Kilmacolm once had a thriving cotton industry and in the late 19th century became something of a holiday resort as it rapidly developed. The village contains ‘Windyhill’, one of only two residential houses wholly designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. 'Rowantreehill', a property designed by Mackintosh's contemporary James Salmon, sits in the adjacent plot. Other examples of their architecture can be found around the village, most notably at St Columba's Church. Other landmarks include St Jame's Church, the Old Kirk and Mount Zion Church. The town has a large Celtic-cross style war memorial donated by the first Lord Maclay and a time capsule in the village centre that was created in 1985. A notable attraction in nearby Langbank is Finlaystone House, owned by the Chief of Clan MacMillan and a category A-listed building. The house is privately-owned but its estate is open to the public all year round with a variety of facilities and activities for all ages. Quarrier's Village forms part of Kilmacolm. Originally constructed as the Orphans Home of Scotland, the Village is known for its beautiful architecture, with each house built to an individual design, and now holds small coffee shops and a craft centre.
Just outside the village lies the ruins of 13th century Duchal Castle. Duchal House was built from stone from the ruined castle and is the seat of the current Lord Maclay. Newark Castle formerly lay within Kilmacolm but has been incoporated into nearby Port Glasgow. Green areas include Glen Moss Wildlife Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and Birkmyre Park which was donated by a local merchant in 1897 and includes a children's playpark, cafe and sports facilities. The village's Victorian centre has a number of local shops and there is a variety of places to eat and drink. Bus services connect Kilmacolm to the rest of Strathclyde and the village is well connected by road and is close to the M8 motorway. The nearest railway station is in Port Glasgow, while Kilmacolm's former railway track has been converted into a cycle path and is now part of the Clyde to Forth cycle route.