Golf course
Old Course
The Old Course is the oldest golf course in the world and the heart of St Andrews Links.
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St Andrews travel guide
St Andrews is a compact coastal town in Fife, on Scotland's east coast, best known as the Home of Golf. It sits about 10 miles south-east of Dundee and roughly 90 minutes' drive from Edinburgh, and it is small enough to explore on foot. The medieval centre is laid out along North Street and South Street, which converge on the ruined cathedral, with Market Street running between them. The town has seven public courses run by St Andrews Links Trust, including the Old Course, which has hosted the Open Championship 30 times, more than any other venue. Beyond golf, visitors come for the two-mile West Sands beach used in the opening scene of Chariots of Fire, the cliff-top castle, and the University of St Andrews, founded between 1410 and 1413 and the oldest university in Scotland. The 155th Open returns to the town from 11 to 18 July 2027.
Best time to visit
Summer brings the longest days and seasonal RNLI lifeguard patrols on West Sands and East Sands, but it is also the busiest period. In 2027, demand will peak around The 155th Open, which the R&A has scheduled for 11 to 18 July 2027, and in the week commencing 28 June 2027, when the University holds its graduation ceremonies. Term time also shapes the town: the 2026–27 academic year starts with orientation week from 7 September 2026, and Raisin Weekend, a student tradition, falls on the last weekend of October. Golfers should note that the Old Course is closed for play on Sundays.
Getting there
St Andrews has no railway station of its own. The nearest is Leuchars, on the Edinburgh–Aberdeen line, served by ScotRail, LNER, CrossCountry and the Caledonian Sleeper. From Leuchars, Stagecoach bus 99 runs to St Andrews bus station on City Road, a few minutes' walk from the town centre; taxis also wait at Leuchars at busy times. Buses also run to St Andrews from Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. By road, allow about 30 minutes from Dundee and about 1 hour 30 minutes from Edinburgh. Edinburgh Airport is the main gateway: take the tram or Airlink 100 into Edinburgh, then a train to Leuchars. Dundee Airport has had no scheduled flights since Loganair ended its services in October 2026. Petheram Bridge car park, about 150 metres from the bus station, is free.
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Highlights of St Andrews
Things to do
St Andrews Cathedral
St Andrews Cathedral is the ruin of what was once Scotland's largest church, on the headland above the harbour.
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St Andrews Castle
St Andrews Castle is the clifftop ruin of the palace of the medieval bishops and archbishops of St Andrews, cared for by Historic Environment Scotland.
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West Sands, St Andrews
West Sands is St Andrews' main beach: almost two miles of uninterrupted sand backed by dunes and the golf links, about 15 minutes' walk from the town centre.
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The R&A World Golf Museum
The R&A World Golf Museum stands on Bruce Embankment, a few steps from the first tee of the Old Course.
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St Salvator's Chapel
St Salvator's Chapel on North Street was founded in 1450 by Bishop James Kennedy and is still the university's working chapel.
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St Andrews Botanic Garden
St Andrews Botanic Garden covers 18 acres of woodland, meadow, ponds and planted beds beside the Kinness Burn, a short walk south of the town centre.
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Wardlaw Museum
The Wardlaw Museum, known as MUSA until 2020, is the University of St Andrews' free museum at 7 The Scores.
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Holiday rentals
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Guardbridge
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St Andrews town centre
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On the map
Best neighbourhoods
Old Town and the three main streets
The historic core follows two roughly parallel streets, North Street and South Street, which converge on the cathedral, with Market Street running between them. This is where most of the town's shops, cafés and university buildings sit. VisitScotland describes the town as compact and easy to explore on foot.
The Links, The Scores and West Sands
North-west of the centre, six adjacent Links Trust courses, including the Old, New, Jubilee, Eden, Strathtyrum and Balgove, run alongside the two-mile West Sands. The R&A World Golf Museum is on Bruce Embankment, and the St Andrews Aquarium sits at the foot of The Scores, overlooking the beach. The town centre is about 15 minutes' walk from West Sands.
Cathedral and castle quarter
The east end of town holds the two great medieval ruins, both cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. The cathedral precinct includes the 33-metre St Rule's Tower, while the castle stands on a rocky headland above the small beach of Castle Sands. From here, The Pends leads down to the harbour.
