St. Andrews City Guide

The city

If you ever have the opportunity to pay a visit to St. Andrews, even for a day, it’s an absolute must. When you have a blue-skied day at your disposal, there’s really no better place to spend it. St. Andrews has a little bit of everything: ancient ruins, a remote locale, a world-renowned university, and some GREAT food options.

transportation

Being that St. Andrews is pretty remote, the only to get there by public transportation is to take a bus in. If you’re coming from Edinburgh, you’ll take a train to Leuchars and then hop the bus for the final 15-20 minute ride into St. Andrews. The St. Andrews bus station is very central so you can walk to/from town in a few minutes time.

WHat to wear

Because St. Andrews is located on the shore, the weather can be quite coarse, even on the nicest day. The most brutal aspect of the climate is the wind. It. Is. Cutting. Wear layers - many, many layers. The first time I went, I thought I had plenty of layers on but ended up buying a wool sweater while there because I just was not prepared for the blustery wind. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Plug type: Three-pronged plug, type "G"

Currency: Pound (£)

Language: English, natively

They drive on the... left side of the road

Primary means of transportation: Bus, train, car

Telephone code: +44

Emergency services number: I’d call 999. The 112 number is exclusive to those in the European Union and since Britain left the Union with Brexit, the number will likely not apply soon to those in Britain.

Credit card acceptance: Most cards are accepted, including Visa and Mastercard. Be sure to place a travel notice on your card so that it’s not denied!

Note: If you see “haggis” anywhere on a menu, it’s simply a sort of pudding made up of lamb entrails and a few other ingredients. Granted, it’s the national dish of Scotland so if you feel up to trying it, go right ahead. I personally couldn’t stomach it.

FOrgan’s

Restaurant serving sustainable dishes that really are delicious. I recommend trying the beef bourguignon - it was absolute heaven encased in a flaky crust.

Dress: casual

110 Market St, St. Andrews KY16 9PB

St. Andrews Waffle Company

A little hole-in-the-wall cafe serving up some of the best waffles I’ve ever had.

Dress: casual

131 South St, St. Andrews KY16 9UN

St. Andrews Brewing Company

The perfect place to nestle into a corner and grab a pint or a good cup of coffee. I’m not sure if this is a feature of the pub itself but there were dogs and their owners strewn about. Anyplace that allows me the chance to pet a golden retriever puppy gets an extra gold star in my book!

Dress: casual

177 South St, St Andrews KY16 9EE

Edinburgh, Scotland

If you’re travelling to St. Andrews, you’d be at a disadvantage if you didn’t swing in to see Edinburgh. Honestly, I’d recommend actually staying in Edinburgh and taking a day trip to St. Andrews because, although St. Andrews is incredible, there’s really only enough to do for one day. Edinburgh offers a much broader range of activities to keep you occupied.

Distance from St. Andrews by train (with a brief bus ride thrown in): 1 hour 30 minutes

Stonehaven, Scotland

There’s nothing especially spectacular about the town of Stonehaven itself. The main draw is most certainly Dunnottar Castle, which is built into the side of a cliff. The walk to the castle takes you down some slightly precarious paths but it is a generally gorgeous trek. Be sure to check the castle’s website to make sure that it’s open when you want to visit. It can sometimes be closed if the winds are too strong.

Distance from St. Andrews by train (with a brief bus ride thrown in): 1 hour 30 minutes

St. Andrews Botanic garden

I’ve made a point of visiting a botanic garden everywhere I’ve travelled, and I’ve travelled a lot. St. Andrews had one of the most breathtaking gardens I’ve seen thus far. Highly recommend.

Canongate, St. Andrews KY16 8RT

University of St. Andrews

Whether you want to see the place where Will and Kate’s love burgeoned or simply have an affinity for excellent higher education, this is a great place to tick off the list.

St. Andrews KY16 9AJ

St. Andrews Castle & Cathedral

These you simply can’t miss. The castle ruins overlook the rocky shores of St. Andrews and you get an even more impeccable view of the town and its natural surroundings from atop St. Rules Tower on the Cathedral grounds. If you plan on doing the castle and the cathedral, you can buy a combo ticket that allows you entry to both so that you don’t have get individual tickets at each place.

St. Andrews Castle: The Scores, St Andrews KY16 9AR

St. Andrews Cathedral: The Pends, St Andrews KY16 9QL

St. Andrews Links

At the risk of omitting one of the main draws to St. Andrews, I’m going to include the golf course. I personally don’t find myself drawn in the least bit to the links, but it is a global sensation for those who love the sport.

W Sands Rd, St Andrews KY16 9XL