Visit St Andrews Castle
Visit St Andrews Castle

Visit St Andrews Castle

Explore these striking ruins set against the rocky coastline of St Andrews! Once the seat of Scotland’s leading Bishops, St Andrews Castle dates all the way back to the middle ages and has been home to some of the most influential figures in the Scottish church. Caught in the turbulent reformation, this castle was the site of the dramatic siege of 1546-7 after Cardinal Beaton was assassinated by Protestant nobles in retaliation for his brutal execution of the Protestant preacher George Wishart. If you want to know more about the castle’s sordid history in the violent power struggle between Catholics and protestants, then pick up one of their audio guides.

Where can I learn more about St Andrews' history?

St Andrews Castle played a crucial role in Scotland's history and was once the epicentre of the Scottish church.

Whilst it was initially completed in 1202, the castle suffered significant damage during the wars of independence with England and had to be substantially rebuilt in 1385. Left to ruin after the reformation, much of the castle has long since collapsed into the sea, but what remains is still worth a visit for those interested in St Andrews’ history.

  • Open daily 1 April to 30 September: 9.30 am to 5 pm, 1 October to 31 March: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Toilets (including disabled toilets) onsite
  • No dogs (apart from guide dogs)

The castle itself is temporarily closed due to masonry inspections but the visitor centre is still open.

Things to do in St Andrews

Visit Jannetta’s Gelateria in St. Andrews

Jannettas in St Andrews in the premier place to eat delicious desserts but more specifically ice cream. On your visit to St Andrews make sure to visit this ice cream shop. It’s perfect to get a scoop or a cone on a ...

Visit the Ruins of St Andrews Cathedral

Once the largest church in Scotland, what remains of St Andrews Cathedral is impressive even in its ruined state with a remarkable collection of medieval statues and stunning views of the coast and Fife. Wander its crumbled walls and soak up the ...

The Fraser Art Gallery in St Andrews

The Fraser Art Gallery is one of Scotland’s oldest privately owned galleries, having first opened its doors 150 years ago. It’s been under the ownership of the Fraser family since day 1, with the family also running successful galleries in Edinburgh and ...

Get spooked on a real Ghost Tour of St Andrews

If you are a fan of the supernatural or paranormal activity then is Ghost tours in St Andrews for you? Would you enjoy tours around the historic and beautiful seaside town of St Andrews? – If you answered yes to any of ...

Take a Food & Drink Tour of St Andrews

Want to find the best food in St Andrews but don’t know where to start? Book one of Eat Walk’s daily tours and experience the wide range of delicious food this coastal gem has to offer. You’ll visit five different places for ...

Take a Life Drawing or Painting Class in St Andrews

Get creative with one of Jaclyn Stewart’s life drawing classes at Eden Art in St Andrews! Running 8-10 week blocks of life drawing, landscape oil painting, and portraiture, this is a great course to sign up for if you want to commit ...

Enjoy a Bowie themed dining experience at Ziggy’s

Ziggy’s is a dining experience themed and named after pop culture icon David Bowie. The restaurant is named after Bowie’s alien genderbending Rockstar alter-ego Ziggy Stardust who is a character that starred in Bowie’s essential album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy ...

Visit the Bell Pettigrew Natural History Museum at St Andrews University

Take a journey through the animal kingdom with the Bell Pettigrew Museum’s incredible collection of skeletons, taxidermy, fossils, insects and more! This lesser-known natural history museum is well worth a visit for anyone interested in natural sciences or the study of animals ...

Explore the Aquarium in St Andrews

Take a deep breath and get ready to plunge into a day filled with fun and discovery, as you visit St Andrews Aquarium! Visitors can immerse themselves in the magical underwater world on display at the aquarium, with so many improvements made ...

The Sproson Art Gallery in St Andrews

Sproson Gallery & Framers first opened its doors in 1981, when the shop operated as a bespoke custom picture framing business. Since then, the business has branched out and blossomed into a free art gallery, offering tourists and residents alike the chance ...

Visit the World Golf Museum in St Andrews

Discover the origins of golf at the World Golf museum in St Andrews – the birthplace of the sport! This five-star attraction is a must-visit for any golfers, fans of the sport or historians. With six different interactive sections for you to ...

British Golf Museum in St Andrews

Interested in learning about the history of Scotland’s beloved game while also taking in the incredible ocean view? Come and surround yourself with the beautiful sights of St Andrews, uncovering the heritage of Golf and learning about its relationship with St Andrews. ...
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