Visiting St Andrews from Glasgow

12 December 2023

Searching for exciting day trip options from Glasgow? Explore the charming town of St Andrews, just about 70 miles away, with an approximate 1 hour 45 minutes drive. Renowned for its historic university and the birthplace of golf, St Andrews offers a variety of attractions for all ages and interests. Don’t miss out on a visit to Cromars Classic Fish and Chips, a local gem serving the best fish and chips in Scotland. Make your day memorable with a trip to St Andrews!

St Andrews' Castle grounds in bright winter sun
Ruins in St Andrews Castle.

Getting from Glasgow to St Andrews

Glasgow to St Andrews is easy to reach by car. The distance is just over 70 miles, heading north via the M80 with 1.45 hours of driving time. Get directions.

You can also get here by public transport. Hop on the train from Glasgow, change at Haymarket then again Leuchars, followed by a bus into St Andrews. This takes around 2 hours. Plan your journey.

West Sands Beach in St. Andrews, Scotland
The beautiful West Sands Beach.

Driving the Fife Coastal Route

If you prefer to take the scenic route, you can drive along the Fife Coastal Route. As you come off the M876 take to route to A985 and cross to Kincardine Bridge. Take a leisurely drive along the beautiful coastline to get to St Andrews – it’s about 2.5 hours away. You could even turn it into a memorable road trip, extending your adventure over a few days to explore charming fishing villages like Elie, St Monans, and Anstruther along the way.

Small harbour in Anstruther village, Fife.
Harbour view of Anstruther village, Fife.

Things to do in St Andrews

Once you’re here, there’s a ton of awesome stuff to check out. Dive into our guides for all the details!

  • Golf – St Andrews is the home of golf, with the iconic Old Course and the R&A World Golf Museum.
  • Beaches – There are three beautiful beaches in St Andrews, East Sands, West Sands and Castle Sands.
  • History – Home to the oldest university in Scotland and many historic castle sites.
  • Whisky – Visit local whisky distilleries, sample Scotland’s national drink and learn about its history.
  • Family-friendly – Bring the whole family along and enjoy museums, parks, aquariums, gardens and more.
Small tasting glasses with aged Scotch whisky on old dark wooden vintage table with barley grains close up.
Take a trip to a distillery for whisky tasting.

Cromars Fish Supper

Visit Cromars Classic Fish and Chips in St Andrews for a delightful fish supper! We use fresh Scottish ingredients, cooked to order. Our fish is handpicked in Peterhead by the expert fish merchant, JKT Fish. Enjoy home-cut chips from Ivan Wood and Sons in Ballingry and don’t miss our homemade tartare sauce with a secret recipe! Check out our menu for a variety of other chippy classics. We can’t wait to welcome you soon!