What’s going for it? Were Adam Smith to be reincarnated here in his home town (as a till-worker at Lidl, perhaps) he might come to different conclusions about the free market. The wealth of nations is in short supply in Kirkcaldy today: the hidden hand of capitalism is hidden indeed and the trickle-down of good fortune to those in need is more of a dribble. Kirkcaldy has not had a good half-century or so. Its raisons d’être (linen, whaling and linoleum) are, these days, rather lacking in “être”. Yet the town has much going for it: its excellent farmers’ market, for example, or its jazzed-up centre, to say nothing of its natural assets – a beautiful sweeping bay, the craggy castle at Ravenscraig and a commutable position halfway between Edinburgh and the prettiest stretch of the Fife coast. It should be booming. But then, as Mr Smith might conclude, theory is not always borne out in reality.
The case against The waterfront needs some love: currently a dual carriageway fronts less than jovial postwar architecture. Local councillor Neil Crooks has pledged palm trees to bring a touch of Miami.
Well connected? Trains: 50 minutes to Edinburgh Waverley, 40 to Perth and 35-45 to Dundee. Driving: 50 minutes or so to Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee; 45 to St Andrews.
Schools Primaries: among many good, Dysart is mostly “very good”, Dunnikier and Pathhead are “very good”, and Torbain is mostly “excellent”. Secondaries: Kirkcaldy High and Viewforth High are mostly “good”, St Andrew’s RC High is “good” and Balwearie High is mostly “very good”.
Hang out at… Don’t expect haute cuisine. There’s good south Asian food at Annapurna, though.
Where to buy South and west around Beveridge Park, such as Abbotshall Road and the fabulously named Boglily Road, and towards the coast at Bute Wynd and Wemyssfield. Here you’ll find sturdy, well-built grey stone Victorians, and you’re on the right side of town for getting to Edinburgh. Postwar suburbans around Raith Drive, if that’s your poison. It’s also pleasant in parts of Dysart, especially the old centre, by the coast and beside Ravenscraig Park. Large detacheds and town houses, £250,000-£500,000. Detacheds and smaller town houses, £150,000-£250,000. Semis, £110,000-£300,000. Terraces and cottages, £80,000-£150,000. Flats, £40,000-£150,000. Rentals: a one-bedroom flat, £375-£475pcm.
Bargain of the week Large five-bedroom stone Victorian semi, in need of updating, £245,000, with slaterhogg.co.uk.
From the streets
Morag Michael “Some run-down areas and an uninspiring High Street, but two beautiful parks, a fine art gallery and excellent transport links.”
Sandra Mills “An active University of the Third Age.”
Sarah Bellis “When the Forth road bridge is shut it can be a nightmare to get anywhere. It should be better once the Queensferry crossing is complete.”
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Live in Thetford, Norfolk? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, email lets.move@theguardian.com by Tuesday 11 April.
• An earlier version of this article appeared with a photograph of Anstruther rather than Kirkcaldy, the result of an incorrect caption supplied by the picture agency. It was amended on 10 April 2017.
