WHY?

Want to get in the swing? The historic seaside town of St Andrews is famous as the home of golf, as well as for its ancient university, where of course Prince William met Kate when they were students here. It is a beautiful place – the opening scene of Chariots of Fire was filmed on the glorious West Sands. International golfers and students give the bustling town a cultural and lively vibe, with plenty of great places to eat and drink. Living here doesn’t come cheap, but this is a coastal town that punches well above its weight.

EAT

THE SEAFOOD ristorante ST ANDREWS FIFE SCOTLAND — The Seafood Ristorante

You won’t be spoilt for top nosh here, and often with great views. The Seafood Ristorante offers fresh fish and sea vistas while Rusack’s 18 and The Bridge look over the famous Old Course. Newcomer Seaton House (formerly The Scores) has a seafood restaurant, Ondine Oyster and Grill, perched above West Sands beach, as well as The Board Room, Scotland’s first premier charcuterie restaurant. Other popular eateries include The Adamson – if you like the cocktails here you can sign up to a masterclass in how to make them – while 3AA Rosettes Haar is fab for fine dining. Michelin-starred The Peat Inn isn’t far out of town. For brunch or lunch, we love Forgans or Hotel Du Vin Bistro, and there are many cafés like Bibi’s and MacGregor. The innovative farm shop The Balgove has tastings and markets.

The Central Bar is an institution for socialising with students and international tourists, while head to Bow Butts Bar, The Physician or One Under Bar for cocktails or fine whiskies. In this seaside town, it’s not surprising to find an abundance of fish and chip shops and cool ice cream parlours: try Janettas for up to 52 award-winning flavours including Irn Bru, or Nardini’s and Luvians.

SHOP

St Andrews has its fair share of high street stores including Fat Face, White Stuff and Joules, plus there are loads of great indies, including bookshops, galleries and gift shops like Bonkers or Reigning Cats and Dogs. Golfers are well catered for from clubs to sportswear and – maybe because of the chilly north-east breeze – there are a lot of knitwear shops such as Johnstons of Elgin, Amor and House of Cashmere. For indie fashion, visit Darling of St Andrews, Linsey’s Shoe Box, Millers Tale, Schmooz or Elspeth’s. For home furnishings, we like Farmore Interiors and Spoiled Life lifestyle store. Antiques, vintage and charity shops are all above par, and there is also a regular farmer’s market.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

With the range of luxury hotels here there are plenty of spas and fitness centres to choose from – check out the Old Course Hotel, the Fairmont St Andrews, or the latest to make a splash, GAIA at the recently renovated Kinnettles Hotel. The East Sands Leisure Centre has a pool, gym, aqua fun sessions and group fitness.

Old Course Hotel Kohler Spa St Andrews — The Old Course Hotel Kohler Spa

For walks, West Sands is a popular for a stroll along the shore and back, but for a challenge how about striding out along the Fife Coastal Path – or at least short sections if you can’t manage the full 117 miles?

You’ll want to sharpen up your swing if you are moving here – St Andrews is the home of golf and has no fewer than seven public courses and three championship courses, including the legendary Old Course, known as the ‘Old Lady’ and host to the Open Championship on many occasions. For something different, how about land yachting along the beach, or SUPer Tankers (group-sized stand up paddle boards) or a surf yoga and sauna day retreat, all with Blown Away? And if energetic dancing is your thing, check out the saturday night ceilidhs at Forgans. Count us in!

COMMUNITY

This is a close-knit community, and a great way to become part of it is to help out – volunteers are relied upon to run the University Museums as well as the Saints Sport programme and to help at St Andrews Botanic Gardens. Pipes and drums herald the St Andrews Highland Games, held at Station Park in July, while the oldest surviving medieval street fair takes place each year in August, when the five-day Lammas Market hits town with fair rides, stalls and street food. In October, spectators descend to watch the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and in March, there is a cocktail week (it’s in the diary!).

