximately 4,500 businesses providing almost 72,000 jobs in the area.<ref name=WLCFacts>{{cite web |url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/34925/Key-Facts |title=Key Facts |date=28 December 2020 |publisher=West Lothian Council|access-date=28 December 2020}}</ref> In 2014, West Lothian Council reported that the five largest employment sectors in the council area were [[Healthcare industry|healthcare]], [[construction]], [[retail]], [[manufacturing]], and business administration and support
services.<ref name=WLCEc>{{cite web |url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/media/3887/West-Lothian-Economic-Profile/pdf/2017-05-10_edited_economic_profile-2016-online-lo.pdf?m=636740688935200000 |title=West Lothian Economic Profile|date=28 December 2020 |publisher=West Lothian Council|access-date=28 December 2020}}</ref> While historically, mining and shale oil production were key employers in the region, as of 2014 they only accounted for 0.7% of persons employed in West Lothian.<ref name=WLCEc/> The ten largest private employers in West Lothian are [[Sky UK]], [[Tesco]], [[Mitsubishi Electric]], [[IQVIA]] (formerly Quintiles/Q2 Solutions), [[Asda]], [[Morrisons]], [[Johnson & Johnson]], [[Schuh]], [[Jabil]] and [[Shin-Etsu Chemical|Shin-Etsu Europe]].<ref name=WLCEc/> The two largest public sector employers in the county are West Lothian Council and [[NHS Scotland]].<ref name=WLCEc/>

The [[Starlaw distillery]] is a [[Scotch whisky]] grain distillery at [[Bathgate]] that is owned by French drinks group [[La Martiniquaise]]. The distillery opened in 2010 and can produce 25 million litres annually and has 29 ageing warehouses (cellars) across 75 hectares at the distillery to allow for the maturation of over 600,000 barrels.<ref name=LaM>{{cite web |url=https://www.la-martiniquaise.com/en/the-group/an-international-group/ |title=Label 5 First Blending Company, Bathgate |publisher=La Martiniquaise |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=Scotch>{{cite web |url=https://scotchwhisky.com/whiskypedia/2010/starlaw/ |title=Starlaw Distillery |publisher=Scotch Whisky|access-date=28 December 2020}}</ref> [[Glenmorangie]], the whisky distillers have offices and a bottling facility in Livingston that was opened in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-14829701 |title=Duke of York opens new Glenmorangie bottling facility|date=7 September 2011| publisher=[[BBC News]]| access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref>

West Lothian has several shopping centres, the largest of which are located in Livingston, including [[The Centre (Livingston)|'The Centre']] (comprising more than 1,000,000 square foot of retail space) and [[Livingston Designer Outlet]] (the largest outlet [[Shopping mall|mall]] in Scotland).<ref name=Shopping1>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/designer-home-with-a-dome-of-its-own-mcarthurglen-at-livingston-has-a-structured-approach-to-shopping-1.212453|title=Designer home with a dome of its own:McArthurGlen at Livingston has a structured approach to shopping|website=HeraldScotland |date=26 October 2000 |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=WLCFacts/> The combined retail spaces of central Livingston form the largest indoor shopping location in Scotland and the 10th largest in the UK.<ref name=WLCFacts/>

There are several large scale [[wind farm]]s in West Lothian, predominantly in the south-west of the county, used to produce [[Wind power|electricity]] across the region, including [[Pates Hill Wind Farm|Pates Hill wind farm]], Harburnhead wind farm, and Black Law wind farm.<ref name=Energy1>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishenergynews.com/new-west-lothian-wind-farm-to-generate-9-million-for-local-economy/ |title=New West Lothian Wind Farm|publisher=Scottish Energy News|access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=Energy2>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/wind-farms-made-big-contributions-14432127 |title=Wind Farms |date=20 April 2019 |publisher=Daily Record |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

