Activities in St Andrews

Built in the 12th century, St Andrews Cathedral was once Scotland’s largest church at 119m long and is now a stunning ruin with a fascinating museum and panoramic views from the 33m high St Rule’s Tower. The museum houses an excellent collection of medieval sculptures and relics, including cross foundation stones, gravestones and carved stones.

Another impressive ruin, St Andrews Castle has an imposing position on Castle Sands overlooking the North Sea and was built between 1189 and 1202. The castle has hosted nobility throughout its history, including James I and James III of Scotland and was also a notoriously dark and unforgiving prison for years. Tickets are required to explore the siege mine, tunnels, dungeon and historical artefacts, and you can get a joint ticket that covers entry to the cathedral and church, which are a short walk away from each other.

Less than 200m from our St Andrews hotel, the St Andrews Botanic Gardens are home to over 8,000 species of shrubs, plants and trees housed in 18 acres of gardens and greenhouses. In the summer, spring and autumn, the outdoor gardens are alive with water features, rock and peat gardens, while the year-round heat in the glasshouses is a great antidote to the biting North Sea winds.

Located next to the Old Course, the St Andrews Aquarium is where you’ll find more than 100 species including lionfish, sharks and seals, as well as land-lovers such as poison dart frogs and their legion of meerkats. There are plenty of handlings, talks and feeding sessions during the day, while the cliff top views from Steprock Café over the west sands and St Andrews Bay are almost worth the ticket price on their own.

Four miles south of St Andrews, Craigtoun Country Park makes for an excellent family day out. It is packed full of activities including crazy golf, pedalos, tractor rides, a miniature railway, bouncy castle, trampoline and adventure playground. Built at the end of the 17th century, the estate and country park is the perfect place to spend a sunny day.

Scotland’s first combined brewery and distillery, Eden Mill produces Scotch whisky, traditional ales, IPA and craft lagers and gin. Overlooking the Old Course, the tour takes you behind the scenes with plenty of tasting opportunities, while the on-site shop has an impressive range of bottles and gifts to choose from.

A three-screen independent cinema in the heart of St Andrews on North Street, the New Picture House Cinema is a resolutely old-fashioned establishment dating back to 1931. From the curtain that covers the screen to the well-loved seats, this quaint cinema is a world away from the ultra-modern and slightly faceless cinema complexes across the country, and it’s all the better for it.

The strong North Sea winds might play havoc with your golf shots, but they’re perfect for all sorts of beach fun, including land kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing and land surfing. Blown Away on the West Sands peninsula is the ideal place to try your hand at their range of activities. With peak water temperatures of 15 degrees though, make sure to wear one of their wetsuits!