Located in the royal burgh of Fife is the town Kirkcaldy. The town is located on the shallow bay of the Firth of Forth and is the largest town in between the cities of Edinburgh and Dundee. The name comes from the Pictish word meaning fort. Kirkcaldy dates back to around 1095 when Malcolm III purchased the area to give it to the monks of the Holy Trinity Church. It wasn't until the 1300s that the abbot of Dunfermline obtained permission for a weekly market to be held. Shortly thereafter Kirkcaldy was granted burgh of barony status. It still took another 150 years before the town gained a semi-independence from the Dunfermline Abbey.
Today, however, Kirkcaldy is the third largest employment center in all of Fife. The town can also hold bragging rights to being the shopping center of Fife. Visitors to the area will find that there are many places to choose from. The town center, especially along the High street, is home to a large number of major retailers. The Mercat Shopping Center and Posting Shopping Center are also located in this area. You can find just about any name brand you could possibly hope for in Kirkcaldy. If you are looking for something a little less big name but just as nice there are also several local shops to choose from. You will be able to literally shop until you drop here.
Have no fear this is not just a shop, shop, shop town. There are also several items that will appeal to your cultural side as well. Considered to be one of the finest museums in Scotland the Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery is a must stop for the culture lover. The museum dates back to 1925 when its doors opened for the first time. In the former Balsusney House you will find many paintings by Scottish Colorists as well as paintings by several local artists such as Jack Vettriano and some works by the Glasgow Boys. You can also see some interesting Wemyss Ware Pottery that dates back to the 1890s as well as many exhibitions that cover the town's industrial heritage. You will not just see great works of art but you will also learn a little about the town's history too.
If you are the fan of the theater then you should wander over to the Adam Smith Theatre. This theatre was donated as a gift to the town by the town provost Michael Beveridge and was opened by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Here you can see not just dramatic plays and operas but it is also home of the Fife Festival of Music.
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