The Town

The Cathedral & St Rule's Tower

The cathedral was started in the mid 12th century, but was not consecrated until 1320. Throughout the Middle Ages St Andrews was a religious centre visited by many pilgrims.

The cathedral is open to the public and looked after by Historic Scotland.

The Castle

St Andrews Castle was the former Bishops' Palace, the residence of the Archbishops of St Andrews. Its oldest remains date from around 1200.

The University

The University of St Andrews was founded in 1411 and is the oldest in Scotland, and the third oldest in the UK. It now has 7000 students and an international reputation.

Links with Royalty

St Andrews has long been a resort for royalty. Mary, Queen of Scots, made several visits to play golf in the 16th Century. Today Prince Andrew, a keen golfer and former captain of the R&A, is a regular visitor and his nephew, Prince William has studied at the University.

The Duke of York, later King George VI, was captain of the R & A in 1930. Here, he poses for a photograph with the club's honorary professional, Andrew Kirkcaldy (to the right).

Town Expansion

During the 1850s the city began to thrive and expand. In 1852 the first steam train arrived, fuelling the growth of the town as a holiday destination. Since the start of the 20th century St Andrews has doubled in size to its current population of nearly 15,000 plus 7,000 students.

The Castle Course

As the town has grown, so has the demand to play on St Andrews Links. The Trust has developed a seventh golf course in order to meet the demand for golf from both local residents, students and visitors.

The Castle Course was designed by Scottish architect David McLay Kidd and was officially opened by the Duke of York in 2008.