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Kirkcaldy is the largest town in Fife county in Scotland with a population of about 47 000 inhabitants. It is a very beautiful and cosy town. The cosiness makes it into a very nice place to study. Kirkcaldy has developed into a satellite of Edinburgh (the capital of Scotland) and it takes only 10 minutes by hovercraft to go to Edinburgh over the river and 35 minutes by train.
 The writer Daniel Defoe once described the town as "One Street, One mile long." Hence, the town is commonly referred to as the "Lang Toun" (long town). Even today, the town can boast one of the longest developed sea fronts in Europe. In April each year, Europe's Longest street market (the Links Market) occupies part of the Esplanade. 2004 saw the 700th anniversary of this event.
The most famous (and influential) person to have been born in Kirkcaldy was the "Father of Modern Economics" Adam Smith. He wrote most of his book "The Wealth of Nations" in the town - considered by many to be one of the five most important books ever written. The book defined what we now know as the international economy, and interest in his theories has risen greatly in the past few years.
It is a remarkable coincidence that the town that produced the Father of Modern Economics, also produced the "Father of Standard Time" (international time zones). Sir Stanford Flemming invented time zones while he helped build the first pan-Canadian railway, and also designed the first pictorial postage stamp in the world - a beaver - which later became Canada's national animal.
More modern figures to have been born or spent time in Kirkcaldy are Gordon Brown (current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom), who was born in Glasgow, but grew up in Kirkcaldy and also world famous actor Ewan McGregor.
For more information visit: City of Kirkcaldy
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