==Transport==
===Road===
The main [[trunk road]]s in West Lothian are:<ref name=OS>{{Cite web|url=https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/|title=OS Maps: online mapping and walking, running and cycling routes|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transport.gov.scot/transport-network/roads/the-trunk-road-network/|title=The Trunk Road Network|publisher=Transport Scotland|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref>
* The [[M9 motorway (Scotland)|M9 Motorway]] from the border with [[Edinburgh]], [[Bypass route|bypassing]] north of the town of [[Linlithgow]] towards [[Falkirk]].
* The [[A89 road]] from [[Glasgow]] that passes through [[Caldercruix]], [[Blackridge, West Lothian|Blackridge]], [[Armadale, West Lothian|Armadale]], [[Bathgate]], [[Dechmont]], [[Uphall]], [[Broxburn, West Lothian|Broxburn]] before terminating at a roundabout in [[Newbridge, Edinburgh|Newbridge]] near Edinburgh.
* The [[M8 motorway (Scotland)|M8 motorway]] that connects [[Glasgow]] and Edinburgh passes across West Lothian connecting communities including [[Livingston, Scotland|Livingston]] and Bathgate.

Other principal [[Great Britain road numbering scheme|A roads]] in West Lothian include the [[A71 road]] (which passes through the south of the county connecting settlements including Livingston, Polbeth, West Calder and Breich), the [[A899 road|A899]] and [[A705 road (Great Britain)|A705]] in Livingston, and the [[A801 road]] which runs from east of Polmont to Whitburn.

===Rail===
[[File:RathoViaduct06.jpg|thumb|right|[[Almond Valley Viaduct]] in West Lothian between Broxburn and Ratho]]
Several [[Glasgow–Edinburgh lines|railway routes]] run through West Lothian. These include:
* The [[North Clyde Line]] between Glasgow and Edinburgh via stations such as [[Livingston North railway station|Livingston North]], [[Bathgate railway station|Bathgate]], [[Armadale railway station (Scotland)|Armadale]] and [[Blackridge railway station|Blackridge]].
* The [[Shotts Line]] between Glasgow and Edinburgh via stations such as [[Fauldhouse railway station|Faulhouse]], [[Breich railway station|Breich]], [[Addiewell railway station|Addiewell]], [[West Calder railway station|West Calder]], [[Livingston South railway station|Livingston South]] and [[Kirknewton railway station|Kirknewtown]].
* The [[Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line]] via [[Linlithgow railway station]].

West Lothian has a number of former, disused and defunct railway lines, principally branch lines that originated in connection with oil, mineral and shale mining activities in the 19th century but were later closed as traffic diminished and industrial operations ceased.<ref name=MakingT>{{Cite web|url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/media/3867/Making-Tracks/pdf/Making_Tracks.pdf|title=Making Tracks|publisher=West Lothian Council|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref>

Many of the railways in West Lothian use significant [[viaducts]] to cross rivers, ravines and other difficult terrain.<ref name=MakingT/> One prominent example is the [[Almond Valley Viaduct]] built by railway engineer [[John Miller (engineer)|John Miller]] to carry the [[Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line]] and completed in 1842.<ref name=MakingT/><ref name=Konect>{{Cite web|url=https://www.konect.scot/post/a-victorian-vision-the-almond-valley-viaduct|title=A Victorian Vision – the Almond Valley Viaduct|date=11 January 2020|publisher=Konect, West Lothian|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> The viaduct is 1.5 miles long with 36 masonry arches, is Category A listed and features as the logo of West Lothian Council.<ref name=Konect/><ref name=Can91660>{{Canmore |num=91660 |desc=Kirkliston, Almond Valley Viaduct|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref>

===Air===
West Lothian has no airport or airfields in current operation.<ref name=Airfield1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/|title=Airfield Finder|publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> The county has a few historic airfields, now defunct, including a temporary airfield that once existed in Bathgate.<ref name=Airfield2>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/bathgate/|title=Bathgate|publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> While the village of [[Kirknewton, West Lothian|Kirknewtown]] is inside West Lothian, the nearby [[RAF Kirknewton]] airfield lies inside the boundary of Edinburgh.<ref name=Can49280>{{Canmore |num=49280 |desc=Kirknewton Airfield|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> The nearest airport in operation to West Lothian is [[Edinburgh Airport]].

