Serviced Apartments in Kelso

Discover the best activities and attractions Kelso has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Floors Castle
Floors Castle is the grand stately home of the Duke of Roxburghe, set in extensive landscaped gardens and estate just outside Kelso. As one of the largest inhabited castles in Scotland it draws day-trippers and heritage tourists, hosts seasonal events (garden tours, family activities, occasional concerts) and provides local jobs in tourism, hospitality and groundskeeping. Its high-profile presence helps put Kelso on the map for visitors to the Borders and channels spending into nearby hotels, cafés and shops.

Kelso Abbey and Riverside / River Tweed
The atmospheric ruins of Kelso Abbey sit beside the River Tweed and are a focal point for visitors interested in history and scenic riverside walks. Combined with the attractive Old Bridge and riverside paths, this area supports leisure businesses (cafés, guiding, boat and fishing services). The River Tweed’s reputation for salmon fishing attracts anglers from across the UK and abroad, bringing specialist trade to local tackle shops, guides and accommodation providers—an important seasonal boost to the local economy.

Kelso Racecourse
Kelso Racecourse is a well-known National Hunt (jump) racing venue that stages regular race days and special events throughout the year. Race meetings bring in thousands of spectators who spend on admission, hospitality, food and lodging, supporting local pubs, hotels and transport providers. The course’s social and sporting calendar also raises Kelso’s profile regionally and provides part-time and permanent jobs in events management, catering and grounds maintenance.

Kelso Farmers’ Market, High Street shops and local dining (including the Roxburghe Hotel)
Kelso’s market, independent High Street retailers and established hotel restaurants form the town’s retail and food hub—selling local produce, artisan foods, crafts and services. Markets and shopping encourage direct sales for Border farmers and makers, keep money circulating locally, and make Kelso attractive for weekend visitors. Anchor businesses such as the Roxburghe Hotel (with dining and event facilities) support conferences, weddings and overnight tourism, which underpins jobs in hospitality and retail.

Kelso Civic Week / Common Riding
Kelso’s Civic Week, anchored by the town’s traditional Common Riding, is an annual highlight celebrating Border history, horsemanship and community identity. The festival—parades, riding of the marches, music and stalls—attracts large numbers of visitors and former residents, boosting short-term spending in accommodation, catering and retail and fostering volunteer-led community enterprise. Its cultural uniqueness preserves local traditions, promotes Kelso nationally and strengthens civic pride and social cohesion.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Kelso, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Local and Regional Buses (Borders Buses and local operators) - Regular scheduled bus services link Kelso with nearby towns such as Melrose, Galashiels, Jedburgh, Coldstream and Berwick-upon-Tweed; frequencies are generally good daytime weekdays but more limited evenings and Sundays.
- Rail Access (nearest stations) - Kelso does not have an active railway station; nearest rail access is via Tweedbank (Borders Railway to Edinburgh, roughly 30–40 minutes by car), Berwick-upon-Tweed (East Coast Main Line, roughly 45–75 minutes by car) and the recently reopened Reston station (improved east-coast access for some journeys); buses and taxis connect Kelso to these stations.
- Long-distance Coaches - Direct long-distance coach coverage in Kelso is limited; National Express and other intercity services are accessible from larger nearby towns (Berwick, Newcastle, Edinburgh), with onward local bus/taxi links to Kelso.
- Taxis and Private Hire - Local taxi firms and private-hire operators provide on-demand journeys within the town and to nearby rail/air hubs; advance booking is common in rural areas.
- Community Transport and Demand-Responsive Services - Volunteer car schemes, dial-a-bus services and community minibuses run by local charities or the council provide important links for older residents and those with limited mobility, particularly outside standard bus hours.

Major Highways
- A68 - Major north–south route giving access toward Edinburgh to the north and the A1/A696 corridors to the south and southwest; a key trunk route for journeys by car from Kelso.
- A698 - East–west route passing through Kelso and connecting the town with Hawick to the west and Coldstream/Berwick direction to the east.
- A699 - Local arterial route following parts of the Tweed valley, connecting Kelso with St Boswells, the A68/A7 corridors and other Borders towns.
- A1 (via Coldstream / Berwick links) - The east-coast trunk road is easily reachable from Kelso via the A698/A699 corridors and provides high-speed road links to Edinburgh, Newcastle and the east-coast corridor.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle Routes and Facilities - Kelso is served by a mix of quiet country lanes, off-road riverside/greenway paths and links to regional Sustrans/NCN routes in the Borders; dedicated on-road cycle lanes in the town centre are limited but bike parking and signposted leisure routes (Tweed valley routes/Border towns links) make it suitable for recreational and commuting cyclists, with ongoing local active-travel improvements supported by the council.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Borders Railway reopening (2015) and Reston station reopening (2022) - The restoration of the Borders Railway to Tweedbank and reopening of Reston have materially improved rail access for the Scottish Borders as a whole, making rail connections to Edinburgh and the ECML more viable for Kelso residents via short road/bus links.
- Local bus service reviews and timetable enhancements - Ongoing adjustments by Borders Buses and support from Scottish Borders Council aim to refine frequencies and connections, especially to link Kelso with key railheads and employment/education centres.
- Active Travel and walking/cycling upgrades - Scottish Government and council-funded active travel projects in the Borders have supported improved footpaths, riverside trails and junction improvements in and around Kelso to make short trips safer and more attractive by bike or on foot.
- Trunk-road maintenance and targeted junction work - Periodic resurfacing, safety improvements and smaller junction upgrades on the A68/A698/A699 corridors around Kelso are carried out to improve reliability and safety for commuters and freight; occasional phased works may temporarily affect journey times.
- Park-and-ride and multi-modal connectivity initiatives (regional) - Regional efforts to improve interchange (better bus/rail coordination, parking at rail stations such as Tweedbank/Reston, and clearer routing for coaches) aim to make longer-distance commuting from Kelso smoother, with further incremental improvements planned under local transport strategies.