During my work trip to the UK, I was able to visit St. Andrews in Scotland. This small city is about 30 miles Northeast of Edinburgh and is the perfect day trip.
St. Andrews is probably most famous for its golf course. However, even if you’re not a fan of golf, there are a few other charming qualities about this place that make it worth a visit. Check out our itinerary for the perfect day trip to St. Andrews.
Getting to St. Andrews in Scotland
St. Andrews is about 1.5 hour drive from Edinburgh, which is the nearest International Airport. You can get to St. Andrews by renting a car, taking a public bus, or purchasing a spot on a day-tour bus. Go Scotland Tours offers a day trip to St. Andrews and some of the nearby fishing villages for £50 per person ($68). You can learn more here: St. Andrews Fife Day Tour.
Golf Course & World Golf Museum
We recommend starting your day at the St. Andrews golf course & British Golf Museum. Even if you are not a golfer, it would be an injustice not to at least stop to take in the views here. St. Andrews is known worldwide as the home of golf. There are a few reasons for this. Since 1754 the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews in Scotland exercised legislative authority over the game (up until 2004).
Secondly, St. Andrews links is arguably one of the most beautiful courses in the world (as well as one of the most difficult to get a tee time). If you’re looking to golf at St. Andrews – don’t hold your breathe. It is actually a lottery system that you have to put in an application for in advance. Once a year (normally on 10/31) the tee times are distributed and those who applied find out if they will be able to play this famous course. For more information on how this process works, check out this helpful article: St. Andrews Tee Times.
For those who are fans of golf, St. Andrews is also home to the World Golf Museum. The Golf Museum costs £8.50 to visit. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the history of this beloved sport. Tickets cannot be bought in advance, only at the door. For hours of operation and more information on visiting, click World Golf Museum.
St. Andrews University
After either visiting the museum and /or admiring the views of the Greens at St. Andrews Golf Course, you’ll want to make your way walking (10 minutes) towards St. Andrews University. This is the third oldest university in the UK (following Oxford & Cambridge). It was founded in 1413 by Augustinians. In more recent times, Prince William & Catherine – Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, met at University here and graduated together in 2005. The campus itself is beautiful, and worth a stroll through while making your way towards downtown. (There is also a small chapel you can visit for free on campus as well).
Downtown
Walking distance from the University, there is a quaint downtown area of St. Andrews. Here you can find restaurants, pubs and golf shops. This is the perfect area for a nice fish & chips lunch or some shopping. If you’re looking for a more upscale dining experience with local seafood, check out Rogue on South St. For more casual dining, you’ll find Whey Pat Tavern Pub on the same street.
St. Andrews Cathedral
After lunch and shopping, you’ll want to continue down South Street towards the water. You’ll begin to see St. Andrews Cathedral, which is your next stop. Similar to Melrose Abbey, this Cathedral is now in ruins. The church was originally built in 1458 and is said to have been the biggest ever built in Scotland (even to this day). Once the head of the Catholic church in Scotland, it was eventually abandoned in the 16th century when Catholic mass was outlawed during the Scottish reformation. Today you can only visit what remains (structural ruins). It is haunting, yet beautiful and offers beautiful views of the coast.
It costs ~5 pounds to visit the Cathedral. Although you can pre-purchase your tickets online (St. Andrews Cathedral), it’s not necessary. You can also buy them when you arrive day of.
St. Andrews Castle
From the Cathedral, you’ll want to walk another 5 minutes down the road (following the coast) towards St. Andrews Castle. The views along the road of the coast are incredible and allow you to soak in the salty air of the North Sea. Similarly to the cathedral, this castle fell into despair during the Scottish reformation. It was originally the home of the bishop of St. Andrew, but later was used as a fortress and then even as a prison! It costs 9 pounds to enter, but if you are planning to visit both the Cathedral and the castle, you can bundle your ticket and pay 12 euros instead. For more information on visiting, click St. Andrews Castle.
Aquarium
If you have extra time, or prefer to skip a stop, St. Andrews is also home to an aquarium. This is a great alternative to the golf museum if you are not interested or have children. It costs £12 for an adult, £10 for a child & children under 2 enter for free. For more information on opening hours & pre-purchasing tickets, check out the link here: St. Andrews Aquarium.
St. Andrews in Scotland offers a little something to everyone. The views of the coastline, ruins of the castle & cathedral and quaint downtown were some of the many reasons I enjoyed my day here. It’s the perfect day trip from Edinburgh to enjoy a quieter side of Scotland.
Cheers, Amanda