The harbour and East Sands
East Sands lies on the south side of the old harbour, next to the sailing club and East Sands Leisure Centre, and its position by the harbour means plenty of water sports. Facilities listed by Fife Council include toilets, a café, a children's play area and free parking. The beach connects to the Fife Coastal Path heading east.
Canongate and the Botanic Garden
On the southern edge of town, beside the wooded Kinness Burn, the Canongate area is home to the 18-acre St Andrews Botanic Garden. Founded by the University in 1889, it holds several thousand native and non-native plant species across woodland, meadow, rockery, ponds and dune plantings, with borders of Chinese and Chilean flora.
Kinkell Braes and the Castle Course
East of town, the Kinkell Braes are cliffs and rocky ground running along the North Sea coast, now partly used for a caravan park, farmland and golf. The Links Trust's Castle Course sits on the cliff top about a mile east of St Andrews. The Rock and Spindle, an eroded volcanic plug of twisted basalt columns, stands by Kinkell Harbour.
The East Neuk villages
South of St Andrews, the East Neuk is a string of fishing villages along the Fife coast, including Crail, Cellardyke, Anstruther, Pittenweem, St Monans and Elie and Earlsferry. VisitScotland notes they can be reached from St Andrews by bus, making them an easy day out or a quieter base for a stay.
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See all destinationsFrequently asked questions
- Can anyone play the Old Course?
- Yes. The Old Course is a public course held in trust by St Andrews Links Trust, and golfers with a handicap within the published limit (36, according to Welcome to Fife) can get a tee time through advance reservations, the daily ballot or the singles draw. Check current requirements with the Links Trust before you travel.
- How does the Old Course ballot work?
- Groups of two to four enter the daily ballot 48 hours before the day they want to play, and results are posted later that afternoon. Because the course is closed on Sundays, there is no ballot on Fridays. Solo golfers can instead enter the singles draw the day before at the Old Pavilion or the Links Clubhouse.
- Can I book an Old Course tee time in advance?
- Yes. St Andrews Links Trust takes applications for advance tee times for the following year, typically opening in late August or early September. Groups need at least two golfers.
- When is The Open at St Andrews in 2027?
- The R&A has scheduled The 155th Open at St Andrews for 11 to 18 July 2027. It will be the Old Course's 31st Open; the course has already hosted 30, more than any other venue.
- Where can I stay during The Open 2027?
- Expect accommodation in and around St Andrews to be in high demand for the week. The R&A sells official ticket and accommodation packages and ticket and camping packages, with the campsite a short walk from the course, through theopen.com. Basing yourself in Dundee or the East Neuk villages and travelling in by bus is another option.
- How do I get to St Andrews without a car?
- Take a train to Leuchars, the nearest station, then Stagecoach bus 99 into St Andrews bus station. Direct buses also run from Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
- Which airport is closest to St Andrews?
- Edinburgh Airport is the main gateway: travel into Edinburgh by tram or Airlink 100, then take the train to Leuchars. Dundee Airport is closer but has had no scheduled flights since Loganair ended its services in October 2026.
- Which beaches are there in St Andrews?
- West Sands runs for almost two miles beside the Links, and East Sands sits on the south side of the harbour near the sailing club. Both hold 2026 Scotland's Beach Awards and have seasonal RNLI lifeguard cover. Castle Sands is a small beach below the castle.
- Is the Old Course open to walkers?
- The course is closed for play on Sundays, and on some Sundays it opens to townspeople for walks and picnics.
- When is St Andrews busiest?
- Summer is the main season, with extra pressure in 2027 during graduation week (week commencing 28 June) and The Open (11 to 18 July). Student events also fill the town at the start of the academic year in September and over Raisin Weekend in late October.
Sources: randa.org · theopen.com · visitscotland.com · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · news.stv.tv · historicenvironment.scot · historicenvironment.scot · historicenvironment.scot · randa.org · st-andrews.ac.uk · st-andrews.ac.uk · fife.gov.uk · fife.gov.uk · fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk · fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk · welcometofife.com · top100golfcourses.com · scottish-places.info · commons.wikimedia.org