On the opposite side of the Tyne Water is Oxenfoord Castle, originally a 16th-century tower house belonging to the MakGill Viscount of Oxfuird, which was greatly extended in a castellated style by Robert Adam, and further modified by William Burn for the Earl of Stair.

It was the home of the influential Crichton family, and then passed to the Hepburn Earls of Bothwell, one of whom was the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.

After Bothwell's fall, the castle was owned by Francis Stewart, who added the remarkable Italian-influenced north range.

The village has a post office, pub, bakery, drop in centre, doctors surgery, pharmacy and fish and pizza takeaway.

There is also a park on the west side of the village which has a full-size football pitch, pavilion building and children's play area.

An hourly bus service run by Borders Buses links the village with Edinburgh, via Dalkeith and Edgehead.