Things to Do in St Andrews

Long sandy beach running from the town to the Eden Estuary. Used in the opening scene of Chariots of Fire. Good for walking and kite surfing.

🕐 Always open.

💡 Go at low tide to walk to the estuary mouth — you might spot seals. Avoid the car park at busy times; walk from town instead.

18-acre botanical collection with themed gardens, glasshouses, and a woodland trail. Entry costs £6.50 for adults; under-16s free.

🕐 Daily 10:00–16:00 (Nov–Feb), 10:00–17:00 (Mar–Oct). Last entry 30 mins before close.

💡 Visit in late spring for the rhododendrons or early autumn for the grass garden. The café does decent scones but is pricey. Free parking at the entrance.

Ruins of Scotland's largest medieval cathedral, with a graveyard and sea views. The museum is closed but the grounds are open.

🕐 Daily, dawn until dusk. The adjacent museum is closed for refurbishment until late 2025.

💡 Enter via Pends Road for a quieter approach and look for the surviving gable ends of the east and west walls.

Ruined 13th-century castle overlooking the sea, with a bottle dungeon and siege mine. Adult entry £10.50; Historic Scotland members free.

🕐 Daily 09:30–17:30 (Apr–Sep), 10:00–16:00 (Oct–Mar). Closed 25–26 Dec and 1–2 Jan.

💡 Join a free guided tour (usually at 11:00 and 14:00 in summer) for the story of the 1546 murder of Cardinal Beaton. The mine and counter-mine tunnels are unique and claustrophobic — avoid if you don't like tight spaces.

Museum charting the history of golf in 18th-century to modern times. Adult entry £10.00; under-16s £6.50; under-5s free. Free entry for locals with a valid address.

🕐 Daily 09:30–17:00 (Apr–Oct), 10:00–16:00 (Nov–Mar). Last entry 45 mins before close.

💡 Go on a weekday morning to avoid queues. The shop sells nostalgic postcards for 50p each — cheaper than the tourist shops on the street. Allow 90 minutes to get through it properly.