St Andrews
Contents |
Guide to St Andrews in Scotland
Sights| Accommodation | Entertainment | Eating | St Andrews' History | Golf
This well-groomed seaside resort on the northeastern coast of Fife is the 'Home of Golf' and a mecca for afficionados of the sport the world over. Here is the headquarters of the game's governing body, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and the world's most famous golf course, the Old Course. But it's not all Pringle sweaters and five irons. St Andrews has an air of calm dignity tinged with an inherent sense of history, as you'd expect from a place that was once the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland and the country's oldest seat of learning. St Andrews has avoided becoming stuffy and remains one of Scotland's smartest towns – especially after that royal pin-up Prince William became an undergraduate at its ancient university.
Phone code: +44 (0)1334 Population: 13,000
Getting There
St Andrews, 13 miles south of Dundee and 55 miles north of Edinburgh, is not on the train line. The nearest station is 5 miles away at Leuchars, on the Edinurgh- Dundee-Aberdeen line. Regular buses make the 15-min journey from there to St Andrews. A taxi costs around £7. The bus station is on City Road, at the west end of town. There are frequent buses to Dundee (30 mins), the East Neuk villages and Cupar (20 mins). There is also a service to Stirling. Buses run from Edinburgh to St Andrews via Kirkcaldy.
Getting Around
St Andrews is a compact town and best explored on foot. A hop- on-hop-off tour bus takes in all the main sights. If you're driving, parking in the town centre is difficult. You need to buy vouchers from the TIC or from local shops. Taxis are available from Golf City Taxis, 13 Argyle St, Tel. 477788, or St Andrews Taxis, Tel. 477272.
Tourist Information
The Tourist Information Centre, 70 Market St, Tel. 472021, has comprehensive information about St Andrews and Northeast Fife. Open Apr-May Mon-Sat 0930-1800, Sun 1100-1600; Jun Mon-Sat 0930-1900, Sun 1100-1800; Jul-Aug Mon-Sat 0930-2000, Sun 1100-1800; Sep to mid-Oct Mon-Sat 0930-1900, Sun 1100-1800; mid-Oct to Mar Mon-Sat 0930-1700.