Getting to St Andrews
How to reach St Andrews by train, bus, taxi, car, or bicycle.
Train
St Andrews has no railway station of its own. The nearest is Leuchars (station code LEU), around 6 miles (about 10km by road, roughly 6km/4.2 miles as the crow flies) north of the town on the Edinburgh-to-Aberdeen main line, served by ScotRail, LNER and CrossCountry. A live departures widget is not shown on this page because the station is a genuine bus or taxi ride from town, not a walk; check live times directly at nationalrail.co.uk or scotrail.co.uk before travelling.
- Station
- Leuchars (station code LEU), around 6 miles (about 10km by road, roughly 6km/4.2 miles as the crow flies) north of St Andrews on the Edinburgh-to-Aberdeen main line, served by ScotRail, LNER and CrossCountry.
- Widget
- No live departures widget is shown on this page because Leuchars is a bus or taxi ride from town, not a walk; check live times directly at nationalrail.co.uk or scotrail.co.uk before travelling.
- Getting From Station
- Stagecoach East Scotland's route 99 (Dundee to St Andrews) stops at Leuchars and runs frequently through the day; reported by regular users as roughly every 10 minutes at peak times, with a journey of around 10 to 15 minutes into St Andrews bus station.
- Rail Bus Ticket
- A combined train-plus-bus RailBus ticket covering both legs can be bought online or at a ScotRail ticket machine.
- Cycle Path
- A dedicated off-road cycle path connects Leuchars station directly to the Old Course Hotel at the edge of St Andrews town centre, a genuine option for anyone travelling light.
- Taxis
- Taxis also wait at the station to meet trains.
Tips
- •Do not assume St Andrews has its own station; book to Leuchars, not St Andrews.
- •Buy a combined RailBus ticket if going straight on to St Andrews to cover both the train and the connecting bus.
- •The cycle path from Leuchars to the Old Course Hotel is a genuine option for cyclists travelling without heavy luggage.
Bus
Stagecoach East Scotland runs the main local and regional bus services through St Andrews, including route 99 to Dundee via Leuchars station, with other services reaching Edinburgh, Cupar and villages across East Fife. Moffat & Williamson also operates some local East Fife routes.
- Operator
- Stagecoach East Scotland runs the main local and regional bus services through St Andrews; Moffat & Williamson also operates some local East Fife routes.
- Main Route
- Route 99 to Dundee via Leuchars station, with other services reaching Edinburgh, Cupar and villages across East Fife.
- Bus Station
- St Andrews bus station sits toward the western edge of the old town, a short walk from the main shopping streets.
- Tickets
- Contactless card payment is accepted on Stagecoach buses; a Stagecoach DayRider ticket covers unlimited travel on their network for the day if making more than one trip.
Tips
- •St Andrews bus station sits toward the western edge of the old town, a short walk from the main shopping streets.
- •Contactless card payment is accepted on Stagecoach buses.
- •A Stagecoach DayRider ticket covers unlimited travel on their network for the day if making more than one trip.
Useful Links
Taxi
Several local firms operate in St Andrews, including St Andrews Taxis and Jet Taxi St Andrews. Taxis also wait at Leuchars station to meet trains.
- Operators
- Several local firms operate in St Andrews, including St Andrews Taxis and Jet Taxi St Andrews.
- Station
- Taxis also wait at Leuchars station to meet trains.
Tips
- •Booking ahead is sensible on graduation weekends and around the Open Championship, when demand spikes.
- •Confirm a specific operator's current contact details before travelling; local firms and numbers change.
Useful Links
Driving & Parking
St Andrews sits on the A91, reached from the M90 north of the Forth crossings via the A92 and A91 through Fife, or from Dundee via the A92 and the Tay Bridge. The old town centre is compact and largely low-speed, with several streets pedestrian-priority at peak times; most visitors park at the edge of the centre and walk in.
- Route
- St Andrews sits on the A91, reached from the M90 north of the Forth crossings via the A92 and A91 through Fife, or from Dundee via the A92 and the Tay Bridge.
- Town Centre
- The old town centre is compact and largely low-speed, with several streets pedestrian-priority at peak times; most visitors park at the edge of the centre and walk in.
- Parking
- Fife Council operates pay-and-display car parks across the town centre, including at Murray Place, Argyle Street and near the harbour; check current tariffs with Fife Council before travelling, as they are reviewed periodically.
- Parking Enquiries
- Fife Council administers all town-centre pay-and-display parking; a single enquiries number (0345 155 0000) covers the main car parks.
Tips
- •Golf-season and graduation-week traffic and parking pressure are both real; arrive early on those dates.
- •The town centre's narrow medieval streets are not built for casual driving; park on the edge and walk.
- •Fife Council administers all town-centre pay-and-display parking; a single enquiries number (0345 155 0000) covers the main car parks.
Cycling
St Andrews is a genuinely walkable and cyclable town, flat along the seafront and only gently sloped elsewhere. A dedicated off-road cycle path connects the town directly to Leuchars railway station, and National Cycle Network routes run through Fife along the coast.
- Town Cycling
- St Andrews is a genuinely walkable and cyclable town, flat along the seafront and only gently sloped elsewhere.
- To Leuchars
- A dedicated off-road cycle path connects the town directly to Leuchars railway station.
- Ncn Routes
- National Cycle Network routes run through Fife along the coast.
Tips
- •The Leuchars-to-town cycle path avoids the busiest section of the A91.
- •Cobbled and pedestrianised sections of the old town are best walked, not cycled, at busy times.
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Edinburgh AirportEDI
80 km away- Duration
- Around 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes depending on traffic and the Forth crossing
- Cost
- Variable; taxi fares for this distance are substantial, confirm with an operator before booking
Distance and duration are a reasoned road-route estimate, not confirmed via a live route planner this session; re-verify before publishing precise figures.
- Duration
- Typically 2 to 2.5 hours door to door including connections
- Cost
- Variable by operator and ticket type
No single direct coach from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrews was independently confirmed this session; the standard route combines an airport transfer into Edinburgh or a train change with the Leuchars/St Andrews bus connection. Re-verify current options before publishing as a step-by-step route.
Dundee AirportDND
20 km away- Duration
- Around 30 to 40 minutes
- Cost
- Variable; confirm with an operator before booking
Dundee Airport is the closest airport to St Andrews by distance, but as of mid-2026 its only scheduled passenger route was a Loganair service to London Heathrow, itself due to end on 18 September 2026; seasonal Loganair services to Kirkwall and Sumburgh also operate. Confirm current scheduled routes before relying on this airport for a St Andrews trip.
- Duration
- Around 30 to 40 minutes
- Cost
- N/A (own vehicle)
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
Accessibility Facilities
West Sands beach wheelchairs
West Sands, St Andrews
Free rental of specially adapted beach-friendly wheelchairs is available locally for West Sands; confirm current booking arrangements before visiting.
Parking
Parking options in and around St Andrews. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.
Fife Council pay-and-display car parks
Confirm current tariffs with Fife Council before travelling; rates are reviewed periodically. Main town-centre car parks include Murray Place and Argyle Street; Fife Council's central enquiries number for parking is 0345 155 0000. The old town's narrow streets are not built for casual driving; park at the edge and walk in, especially during golf season and University graduation weeks.
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