Getting There and Away

Written by Graham Smith, Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans, Karen Price

28/08/2025

Drone shot showcasing the historical ruins of St Andrews Castle, Fife, Scotland. — Valentine Kulikov, Pexels

St Andrews itself does not feature a railway station; the nearest is Leuchars, located approximately six miles north of the town. However, a central bus station in St Andrews on Station Road serves as a key hub for local and regional bus services. For air travel, the closest international airports include Edinburgh Airport, situated about 50 miles away, Glasgow Airport, roughly 90 miles distant, and the more proximate Dundee Airport, approximately 15 miles from St Andrews.

By Air:

* **Edinburgh Airport (EDI):** * **Bus:** A direct Stagecoach 787 service operates from Edinburgh Airport to Halbeath Park and Ride, offering connections to St Andrews. This journey typically spans approximately 1 hour 45 minutes and costs between £11-£20. Scheduled shuttle services also provide direct transfers, usually taking about 1 hour 20 minutes. * **Train/Tram & Bus:** Travelers can take a tram from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh Gateway or Haymarket, then a train to Leuchars. From Leuchars, frequent local buses (including services F1, F2, 23A, 72, 96, 96A, 99, 99A & 99B by Stagecoach, and Service 92 by Moffat & Williamson) or taxis complete the journey to St Andrews. This multi-modal route can take approximately 1 hour 35 minutes. * **Car Rental/Taxi:** Driving from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrews usually takes between 1 hour 1 minute and 1 hour 20 minutes. Taxis and private transfer services are available, though taxi fares tend to be higher. * **Glasgow Airport (GLA):** * **Bus:** Take a shuttle bus or taxi from the airport to Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station. From there, hourly Stagecoach X24 services provide transport to St Andrews. This journey, including transfers, typically takes around 3 hours 8 minutes and can cost between £11-£20. * **Car Rental/Taxi:** The drive from Glasgow Airport to St Andrews is approximately 1 hour 37 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. Pre-booked taxis or minibuses offer the fastest direct travel. * **Dundee Airport (DND):** * **Bus:** Connecting bus services, such as the 16B followed by the 99, can transport travelers from Dundee Airport to St Andrews in roughly 50 minutes, with fares ranging from €5-€8. * **Taxi/Private Transfer:** A taxi service from Dundee Airport to St Andrews takes approximately 23-30 minutes and typically costs between €40-€50.

By Train:

* Leuchars is the closest railway station to St Andrews, situated about six miles away. Direct train services connect Leuchars with major Scottish cities such as Edinburgh (Waverley and Haymarket), Dundee, and Aberdeen, as well as London. * **From Edinburgh:** Trains from Edinburgh Waverley to Leuchars generally take between 1 hour 10 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes, with fares from £10-£21. Booking in advance can secure tickets from £4.50. * **From London:** Direct services, including LNER and Caledonian Sleeper, operate to Leuchars, with journey times ranging from 5 hours 30 minutes to 7 hours 2 minutes. Tickets can start from £44.00 when booked early. * **From Leuchars to St Andrews:** Frequent bus services operate every 5-20 minutes, connecting Leuchars station to St Andrews Bus Station in about 12 minutes, costing £2-£4. Taxis are also readily available, offering a journey time of approximately 9 minutes at a cost of £14-£18. Combined rail and bus tickets for onward travel to St Andrews are available for purchase.

By Bus:

* St Andrews Bus Station is conveniently located in the town centre. * **From Edinburgh:** Direct Stagecoach Express City Connect services (X59/X59A and X60) link Edinburgh Bus Station to St Andrews. The journey typically lasts between 1 hour 51 minutes and 2 hours. A Fife Dayrider Plus ticket, valid for return travel, costs £11.50, with single fares around £9.50. * **From Glasgow:** Buses from Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station to St Andrews, such as the Stagecoach X24, have an average duration of 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 18 minutes, with tickets starting from approximately $6 (€4). * **From Dundee:** Frequent Stagecoach bus services (e.g., 42A, 99) connect Dundee to St Andrews. A direct bus to areas like Strathtyrum Golf Course takes about 28-44 minutes and costs £2-£4.

By Car:

* Car rental services are accessible at Scottish airports and within St Andrews. * **Driving Times:** From Edinburgh, the drive to St Andrews is approximately 1 hour 1 minute to 1 hour 20 minutes. From Glasgow, the journey typically takes around 1 hour 37 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. From Dundee, the drive is considerably shorter, at approximately 23-30 minutes. * **Important Note:** Driving in Scotland requires adherence to left-hand side traffic. Minimum age requirements for car rentals generally start from 21 or 25, and younger drivers may incur additional surcharges.

Check out our other pages on St Andrews

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