Scotland’s St. Andrews is widely known as the birthplace of golf. Unexpectedly, St. Andrews is also well known for its superb beaches, which are usually regarded as among the best beaches in Scotland. Whatever you have planned for your time here, use our list of the best things to do in St. Andrews to organize your sightseeing excursions in this stunning region of Scotland.
1. Play Some Golf on the St. Andrews Links Courses
St. Andrews has long been one of Scotland’s most significant tourist and athletic attractions, partly because of its golfing tradition. Since this is where the game of golf, as we know it today, originated in the 15th century, it should come as no surprise that the region is also home to the oldest golf club in the world, the prestigious Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, founded in 1750.
The seven renowned courses at St. Andrews are actually owned and run by the non-profit St. Andrews Links. However, club members have access to the course it overlooks. This organization also oversees the Old Course, the oldest golf course in the world and the most well-known of St. Andrews’ links courses.
Despite the fact that the sport has been practiced here since the early 1400s, the par-72, 18-hole course wasn’t constructed until the middle of the 18th century. This format has since come to be accepted as standard. The course is still accessible to the general public. However, it is advised to reserve a spot in advance due to its extreme popularity.
2. The British Golf Museum has information about the Greats of Golf.
When visiting St. Andrews, golf aficionados shouldn’t miss the British Golf Museum. Apart from playing golf on the links, seeing this intriguing tourist destination is one of the most well-liked activities for golfers in St. Andrews. It chronicles the development of the game from the Middle Ages to the present.
The museum displays the evolution of the sport’s equipment, particularly the golf ball and golf clubs, as well as the rules and strategies of the game, in addition to its many fascinating historical exhibits. Also covered in-depth are well-known tournaments and golfing legends like Old Tom Morris and his son Tom Morris Jr., who both won the Open four times in the 1800s. The amazing Lady Margaret Scott, a three-time Ladies Champion in the late 19th century, is another shared characteristic.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is just next to the museum, which is another advantage. After visiting, leave the car here (there is free public parking) and explore the neighborhood on foot. From here, you may easily access the gorgeous West Sands Beach. Stop by the museum’s inviting rooftop café to cap off your enjoyable tour, which has fantastic views of the Old Course.
3. Explore the Cathedral of St. Andrew’s Ruins.
The abundance of churches and monuments in the city is proof that St. Andrews has long played a significant role in Scottish ecclesiastical history. The bones of St. Andrew are said to have arrived here with St. Regulus in the fourth century. A number of churches, the enormous cathedral, and St. Andrews Castle had all been built by the year 1200.
By the 15th century, Scotland’s ecclesiastical and spiritual influence was centered on the Cathedral of St. Andrew, today more popularly known as St Andrews Cathedral, which also served as the archbishop’s residence beginning in 1472.
The cathedral, which measures around 335 feet in length and 160 feet in width and was formerly the biggest church in Scotland, was constructed between 1160 and 1328. During its height, Robert I and James V were two of its most renowned visitors. The cathedral’s stonework was looted in 1559, leaving only fragments of the late Romanesque east front, a portion of the west front, the southern side aisle, and a gatehouse. As a result, the building is now mostly in ruins.
Climbing the nearby St. Rule’s Tower, which is 108 feet tall, is one of the best things to do in this area. For your efforts, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the town center and beach.
4. Visit the Museums at St. Andrews University
Due to its well-preserved historic architecture, St. Andrews University, the smallest and oldest of Scotland’s educational institutions, makes for an enjoyable stroll. St. Mary’s College, founded by Cardinal Beaton in 1538, serves as the theology faculty, while the Colleges of St. Salvator (1450) and St. Leonard (1511), which were joined in 1747, are devoted to the arts and sciences.
The reformer John Knox’s first sermon was delivered in the pulpit of Holy Trinity Church, which is now in the College Chapel in St. Salvator. Visit St. Leonard’s Chapel, which includes several beautiful grave markers from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Mary Stuart is rumored to have planted a rose bush next to St. Mary’s College, and the South Street home she stayed in is now the St. Leonard’s College library. Its top-notch museums are also noteworthy. These include the Wardlaw Museum, with its substantial collection of historical and artistic items as well as the Bell Pettigrew Museum, which is renowned for its natural history collections.
