48 Hours in St. Andrews
Ah, St. Andrews, the gem of Scotland. I love this little town in the north of Scotland that sits just on the coast in the Kingdom of Fife. Known for its historic university that rivals Oxford and Cambridge, being the meeting place for Wills and Kate, and of course, as the birthplace of golf! The first time I went was in university to visit friends who were studying there. Then recently, I was there for my best friends wedding and had a blast! It’s only a short train ride away from Edinburgh, so it makes it the perfect destination for a little mini trip. Both times I was only there for a weekend so I thought I would put together a little itinerary of things to see and do in 48 hours!
What To Do:
walk around and check out the historical sites!
St. Andrews is a small town, you’ll be able to check out all the main sites on foot! Id start with the St. Andrews Cathedral, it was built in 1158 and the ruins are amazing! If you go into the museum portion you can climb St. Rule’s tower which will give you unbelievable views of Castle Sands beach! After that take a stroll on over to the castle! It sits right on top of a rocky lookout over the sea, like something out of a movie! Afterwards you can check out St. Salvator’s Chapel. Dating back to 1450, its filled with a ton of history from when the Catholics used it to fire on protestants or when John Knox gave his famous three day sermon, plus the gothic artchitecture is so cool!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
St Andrews Cathedral: Its free to go into the grounds and cemetery, but if you want to go into the museum and up the tower its £6.00. You can get tickets here.
St Andrews Castle: You can get cool shots of the castle from the beach or the road walking up to it, but to go into the grounds, which are worth it, its £9.00. Tickets are here.
BUT if you buy a joint cathedral and castle ticket its only £12.00!
St. Salvator’s Chapel: It’s free to go inside, but keep in mind its still a working chapel and belongs to the university so it could be in use!
check out old course + swilcan bridge
The old course in St. Andrews is the oldest golf course in the entire world! Its commonly referred to as ‘the home of golf’ and players from all over the world travel to step onto the famous green. If you’re looking to play, you might be out of luck. You either need to be invited or apply for a slot over a full year in advance! Doesn’t mean you can’t check out the course though! There are paths that you can walk to see how amazing it is. Of course if you get a chance take a walk over the famous Swilcan Bridge. It spans over the first and eighteenth fairways and is one of the most recognizable symbols of St. Andrews!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
It is a working golf course, so you need to be respectful. Swilcan bridge is an amazing photo op, but if there are players on the 17th or 18th hole you can’t be running across the green. Either wait, or take it from afar.
the golf museum
I’m not a golfer, but still found it interesting to learn about the history. Like how the first female golfer (Mary Queen of Scots) played at St. Andrews, or that the worlds deepest sand trap, knows as the ‘Hell bunker’ can be found on the 14th hole! If you love your golf then this is a pretty fun way to spend some time! The British Golf Museum opened in 1990 and is filled with loads of fun facts all the way back to Medieval times to modern day. Its opposite the main clubhouse and you can also pick up some St. Andrews golf swag!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
It costs £10 to enter the museum, but the ticket is actually valid for two days from the date of issue and you get a complimentary guidebook with it! Also, if you book in a tee time at Kingarrock course and show your ticket you’ll get £10 off your round of golf and vice versa! If you golf first, show your receipt at the museum and get a discount. Find all your info here!
see if you can find the ‘ph’
It’s a fun bit of local lore, but the first thing any new student at St. Andrews University learns is not to step on the ‘PH’ outside of St. Salvator’s quad. If you do you risk failing exams! Patrick Hamilton was an abbot in St. Andrews who brought Martin Luthers reformist teachings to Scotland. As these were still banned at the time, he was considered a heretic and sentenced to burn at the stake. The fire burned for six hours and during his time its said that Hamilton put a curse on all the future students of St. Andrews. A ‘PH’ laid into the stones on the ground mark the spot where he was burned.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Don’t step on it if you’re a student…
walk along wet sands
If you have a few hours to kill take a walk along the wet sands beach. St Andrews is set on the eastern coastline of Fife, and has incredible views of the water. The beach is up against Old Course and has lots of dunes, sea grass and views. You might have already seen it before! Its famous for being the filming location of the opening scene in Chariots of Fire. Makes for a lovely relaxing day.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Its only a 15 minute walk from the centre of town, alternatively there’s lots of car parking at different points along the beach.
And, of course, see the university!
