A Guide To Visiting St Andrews On A Budget

St. Andrews, the crown jewel in the Kingdom of Fife, doesn’t automatically scream ”budget holiday destination.”

This quaint Scottish town that is known as the ‘home of golf’ is also home to the university that Prince William and Kate attended [and where they first met]. It is also thought enlightened thinker John Knox may have studied there.

So it doesn’t sound as though St Andrews is an affordable place to visit, right?

Not necessarily.

A trip to St. Andrews is possible on a limited budget- you just have to do some advance planning. Let me show you how you can plan a trip to St Andrews on a budget with my helpful guide that covers finding accommodation, transport, places to eat and things to do!

Also be sure to read my comprehensive guide on travelling Scotland on a budget for even more helpful tips.

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How to get to St Andrews

By car

The best way to get to St Andrews is by car. I recommend hiring one if you are visiting from overseas.

When I need to hire a car in the UK or Europe, I always book with Auto Europe [note- you’ll have to search ‘Great Britain’ to find car hire in Scotland’]. They’re a car rental comparison site where you can find some pretty cheap deals!

If you are coming from Edinburgh, you have the choice to drive the more direct in-land route, or the more scenic Fife Coastal Route.

The in-land route is quicker, taking just under 90 minutes, and the Fife Coastal Route takes at least 2 hours [not including stops]. There is plenty to observe along the coastal route. I recommend stopping at Aberdour Castle, Elie Ness Lighthouse and a cute fishing village such as St Monans, Pittenweem or Anstruther [where they have a UK famous chippy].

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My favourite off-beat place to visit is Constantine’s Cave in Crail. It is said that Constantine II, one of the early Kings of Scotland lived and died in this cave.

Park your car at the golf-course and wander down to the shoreline [for the exact location, click here]. You’ll find a large cave with a plaque that commemorates the site.

By train

The closest train station to St Andrews is Leuchars Rail Station, which is on the East Coast main line linking London, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Leuchars is located 10 minutes from St. Andrews, so you will need to catch a taxi or a bus into the town. Public bus services to St Andrews meet all train arrivals and there are usually taxis waiting just outside the railway station.

By bus

There are buses that run from Edinburgh to St. Andrews, however you are often required to change buses in either Dundee or Dunfermline. It is much easier to catch the train, and then a bus to St Andrews.

If travelling from Dundee, there are regular buses that run. Visit the Stagecoach website for more information.

Once you arrive in St Andrews you can walk practically everywhere, meaning you won’t have to spend money on transport, provided you are staying close to the town centre.

ST ANDREWS TOURS FROM EDINBURGH

Are you in Edinburgh and want to go on a tour to see St Andrews? This day tour with Rabbies takes you to St Andrews, visiting fishing villages along the way.

Timberbush tours also have a similar tour, and The Hairy Coo has a 2 day tour which includes a visit to the Scottish Highlands.

If you’d like to include whisky tasting in your tour, then I recommend this day tour with Heart of Scotland tours.

For Outlander fans, there is a day tour that takes you to the village of Falkland where Outlander was filmed before heading to St Andrews.

Finding affordable accommodation in St Andrews

I recommend booking self-catering accommodation. This way you can save money on meals by cooking at your accommodation. You can buy groceries from the local Tesco in the centre of town.

Here are a few more affordable accommodation options for St Andrews:

St Andrews University lists their empty student accommodation at the end of term. Agnes Blackadder Hall, David Russel Hall and McIntosh Hall all have campus accommodation. There are also 5 bedroom apartments available. Don’t expect anything fancy- they’re small and basic rooms, but they’re clean and good if you’re travelling on a budget.
If you have a car you can stay near St Andrews where accommodation is cheaper. I recommend Edenside House which is 3 miles from St Andrews or Scooniehill Farmhouse B&B which is 1.5 miles from St Andrews.

Cheap & Free Things to do in St Andrews

One of the best things about St Andrews is once you’re here, there are plenty of cheap or free activities. Here are some of my favourites:

St. Andrews Cathedral

At Andrews Cathedral is the town’s most famous attraction, and perhaps the most famous ruin in all of Scotland.

It is free to explore the ruin and accompanying graveyard. For a small fee, you can climb to the top of St Rule’s Tower for spectacular views across St Andrews!

Exploring St Andrews Cathedral

St Andrews Botanic Garden

Stroll through this impressive 18-acre garden set in the heart of historic St Andrews. Take a thick blanket [note: the ground is usually always damp in Scotland!] and a picnic lunch and enjoy the serenity.

Go for a walk to The Old Course

The world’s oldest and most iconic golf course, The Old Course, is located next to West Sands Beach and is a nice walk from the town centre. Make sure you are careful when walking near the golf course and look out for any balls!

West Sands Beach in St Andrews

St. Andrews Castle

It costs £9 per adult to go inside St. Andrews Castle- or if you can admire it for free from the small beach next to the castle!

Celebrate St Andrews Day

St Andrews is also a great place to celebrate St Andrews Day on November 30. The town puts on a variety of free activities each year to celebrate Scotland’s patron saint.

If you’re staying a while be sure to check out my guide on 40 things you can do in St Andrews and beyond!

SCOTLAND TRAVEL TIP

If you plan on visiting both St Rule’s Tower and St Andrews Castle, there is a joint ticket for £12. If you’re planning on visiting many attractions in Scotland, the Historic Scotland Explorer Pass might be for you. I have a 12 month subscription (if you live in Scotland you can get a yearly membership) and it’s fantastic. They have created a 3, 7 or 14 [consecutive] day pass especially for visitors to Scotland. Family passes are also available!

Cheap places to eat in St Andrews

The Criterion has affordable hot breakfast rolls. For lunch they have soups, sandwiches and wraps ranging from £4.50-£6.50.

I also really like Northpoint Cafe for a cup of tea and a scone. They also have delicious soups and filling sandwiches at affordable prices.

Taste of Scotland on the Bell street corner has delicious soya soup, handmade cakes and sweet highlands buns at great prices.

The Vic is a popular student hangout that has hearty meals for a fair price and some great deals on meals during the week.

northpoint cafe - cheap places to eat in st andrews

On of my favourite cafes in St Andrews- Northpoint Cafe

Nightlife in St Andrews

Did you know that St Andrews has the most bars and nightclubs per square mile in the UK?

There are over 30 bars and pubs in this town that has only a population of roughly 16,800.

Molly Malones is a good pub for a pocket-friendly pint, and if you’re wanting to drink with the locals, Greyfriars Inn and The Keys Bar are popular choices.

Whether you want a casual drink or to dance until the wee hours of the morning, The Vic is also great for a night out in St Andrews. They have a jam-packed calendar of events including a pub quiz on a Sunday.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my article on how to travel to St Andrews on a budget. Let me know if it helped you with your planning in the comments!