A burgh of barony since the 15th century, Biggar still retains its medieval layout. The main street is lined with centuries-old houses and Biggar Kirk dates from the 16th century. Biggar has associations with various historical figures, including William Wallace and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
One of the town’s main attractions is a world famous Victorian puppet theatre. Biggar also has somw wonderful museums, including the Biggar & Upper Clydesdale Museum and the Biggar Gasworks Museum, the only preserved gas works in Scotland. At the Albion Museum, vehicles made the commercial vehicle manufacturer Albion Motors are displayed, some of which date back to 1899. The town hosts an annual arts festival, the Biggar Little Festival, every October. Another yearly event is the Biggar Bonfire, an ancient custom that takes place on Hogmanay and dates back to pagan times.
Nearby, the popular walk up Tinto Hill gives commanding views over the Clyde Valley. Little Sparta, the garden created by artist and poet Ian Hamilton Finlay and containing over 270 of his artworks, can be found close by in the Pentland Hills and is open to the public during the summer season.
Biggar's main street still reflects its past as a market town and is home to a variety of independent shops, including an award-winning grocer, a famous ice-cream and chocolate shop and an award-winning fish and chip shop. The town also has a selection of restaurants, bistros and cafes. Visitors can get a bus to Biggar directly from Edinburgh, Peebles and Lanark which has the closest train station. Biggar is around 30 miles from Edinburgh and is accessible via the A721, while Glasgow is around an hours drive away.