Ayr submitted unsuccessful bids for city status in 2000[5] and 2002,[6] and as part of the wider South Ayrshire area in 2022.

[8] On the southern bank of the River Ayr sit the ramparts of a citadel constructed by Oliver Cromwell's men during the mid-17th century.

Ayr has been a popular tourist resort since the expansion of the railway in 1840 owing to the town's fine beach and its links to golfing and Robert Burns.

[9] Ayr remained a significant port throughout the 16th century, exporting goods such as fish, hide and wool and importing salt and wine.

[11] Ayr played a pivotal role in the Plantation of Ulster throughout the 17th century, in which a significant number of British people settled in present-day Northern Ireland.

Tobacco, sugar and indigo were imported, and salted fish, meat, clothing and indentured servants were exported.

The formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain through the Acts of Union 1707 was initially harmful to Ayr, due to the importance to its economy of the wine trade with France.

Repairs to the town's Harbour and High Tolbooth took place between 1724 and 1726, with funding provided by the Convention of Royal Burghs.

[11] Ayr was connected to Glasgow, and thus the rest of Great Britain, by rail in 1839, with the first service operating in August 1840 to a terminus on North Harbour Street.

This led to a significant expansion in Ayr's tourist industry due to its attractive, sandy beach and links to Robert Burns.

Other prominent industries in Ayr at this time included fishing, tanning and shoemaking, with several sawmills, woollen mills and carpet weavers located in the town as well.

[9] Following the Second World War, more council housing was developed in Ayr at Kincaidston, with the Wallacetown and Whitletts estates being expanded.

Suburban housing was also developed at Alloway, Doonfoot and Holmston, and many disused industrial buildings throughout the town were redeveloped into flats.

This bid was part of the granting of city status to towns to honour the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

The seat was abolished in 2005 to be replaced by the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock and Central Ayrshire constituencies which were subsequently represented by MP's belonging to Labour, and later, the SNP.

In the Scottish Parliament, the Ayr constituency was represented from 2000 to 2021 by Conservative MSP John Scott until he was defeated at the 2021 election by the SNP's Siobhian Brown.

The Provost's chain was donated in June 1897 by James McLennan who was a Glasgow wine and spirit merchant who was born in Coylton and lived in Ayr.

In addition, South Ayrshire Council erects lamp posts with the Royal Burgh coat of arms emblazoned on the diffusers outside the official resident of the provost – this has been undertaken since 1854.

Ayr developed as the central retail hub in the south-west of Scotland after the opening of the town's first department store, Hourstons, in 1896.

[53] As of 2014 Royal Society for Public Health found Ayr's High Street to be the second healthiest in the United Kingdom behind Shrewsbury, a measure which reflects the presence of health-promoting infrastructure such as health services, community spaces and libraries, [54][55] although by 2018 it was no longer in the top ten.

[63] Only 5 miles (8 km) north of Ayr is Troon, a golf and seaside resort which regularly hosts the Open Championship.

The area is synonymous as a seaside resort, with the south of the town housing the Craig Tara and Haven (formerly Butlins) holiday parks.

Further south, the fishing village of Dunure takes in a ruined castle which was formerly owned by the Kennedy family.

[75] Mainholm Academy was a former secondary school located within Ayr and was closed due to safety concerns.

The town is served by the Glasgow Prestwick International Airport just 2 miles (3 km) north from Ayr, which offers regional and domestic air services across Europe and the British Isles.

[65] Notable events include the Scottish Grand National (April) and Ayr Gold Cup (September) as well as several night meetings.

The most recent professional team were the Ayr Scottish Eagles who played in the British Superleague between 1996 and 2002 based at the Centrum arena.

Ayr RFC has twice competed in the British and Irish cup involving clubs from Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

Speedway was staged at Dam Park in 1937, when two meetings, organised by Maurice and Roland Stobbart from Cumbria took place, featuring riders who raced in the north of England, at venues such as Workington and Hyde Road in Manchester.

West FM's move from Ayr marks the first time in 35 years that local radio has not been broadcast from Ayrshire.