St Andrews Tours

Transportation

Tours not suitable for under 5s, walking difficulties, and excellent English is required!

For all enquiries email: richard@standrewstours.com

A few reviews of our St Andrews tours

“This was a big bucket list tick for us. Based in Edinburgh our driver brought us through for a great lunch in the Adamson. We toured the town with Old Course highlights and finished with cocktails by the golf course and just the best views. What an experience! The highlight of our Scottish vacation. We promise to come back!“
Marjorie and Frank from the USA

“He tied legend into reality, which was an amazing attribute or amazing thing to hear about Saint Andrews. Highly recommend, it was a wonderful tour. The chance of a lifetime and our guide was wonderful.“
Lisa, USA

Set within a historic Victorian town house, with two AA Rosettes and a warm welcome, the Adamson is one of our finest restaurants in St Andrews. They also have a cafe next door called Hatch – open from 9am for breakfast/snacks/coffee etc., and a cocktail bar around the back.

With this being the meeting and/or finishing point for some of our exclusive private tours, it is ideally placed for breakfast, lunch, cocktails or dinner depending on your chosen tour.

Adamson website with reservations

“This tour was excellent for both the golfers and non-golfers in our family. Lots of history – both old and recent, filled with facts, great photo opportunities. We toured on a Sunday, so we’re able to walk the course without interrupting play. Our guide was very knowledgeable. Tour is at a pace thats comfortable with frequent stops to learn. This was a bucket list tour for my husband and didn’t disappoint!“
Donna, USA

The Jigger Inn is part of the 5 star Old Course Hotel and the ultimate 19th hole. Following your tour, relax outside by the 17th fairway with your favourite tipple and soak up the best views in the game of golf.

Beer garden under large canopy. Walk up basis only with lots of tables. Jigger Inn web details

For all enquiries email: richard@standrewstours.com

Transportation from Edinburgh to St Andrews
+ parking details

The world comes to St Andrews
Wherever you’re coming from, a lot of the detail here still apply.

Distance between Edinburgh centre and St Andrews: approx 52 miles

We do not arrange transportation ourselves. Options for getting to St Andrews are either by train, hire vehicle or hired driver. There are no direct buses to St Andrews from Edinburgh.

Hiring a driver for the day from Edinburgh

Luxury cars or MPVs with a driver for up to 7 persons can save a lot of time and stress… They know where they’re going!

Journey time is around 1 hour 30 minutes to St Andrews but leave 2 hours before your tour time to account for potential disruptions such as roadworks, heavy traffic or road accidents. July to September is very busy and August is the month of the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe which is the largest arts festival in the world. In this month the population of Edinburgh doubles to over 1 million so book as early as you can.

There are many local companies in Edinburgh, including Transvercia Chauffeur MPV hire and Capital Cars Scotland.

Self-drive car hire

There are many car hire firms in Edinburgh

Always get a pile of £1 coins for parking before you hire a vehicle and avoid electric cars – not many charging stations in the highlands.

Allow 2 hours to get to St Andrews once you have your vehicle – not from when you go to pick it up as that can take a while. Remember also, you’ll be driving from the passenger seat with all the controls back to front and you’re on the wrong side of the road, Can’t wait for roundabouts!

Parking

There is very limited free parking in St Andrews mainly along the Scores Road by the sea. Parking meters in St Andrews take £1 coins – they do not take cards and the app they suggest downloading doesn’t work for those based in the USA – it always hangs half way through registering. Also, you only get a max of 2 hours to park in the centre which doesn’t work with a tour.

With a self drive car you are best to book a tour meeting point near the Old Course, so Hotel du Vin (public tours) or Jigger Inn (private tours). There is a carpark next to the Golf Museum, not far from Hotel du Vin allowing for a longer stay. It is meters so remember those £1 coins. Alternatively, the Jigger Inn of the Old Course Hotel on the fringe of St Andrews opens from 12pm every day for food and beveridges before or after your tour. Parking in the guest carpark of the Jigger/Old Course Hotel is free and has no time limit restrictions.

Satnav postcodes:

Jigger Inn – KY16 9SP
Hotel du Vin – KY16 9AS
The Adamson – KY16 9UH

Leave early! For public tours, if your satnav says you will arrive at the tour meeting point bang on the start time of your tour – you will have missed your tour. Once here you still need to park up, go to the bathroom, find us and introduce yourself etc, and tours don’t wait.

Before your due start time you need to contact to see if it is possible to reschedule.

Public Transport

The earliest tour to book if coming from Edinburgh by public transport is 12pm.

There is no direct bus service from Edinburgh to St Andrews

Train then short taxi or bus ride

Waverley Station in Edinburgh to Leuchars

Regular train service taking an average of 1 hour to Leuchars.

Tickets are available a few months in advance, with cheaper advance fares normally available 3 months in advance.

If you are in the States, thetrainline.com is the USA arm of the UK site we mostly use to book advance UK train travel. It’s then a 10 minute taxi ride to St Andrews and the tour meeting point – Taxi rank just ouside the station.

For a taxi back to the train station, if you have refreshments etc in the Jigger Inn they will then order you a taxi – if you ask nicely.

We recommend a taxi from Leuchars if meeting in the centre of town at the Adamson. You can always get a bus back to Leuchars after the tour, as the bus stop is only a couple of minutes from the 17th green and the Jigger Inn.

Bus from/to Leuchars

Pay on the bus by contactless card

You need the No. 99 bus. The sign will have St Andrews, and for the return it will have Dundee. They all stop at Leuchars train station. Buses are every 10 minutes – 6 days a week, and every 20 minutes on a Sunday. Journey time around 11 minutes.

Bus for tours meeting outside the Jigger Inn (Old Course Hotel)

You will see the Old Course Hotel on your left when coming into St Andrews on the bus. Get off at the first stop if meeting at the Jigger Inn (Old Course Hotel). From the stop walk through a tree lined path and follow the road toward the hotel and through the carpark to the Jigger Inn. 3 minute walk.

Bus for tours meeting outside Hotel du Vin on the Scores Road

If meeting the tour outside Hotel du Vin, get off at the second stop and walk in the same direction as the bus to Auchterlonies golf shop. Take a left there then first right and walk up the hill to the hotel. 10 minute walk.

Bus for tours meeting outside the Adamson restaurant in town

If meeting at the Adamson in town, get off at the bus station and turn right out of the station and continue past the mini roundabout 100 yards to the ancient West Port stone archway on the left. Go through the arch and continue along South Street until you reach the Adamson – midway along the road – lefthand side. 10 minute walk

Have a safe journey and we look forward to welcoming you to St Andrews.

Please note that public tours do not wait at all. Not even for a minute…
If you think you may be late for any tour, please contact in plenty of time before your tour start time. You won’t make contact with a public tour once it starts. You may be able to join a later tour or reschedule – depending on availability and only if you contact in plenty of time beforehand.

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For enquiries and small or large group private/bespoke tours, inc large group/coach rates, email: richard@standrewstours.com