==Education==
West Lothian has 11 [[Secondary education in Scotland|secondary schools]], 12 special schools, 67 primary schools, and 60 nurseries.<ref name=WLEdu1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/31839/All-Secondary-Schools |title=All Secondary Schools| publisher=West Lothian Council|access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=WLEdu2>{{Cite web|url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/31838/All-Primary-Schools |title=All Primary Schools| publisher=West Lothian Council|access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=WLEdu3>{{Cite web|url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/31836/Find-a-School-or-Nursery |title=Find a School or Nursery| publisher=West Lothian Council|access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref> While West Lothian has no university, further and adult education facilities are provided at [[West Lothian College]] based in Livingston.<ref name=WLSCollege>{{cite web |url=https://www.west-lothian.ac.uk/help-advice/campus-facilities/ | title=Campus and Facilities  | access-date=31 December 2020 | publisher=West Lothian College}}</ref> The college has sports facilities, a library, a training restaurant for hospitality students, and a salon/spa.<ref name=WLSCollege/> The college provides educational services to over 8,000 students a year and has 350 staff.<ref name=WLSCollege2>{{cite web |url=https://www.west-lothian.ac.uk/about-us/ | title=About us | access-date=31 December 2020 | publisher=West Lothian College}}</ref>

[[Scotland's Rural College]] (SRUC) has a campus in Livingston at Oatridge, near [[Ecclesmachan]] providing courses on subjects such as [[agriculture]], [[veterinary medicine]], [[Nature conservation|conservation]], [[horticulture]], and [[landscaping]].<ref name=SRUC>{{cite web |url=https://www.sruc.ac.uk/info/120169/campuses_and_offices/1166/how_to_find_oatridge_campus | title=Oatridge Campus | access-date=31 December 2020 | publisher=Scotland's Rural College}}</ref> The [[Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and Television]] has its main educational campus in Livingston.<ref name="TheatreWeekly">{{cite web |url=https://theatreweekly.com/the-scottish-institute-of-theatre-dance-film-television-unveils-new-name-and-campus/ | title=The Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film & Television unveils new name and campus | date=17 April 2024 | access-date=22 June 2024 | publisher=Theatre Weekly}}</ref>

West Lothian has 14 public [[libraries]].<ref name=WLSLib>{{cite web |url=https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/your-library | title=Libraries | access-date=31 December 2020 | publisher=West Lothian Council}}</ref> A local and regional history library which includes items on the history of West Lothian and [[Linlithgowshire]] is located in [[Linlithgow]].<ref name=WLSLib/>

==Sports==
[[File:Almondvale_Stadium,_Livingston.jpg|thumb|right|Almondvale Stadium, the home of Livingston F.C. in Livingston]]
West Lothian has 12 [[Football in Scotland|football]] teams playing across a variety of leagues (tiers) in the [[Scottish football league system]]. In the  [[Scottish Championship ]], [[Livingston F.C.|Livingston]] who relocated to Livingston in 1995 to the [[Almondvale Stadium]], represent the county.<ref name=Premiership>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/scottish-premiership/table |title=Scottish Premiership Table |publisher=BBC News |access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=LivFC>{{Cite web|url=http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/history/history_meadowbank.php |title=History, Meadowbank |publisher=Livingston F.C.|access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref> [[Linlithgow Rose F.C.|Linlithgow Rose]] and [[Broxburn Athletic F.C.|Broxburn Athletic]] currently compete in the [[Lowland Football League]]. Meanwhile, previous [[Scottish Junior Football Association|SJFA]] league clubs now play across the [[East of Scotland Football League]]. These clubs include; [[Armadale Thistle F.C.|Armadale Thistle]], [[Bathgate Thistle F.C.|Bathgate Thistle]], [[Blackburn United F.C.|Blackburn United]], [[Fauldhouse United F.C.|Fauldhouse United]], [[Livingston United F.C.|Livingston United]], [[Pumpherston Juniors F.C.|Pumpherston Juniors]], [[Stoneyburn F.C.|Stoneyburn]], [[West Calder United F.C.|West Calder United]] and [[Whitburn F.C.|Whitburn Juniors]].

