Home Report Johnstone

Johnstone, Renfrewshire, is home to roughly 16,000 residents today. It lies 3 miles to the west of Paisley and just 12 miles to the West of Glasgow. It lies at the very western edge of the Greater Glasgow urban area. Johnstone is one of the largest towns in Renfrewshire and was predominantly a planned town from its outset. The town as we know it today started in the late 18th century when its current parish church was constructed, as well as the onset of the industrial revolution. Indeed, it was the development of industry – cotton mills, coal mining, and others – that brought prosperity and people to the town throughout the 19th century.

Today, with excellent transport links Johnstone serves as a commuter town for residents working in the wider Renfrewshire area, like nearby Paisley, and Glasgow city centre. Johnstone has a dedicated station, offering regular rail links to Paisley, Glasgow Central, and Ayrshire. There are regular bus services offering connections to nearby and wider areas, and within a short drive, the A737 dual carriageway connects to the M8 motorway for travel to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Additionally, the town is only about 3.5 miles from Glasgow International Airport.

Despite being a commuter town Johnstone is not without its own charm and amenities. In the town centre, the newly refurbished award-winning Johnstone Town Hall offers state-of-the-art facilities including a conference suite, theatre, dance studio, marriage suite, meeting rooms, Johnstone library and a café. For health and leisure pursuits, the town has various facilities including Johnstone Community Sports Hub offering a 25-metre swimming pool, a gym, sports hall, multi-purpose hall and a full-size synthetic football pitch. The Clyde to Forth cycle route – National Cycle Route 75 – runs through Johnstone to Gourock and Dunoon. Johnstone also benefits from a good choice of local shopping opportunities and a variety of cafes and restaurants. Johnstone History Museum is situated – rather uniquely – in Morrison’s Supermarket and is run by the volunteers of the Johnstone History Society. It contains many historical insights and valuable material relating to the town’s heritage. The Castle Golf Range and Cochrane Castle Golf Club, a mature parkland course, cater to those who enjoy golfing. Residents of the town benefit from their proximity to Paisley with all the amenities and things to do there too.

As for local schooling, Johnstone benefits from five primary schools including Thorn Primary School, Auchenlodment Primary School, St Margaret’s Primary School, Cochrane Castle Primary, St David’s Primary School. Johnstone High School and St Benedict’s High School are the local secondary schools.