5. Check out St. Andrews Castle
St. Andrews Castle, which is now mostly in ruins like the town’s medieval church, is nonetheless one of the most popular must-see tourist attractions. This once-impressive building, which had its beginnings as a previous bishop’s palace when the cathedral was constructed in the late 100s, witnessed multiple sieges and also served as a prison before falling into disrepair. But what’s left gives a clear idea of how imposing and strong construction the castle would have been in its prime.
Along with its battlements, the structure is famous for the remnants of the old medieval tunnels excavated during the year-long siege that began in 1546 after Cardinal Beaton’s murder. Parts of these tunnels can be examined. Also visible is the dungeon where the Cardinal was held.
Visit the informative visitor center as well, which features fascinating exhibits about the castle and the preservation efforts that have kept its past intact. There are also audio guides available.
6. Visit St. Andrews Aquarium and Have Fun
St. Andrews Aquarium has one of the most spectacular settings of any marine attraction. Along with the water life on display here, the vistas from this perch, which overlooks the shoreline and St. Andrews Bay, are surely a magnet for travelers.
Kids of all ages will be fascinated by such tiny creatures as insects and reptiles, as well as innumerable fish species, including sharks and piranhas, and other local marine life, like seals and crabs, to name a few. It is the town’s top-rated family attraction. Crocodiles are even on exhibit in a fantastic way.
Meerkats are among the other species, and you can get a close-up view of them by taking part in an enjoyable animal feeding experience. Penguins, seals, and some of the more docile reptiles and insects (including spiders) can all be touched by children as part of the feeding program. The aquarium features a café on site in addition to a gift shop.
7. Visit the St. Andrews Botanic Garden and stroll about
St. Andrews Botanic Garden, situated in a lovely 18-acre site on the south side of town, is definitely worth a visit because of its excellent grounds, wide variety of plant species, and lovely riverside setting. It was founded by the University of St. Andrews in 1889. Its remarkable collection of almost 8,000 distinct exotic and native plant species, arranged to ensure a relaxing few hours may be had here, is one of the highlights of a visit.
While walking, you’ll come across a number of “zones” devoted to specific species, such as a peaceful meadow, a forest area, a rockery, and lovely ponds and waterfalls. There is also what is thought to be one of the best rhododendron collections in the nation.
The more formal garden areas, which include herb and vegetable gardens, are where those with a green thumb should concentrate. The attraction now includes a butterfly house in addition to other tropical greenhouses, which are especially well-liked by children who never seem to tire of these interesting and vibrant animals.
8. Visit Craigtoun Country Park
Craigtoun Country Park is just four miles to the south of St. Andrews. This more recent building, which was designed and built in a Dutch village style, was erected on land that was formerly a portion of a 17th-century manor house. It was completed in the early 20th century.
In addition to their park-like environment, the expansive grounds themselves are a treat to explore because there are so many entertaining things to do and see. You’ll get the chance to discover classic estate features, beginning with the gardens, which include a walled garden, a rose garden, a gorgeous avenue lined with cypress trees, multiple ponds, a boating lake, and walking trails.
There are several activities here for kids as well. Family picnics, rides on a tractor, and narrow-gauge heritage trains are all examples of kid-friendly entertainment. Additionally, there is an on-site café, an adventure play area with a bouncy castle, and crazy golf.
9. St. Andrews Museum & Preservation Trust Museum
The rich heritage of St. Andrews is well-preserved by the locals. This is especially accurate for the important St. Andrews Museum. The museum, one of the best free activities in the area, is housed in a charming old Victorian-era home in Kilnburn Park. It has a sizable display that covers every aspect of the town’s history, from its renowned golf courses to its esteemed university.
There are numerous exhibits and relics at the museum, but it’s also worth visiting the gallery where local artwork is on show. A well-stocked shop and a café are situated on the property, and regular activities like concerts and kid-friendly seminars are also hosted here.
The St. Andrews Preservation Trust Museum is nearby the cathedral and castle, both of which are prominently featured in the exhibits and displays at this site and is also well worth a visit. Spend some time in the lovely garden on the property as well.
10. Have a food tour
The St Andrews Food Tour takes you to five venues where you may sample locally sourced food and drink while you explore the city’s principal areas on foot, from the Old Course to the cathedral. Additionally, your tour guide will go into more detail about the region’s history and suggest additional locations to see when the tour is complete.
