The town of Motherwell was built on the steel and coal industries and its industrial heritage is explored at the North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre, which also details the history of the town from the Roman era. The Centre also has a viewing tower which boasts views of the Clyde Valley region as far as Ben Lomond. A notable building in the town is The Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Good Aid, otherwise known as Motherwell Cathedral. The cathedral is well-known for its organ and performances of the Motherwell Disocesan Choir, and it attracts many pilgrims from the area. The Category-A listed building and former residence of the Hamilton family, Dalzell House, lies south of the town. It is now private apartments but Dalzell Estate is open to the public throughout the year.
Strathclyde Country Park lies between Motherwell and nearby Hamilton. The park includes the remains of a Roman fort and bath house, and is home to M&Ds, one of Scotland's theme parks. Motherwell Concert Hall regularly holds concerts and other shows. The town contains a wide selection of cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars, and a variety of shops including the Motherwell Shopping Centre. Motherwell is easily accessible by road as it lies next to the M74 motorway and bus services run to a variety of destinations including Hamilton, East Kilbride, Airdrie, Glasgow and Lanark. There are three railway stations which provide links to local destinations such as Edinburgh and Glasgow and places in England as far as London.