The West Lothian Sports Council represents a variety of sports clubs and organisations in West Lothian.<ref name=Sports>{{Cite web|url=http://westlothiansportscouncil.org.uk/ |title=Home Page| publisher=West Lothian Sports Council |access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref> Other sports teams in West Lothian include [[Linlithgow RFC]], a [[Scottish Rugby Union]] club who play in [[East Regional Leagues (Rugby Union)|East Regional League Division One]], Livingston RFC, and the [[Edinburgh Monarchs]], a Scottish [[Motorcycle speedway|Speedway]] team, based in [[Armadale, West Lothian|Armadale]] who compete in the [[SGB Championship]].<ref name=EMonarchs>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk/club-information |title=Club Information| publisher=Edinburgh Monarchs |access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref> Cricket is played at a local level at sites such as [[Boghall Cricket Club Ground]] in Linlithgow.

[[Swimming]] facilities are located across West Lothian in most of the towns and Swim West Lothian is an organisation, operating in partnership with West Lothian Council and [[Scottish Swimming]] that organises local swimming clubs, training and swimming galas.<ref name=Swim>{{Cite web|url=http://www.swimwestlothian.com/index.php/about-swl |title=About| publisher=Swim West Lothian |access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref>

==Notable residents==
Notable residents of West Lothian include  monarchs and political figures including [[Mary Queen of Scots]] (born at Linlithgow Palace), [[James V of Scotland|King James the Fifth]] (born at Linlithgow Palace), [[Robin Cook]] (the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Livingston (UK Parliament constituency)|Livingston]] from 1983 to 2005), [[Alex Salmond]] (from Linlithgow, the former First Minister of Scotland), and [[Tam Dalyell|Sir Tom Dalyell]] (the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Linlithgow (UK Parliament constituency)|Linlithgow]] from 1962 to 2005).

West Lothian sports personalities include [[Dario Franchitti]] (from Whitburn, four-time Indy Car series champion, and three-time winner of the [[Indianapolis 500]]), [[Paul di Resta]] (from Uphall, DTM race driver for Mercedes-Benz, and the cousin of Dario Franchitti), and [[Peter Wright (darts player)|Peter 'Snakebite' Wright]] (born in Livingston, PDC World darts champion).

Actors, musicians and entertainers include [[Susan Boyle]] (from Blackburn, a singer who achieved fame on the TV series ''[[Britain's Got Talent]]''),<ref>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6069597.ece "Singing Talent of Susan Boyle Stuns Simon Cowell", Times of London] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100320003955/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6069597.ece |date=20 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Leigh Holmwood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/apr/14/britains-got-talent-tv-ratings |title=Britain's got talent hits high note,' |newspaper=Guardian |date= 14 April 2009|access-date=20 September 2010 |location=London}}</ref> [[Lewis Capaldi]] (a singer/songwriter from Whitburn and Bathgate), [[Ian Colquhoun (Scottish author)|Ian Colquhoun]] (from Livingston, author and actor), [[Leon Jackson]] (from Whitburn, winner of ''[[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]]'' in 2007) and [[David Tennant]] (from Bathgate, actor)

Figures from industry and academia include [[John Fleming (naturalist)|John Fleming]] (from Bathgate, a naturalist, zoologist and geologist), [[Charles Wyville Thomson|Sir Charles Wyville Thomson]] (from Linlithgow, a natural historian and marine zoologist), and [[James Young Simpson]] (an obstetrician and significant figure in the history of medicine).

==See also==
* [[List of places in West Lothian]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=A Topographical and Historical Account of Linlithgowshire|date=1832|last=Penney|first=John|location=Edinburgh|publisher=Stevenson|url=https://archive.org/details/atopographicala00penngoog}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.armadale.org.uk/archaeologyindex.htm West Lothian Archaeology Group] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226184128/http://www.armadale.org.uk/archaeologyindex.htm |date=26 February 2021 }}
* [http://www.wlfhs.org.uk/ West Lothian Family History Society]

{{Navboxes
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{{West Lothian settlements}}
{{Schools in West Lothian}}
{{Rugby union in West Lothian}}
{{Castles in West Lothian}}
{{Lists of listed buildings in West Lothian}}
{{Wards of West Lothian}}
{{West Lothian elections}}
}}

{{Scotland subdivisions}}
{{Former local government regions of Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:West Lothian| ]]
[[Category:Council areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:Districts of Scotland]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in Scotland]]