Lanark

This article is about the town in Scotland. For other uses, see Lanark (disambiguation).

The Royal Burgh of Lanark Scottish Gaelic: Lannraig Scots: Lanrik
Lanark High Street, August 2006
The Royal Burgh of Lanark
Location within South Lanarkshire
Population	8,253
OS grid reference	NS8843
• Edinburgh	29.5 miles
• London	325 miles
Council area	South Lanarkshire
Lieutenancy area	Lanarkshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LANARK
Postcode district	ML11
Dialling code	01555
Police	Scottish
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Lanark and Hamilton East
Scottish Parliament	Clydesdale

Lanark is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is close to Carluke and Biggar. Lanark is approximately 40 miles from Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. William Wallace once lived there. There is a statue of Wallace on the town church. A plaque remembers where he "first drew sword to free his native land" in 1296, when he killed Heselrig, the English sheriff of Lanark. This event forms the start of the Mel Gibson film, Braveheart.

Lanark is also notable for its annual Lanimer celebrations, where local children on coloured floats parade through the streets along with marching pipe bands. A Lanimer Queen is elected from the children, and crowned in a ceremony at the foot of the High Street. A Lord Cornet is chosen from local businessmen, and acts as escort for the Queen for the events of Lanimer Week.