St. Andrews university is stunning! A bunch of my friends went to school there, so my first time visiting I was fully immersed in the campus life. Aside from Oxford and Cambridge its the third oldest university in the UK and the English speaking world. It consistently ranks as one of the top universities in the world, and at over 600 years old, the buildings themselves are worth seeing. Of course, its also the place where Will met Kate so that’s a bit of fun if you love the royals! Just walk around the quads and courtyards and check out the architecture!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Its a fully functioning university, so you won’t be able to access everywhere unless you are a student with a pass. Be respectful of the faculty and students.
Where To Stay
Hotel du vun
This is where you stay if you’re going to have a luxury trip to St Andrews. Its a world renowned five star hotel with stunning sea views and luxury decor. Rooms come equipped with their own Nespresso machines and bespoke sleigh beds, and the food and wine clearly shows no expense is spared. $$$$
ardgowan hotel
I actually stayed here my last trip to St. Andrews! Located right in the heart of town it was a wonderful spot! The rooms were comfortable and cozy and the staff were so lovely and helpful with all of my many questions. There aren’t any elevators though, so get ready to lug your suitcase up the stairs! $$—$$$
The old station guest house
If you’re into something a little more quirky and unique look no further than the Old Station Guest House! I discovered this B&B when I got lost trying to find my friends house and its stunning! Its only a five minute drive from the city centre and it has six en suit rooms in the main house and two delux suits in their railway carriage. Yes railway carriage! Its in the garden and its so cool! $$
the peat inn
If you’re a big foodie, then you need to stay at the Peat Inn. You’d honestly never know it if you drove by, it looks like an unassuming roadside in, but in reality its a five star hotel with a Michelin star restaurant inside! The building itself dates back to the 1700’s so you get a bit of history with your fancy food! Its about seven miles out of St. Andrews, so i’d stay here if you want that Scottish countryside experience. $$$
St Andrews Tourist Hostel
Because of all of the golf courses and spas, St. Andrews can be a bit of a pricey destination. Worry not though, the St. Andrews tourist hostel is a great place to stay if you’re travelling on a budget. Located smack dab in the middle of the city you will be able to walk everywhere. It has free stored luggage, free wifi, fully equipped kitchens and no curfew. Its modest, but comfortable and clean and its affordable so what more could you want?! $
Where to Eat
Mitchells
I’ve eaten at Mitchell’s a few times and I always love it! Its in an old butcher shop right in the middle of St Andrews and its both a restaurant and a deli that serves fresh Scottish produce! Their menu is seasonal so if you go at different time’s of the year it will change. I went for a lovely brunch last time and it was delicious! $$
Forgans
Mention forgans to anyone who studied at or lived in St. Andrews university and they will know exactly what you’re talking about. This pub is definitely a St. Andrews institution and a favourite among locals, students and tourists. It has a stunning interior that mixes rustic style farmhouse tables with modern decor. It does a modern take on pub classics and on Fridays and Saturdays a live band comes in and it becomes a ceilidh! $
Gorgeous
Gorgeous is a little cafe that has, I kid you not, the BEST scones in all of Scotland. They are legendary! It has a kitschy feel with antique wallpaper and knick knacks all over the place which makes for a cool setting. They make great sandwiches, soups and coffee’s as well, but I highly suggest going for tea or even taking some scones to go! $
Cottage Kitchen
I was jet lagged, cold and grumpy when I got to St. Andrews but I wanted to explore and was starving. I came upon this little restaurant and ordered a hot chicken pie and suddenly I was in the best mood ever! All of their ingredients are locally sourced and made fresh. I sat outside to enjoy the courtyard, but inside had a cute cozy vibe, I would absolutely go back! $$
Balgove Larder
My friend Roxy took me to the larder when I went to visit her at university. We walked down the beach and down the lane to get there, so its a little bit outside the city centre. Its a farm shop with a cafe so there is a ton of local produce, meat, wines, honeys and jams and so much more you can try! They even have a flower shop, a night market and you can take butchery classes there. I enjoyed a lovely traditional afternoon tea with scones and the were amazing! $$$
Friendships have always been what brought me to St. Andrews, so my memories there are filled with so much fun and love! Its a beautiful town filled with great food, tons of history and culture. Its a small town and you can easily do it in a weekend! Whether you are going to golf, fly fish, study or just to visit this historic little slice of the world, you’ll have a grand old time!
