Houston lies in a naturally-beautiful area of countryside. The village is the centre of the civil parish of Houston and Killellan and has a long history, with records going back to the 12th century, and archaeological remains from the Stone Age. Despite its small size, Houston has a number of popular local pubs including The Houston Inn, The Cross Keys and The Fox and Hounds.
The village’s Mercat Cross dates back to the 14th century and has been used as a symbol for the village. The mainstay of Houston between the 17th and 19th century was weaving and the nearby River Gryffe powered a cotton spinning industry.
Houston is well placed for commuting with excellent road access to Inverclyde, the Ayrshire coast, local marinas, equestrian facilities, fishings and country parks, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Glasgow Airport, the M8 motorway and Glasgow City Centre. There is a railway station at Johnstone with ample car parking and regular and frequent services.