Stirling Revisited
Part of the AoU's Summer of Walking programme, taking place in Stirling, Scotland
The AoU's Summer of Walking, part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, is a programme of tours curated and led by our members, bringing together urbanists across the UK to explore interesting, alternative, or just plain great urbanism by foot. Click here to see other tours taking place this summer.
Keep an eye on the AoU newsletter, where more tours will be announced and reminders sent out.
Date: Saturday 16 August 2025
Time: 11:00
Location: Stirling City Centre, Scotland
Curated by: Francis Newton
Distance (approx): 3km
Duration (approx): 2.5 hours
Please check your booking confirmation for info about the meeting point for this tour.
About the tour
Stirling is small but vibrant university city in central Scotland, often referred to the gateway to the Highlands.
Stirling was a Great Town finalist in Urbanism Awards 2009, also featuring in the Urbanism book which chronicled the early years of the Urbanism Awards. Much has happened since that time. This walking tour will provide an opportunity to revisit after 15 years and consider how successful urbanism can be achieved in a small city. From the City’s railway station, we would explore the developing Forthside urban quarter, which now plays host to the Engine Shed, Historic Environment Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre.
We’d then explore the city centre, its retail core, the historic upper town and recent urban development projects including Codebase and the ‘Walk Cycle Live Stirling’ active travel project which opened earlier this year. We’d finish our tour at the Castle which offers a superb vantage point over the city and the beyond. We have timed the tour to allow people to explore the city further, with numerous places of interest close by including the Castle, Old Town Jail, the Smith Gallery or the Wallace Monument. For those who want to, there is also the option to adjourn to a nearby historic pub.
About Francis
Francis Newton AoU is an Urban Planner, Urban Design Practitioner and Urbanist with over 25 years professional experience. By day he works for City of Edinburgh Council in Transport Strategy & Partnerships, but he is also a Stirling resident with extensive local knowledge. Francis also serves as Co-Chair for the AoU Scottish Steering Group and as Lead Assessor for the Urbanism Awards, Great Places Category, leading assessment visits to over 20 finalists across the UK and Ireland. He recently led a walking tour in Edinburgh for the International Museums Construction Congress and produced a series of short films for the AoU Congress held virtually in Edinburgh in 2021.
Please note: All refreshments are provided at your own expense unless otherwise stated.
Thumbnail photo from 2009 Urbanism Awards assessment of Stirling.
