Things To Do in St. Andrews
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St. Andrews Attractions
Founded in 1411, the University of St. Andrews is the oldest in Scotland and the third oldest in Britain; it's been called the "Oxbridge" of Scotland. At term time, you can see packs of students in their red gowns. The university grounds stretch west of the St. Andrews Castle between North Street and the Scores.
The university's best buildings are the tower and church of St. Salvator's College and the courtyard of St. Mary's College, from 1538. An ancient thorn tree, said to have been planted by Mary Queen of Scots, stands near the college's chapel. St. Leonard's College church is also from medieval days. In 1645, the Scottish Parliament met in what was once the University Library and is now a students' reading room. A modern library, containing many rare volumes, opened in 1976. Its most famous graduate in modern times was Prince William, who left with his degree in June of 2005. His graduation was watched by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and his father, Prince Charles. When William departed, so did the paparazzi who had been hanging out in St. Andrews.
- Landmark
Castle of St. Andrews
This ruined 13th-century castle, eerily poised at the edge of the sea, boasts a bottle dungeon and secret passages. Reconstructed several times, it was once a bishop's palace and later a prison for reformers. The bottle dungeon is carved 7m (23 ft.) down into the rock, and both… - Religious Site
Holy Trinity Church
Called the Town Kirk, this restored medieval church once stood on the grounds of the now-ruined cathedral . The church was moved to its present site in 1410, considerably altered after the Reformation of 1560, and restored in the early 20th century. Fine stained glass and carvings… - Historic Site
Secret Bunker
Scotland's best-kept secret during 40 years of the Cold War, this amazing labyrinth, built 30m (100 ft.) below ground and encased in 4.5m (15 ft.) of reinforced concrete, is where government and military officials would have run the country if the United Kingdom had been involved in… - Religious Site
St. Andrews Cathedral
Near the Celtic Church of Blessed Mary on the Rock, by the sea at the east end of town, St. Andrews Cathedral was once the largest church in Scotland. Founded in 1161, the Cathedral certified the town as the ecclesiastical capital of the country. But the ruins can only suggest its… - Library/University
University of St. Andrews
This is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in Britain after Oxford and Cambridge. Of its famous students, the most recent graduate was Prince William, heir to the throne after his father, Charles, Prince of Wales. At term time, you can see packs of students in…
St. Andrews Shopping
Specializing in Scottish art, St. Andrews Fine Arts, 84A Market St. (tel. 01334/474-080), also sells prints, drawings, and watercolors. All paintings were produced within the national boundaries of Scotland, sometime between 1800 and the present. Renton Oriental Rugs, 72 South St. (tel. 01334/476-334; www.rentonorientalrugs.co.uk), is one of Scotland's leading dealers of Oriental carpets. Antique rugs or reasonably priced reproductions come in many sizes, prices, and styles. At St. Andrews Pottery Shop, 4 Church Sq. (tel. 01334/850-859; www.standrewspottery.co.uk), an array of decorative stoneware, ceramics, and enameled jewelry -- most of it produced locally -- is for sale. Bonkers, 80 Market St. (tel. 01334/473-919; www.bonkers-standrews.co.uk), is a typical tourist shop, selling T-shirts, regional pottery, and other souvenirs, along with cards and stationery.
St. Andrews Nightlife
The cultural center of St. Andrews is the Byre Theatre, Abbey Street (tel. 01334/475-000; www.byretheatre.com), which features drama ranging from Shakespeare plays to musical comedies. Tickets cost £6 to £20 adults, £5 to £12 children. Pick up a weekly version of What's On in Fife from the local tourist office to find out what's featured.
Victoria, 1A St. Mary's Place (tel. 01334/476-964), is the place to catch a live band in St. Andrews. This student-filled pub occasionally features folk, rock, and blues acts, as well as karaoke every Friday. There's no live music in summer. John Smiths, Beamish Stout, McEwans Lager, 78 Shilling, and 80 Shilling are available on tap. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 1am, Sunday 11am to midnight, and Monday 10am to midnight.
A pub since 1904, the Central Bar, at the corner of Market and College streets (tel. 01334/478-296), is an antiquated room with a jukebox, and it can become rowdy during a football or tennis match. The best brews here are Old Peculiar, Theakstons XB, and McEwans Lager. Open Monday to Saturday from 11:30am to 1am.
Chariots, The Scores (tel. 01334/472-451), in the Scores Hotel, attracts mainly a local crowd, ranging from 30 to 60 years old, who gather in the evening for conversation over a pint. Despite a strong regional tradition of beer brewing, two outsiders, Guinness and Millers, are featured on tap. Open daily from 5pm to midnight. Hours can vary, especially on weekends, so call ahead.
