Under Lock & Key

Under Lock & Key: Fife

Known locally as the Kingdom of Fife, this east coast region of Scotland is awash with historic monuments, ancient towns, sweeping beaches, and fresh sea air. While its heritage speaks volumes, there are of course plenty of built-up areas with everything a modern visitor could need.

Kinghorn offers pubs, traditional chippies, a golf course, and cute cafés, but the standout feature is the huge town hall. This Tudor-Gothic style building was built in 1826, with its ground floors having played the role of council chambers and even a prison. Secret stairways and enormous windows let you admire views of Kinghorn Beach, a seven-minute walk away. But why are we focusing solely on this historic landmark? Well, because this is your home.

Your apartments are set over the first and second floors, with jaw-dropping, period interiors which feel regal, luxurious, and opulent. Rich red fabrics, elegant cornicing, chandeliers, solid marble fireplaces, antique furniture, gilded mirror frames – we could go on. There’s even a private walled garden at the back, where you can sit out under the stars sipping whisky and looking out over your very own kingdom.

Home truths:
*As this home allows for self check-in with a lockbox, you won't meet your host
*Free on-street parking is available – we do recommend bringing a car to explore
*The home is set over two floors with stairs, plus its entrance is on the first floor of the building (and the stair doors are heavy)
*There’s no dedicated workspace, but laptop-friendly spots like the dining table
*Your host can provide a cot and high chair upon request
*The main building entrance is not private to your home
*You'll need to supply your own charcoal for the barbecue (available in summer)
*The fridge is quite small – it has an ice box but a small freezer is available on request (located in the refrigerator of the hallway downstairs)