Every April, the Kate Kennedy Spring Procession remembers the rich history of St Andrews with over 100 characters in period attire – 2026 will be the 100th anniversary of this cherished tradition. The much younger Sands International Film Festival hosts three days of premieres, film-makers and cinema-goers in late April. Plus, of course, there is no better place to mark Patron Saint St Andrew’s Day, with the Big Hoolie and an outdoor ceilidh – despite being November.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Before its destruction during the reformation in the 16th century, St Andrews’ Cathedral was known as the ecclesiastical heart of Scotland, while the 13th-century castle was the focal point of the church in medieval times. Perhaps not surprising considering the ancient history, there are ghost tours and guided walks of the Old Course and the town. Swing by the R&A World Golf Museum to learn all about Scotland’s leading sport, while garden lovers will love the St Andrews Botanic Gardens and Cambo Estate, especially in springtime when there are great snowdrop displays.

Children will have fun at a choice of two beaches (East Sands or West Sands), St Andrews Aquarium, as well as nearby Craigtoun Park with its mix of crazy golf, tractor rides and miniature railway. Want to slow it down a bit? For seal spotting and seclusion, head to nearby Tentsmuir Nature Reserve for its stretch of sand as well as picnic areas under scented Scots pine trees. It’s rumoured that Prince William and Kate used to come here for some privacy.

CULTURE

The intimate Byre Theatre hosts touring shows including dance, drama, music and comedy, while Younger Hall Music Centre is a venue for professional and student-led musicals, classical, jazz and choir concerts. The New Picture House (although not all that new dating back to the 1930s) is currently under refurbishment in a project, interestingly backed by Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods, to transform it into a family-friendly sports and entertainment hub. Newly redeveloped you can discover the town’s past at the Heritage Museum, and there are exhibitions at the University’s Wardlaw Museum and Bell Pettigrew Museum of Natural History. Held annually in late June, the East Neuk Festival is a mix of art exhibitions and musical concerts held in the picturesque coastal fishing villages nearby.

AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES

St Andrews has been crowned for the second year running as Scotland’s most expensive coastal town, with the average home setting back buyers around £460,000, up eight percent on the previous year. Properties close to the Old Course regularly fetch more than £5m – even for flats.

HOT PROPERTY

This deceptively large Victorian end terrace in the heart of St Andrews on Kinburn Place could be yours for offers over £1,050,000 — This deceptively large Victorian end terrace in the heart of St Andrews on Kinburn Place could be yours for offers over £1.05m

NURSERIES

The University of St Andrews Nursery offers places to children of students, staff and local residents, while other facilities include Rainbow Childcare Fife, Acorn Day Nursery and St Andrews Playgroup.

SCHOOLS

There are plenty of good primary schools include Canongate, Lawhead and Greyfriars RC. Top state secondary schools in Fife include Madras College in St Andrews, Waid Academy in Anstruther and Bell Baxter High School in Cupar. If you are looking at independents, St Leonards is a well-respected coed day cum boarding school educating primary to sixth form students.

BEST KEPT SECRET

Donald Trump once tried to buy Hamilton Hall in St Andrews, an imposing 19th-century building with a roof-top terrace and panoramic views over the 18th green of the Old Course. Plans to turn it into the Trump Organisation’s first international hotel venture were scuppered when a Scottish bank turned down Trump’s request for a multi-million pound mortgage. Now one of the most exclusive hot property spots in Scotland, the luxury residences with butler service sell for millions to extremely wealthy golf enthusiasts and investors. Just need to wait for that lottery win…

COMMUTE

It’s easier than you may think to commute – the nearest international airport is Dundee, around a 30min drive, from where there are direct flights to London taking an average 1hr 45mins. The nearest train station is at Leuchars, five miles away, reached by bus, taxi or car; it’s around a 90min train ride to Edinburgh or 2hr 40mins to Glasgow. Dundee is a half-hour drive, Edinburgh 90 mins and Glasgow 1hr 45mins by car.

View the full Top 260 Best Places to Live.

St Andrews, Fife

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