Weather in St Andrews

About St Andrews

St Andrews is golf's spiritual home, a medieval university town where championship links stretch along golden sands. The town's red-roofed cottages, castle ruins, and windswept beach create romance. Even non-golfers feel the pilgrimage energy here.

Country

United Kingdom

Best months to visit

Year-round

Currency

GBP

Language

English

Things to do in St Andrews

Play golf at St Andrews Old Course (or watch) Tour St Andrews Castle and Cathedral ruins Walk the West Sands beach (Chariots of Fire) Explore the medieval university town Visit the golf museums Browse independent bookshops and pubs

Weather by month

Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.

January

Cold, with some rainy days.

February

Cold, with some rainy days.

March

Cold, with some rainy days.

April

10C

Cool, with occasional showers.

May

13C

Cool, with some rainy days.

June

16C

Cool, with some rainy days.

July

18C

Mild and comfortable, with regular rainfall.

August

18C

Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.

September

16C

Cool, with some rainy days.

October

13C

Cool, with some rainy days.

November

Cold, with regular rainfall.

December

Cold, with regular rainfall.

St Andrews is golf's spiritual home — the Old Course's stone bridge and rolling fairways have hosted the sport for over 600 years, and you can walk the 18th green for free at the end of a day's play. Beyond the links, it's a small, salt-air university town of ruined cathedral towers, sandy West Sands beach (of Chariots of Fire fame), and cobbled streets that feel more like a film set than a working town.

Best areas to stay in St Andrews

Old Town & University

The historic core around the cathedral ruins and cobbled streets of St Andrews University, Scotland's oldest.

The Links & West Sands

Home to the Old Course and the long sandy beach made famous by Chariots of Fire.

Cathedral & Harbour

Atmospheric ruins overlooking a small working harbour and coastal path.

South Street

The town's main shopping and dining street, lined with independent shops and pubs.

Getting to St Andrews

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Flights

Edinburgh Airport is the nearest major airport, around 1.5 hours away by car or train/bus combination.

⏱

From London

~1.5 hours from Edinburgh by train (to Leuchars) plus a short bus or taxi transfer.

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Getting around

The town centre is compact and entirely walkable; buses connect to Leuchars station and nearby towns.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit St Andrews?

May to September brings the best weather and longest days, though spring and autumn are quieter and still pleasant for walking the courses and coastline.

Can anyone play the Old Course?

Yes, in theory — tee times are allocated via a daily ballot, advance booking, or through a tour operator, though demand is extremely high in peak season.

What else is there to do besides golf?

The ruined St Andrews Cathedral and Castle, the British Golf Museum, West Sands beach, and the cobbled lanes of the university town all reward a wander even if you never pick up a club.

How do I get to St Andrews?

The nearest train station is Leuchars, a short bus or taxi ride away, with regular connections to Edinburgh (around 1.5 hours) and onward to the rest of Scotland.

Is St Andrews expensive?

Accommodation can be pricey during golf tournaments and graduation weeks, but the town itself is small enough that budget cafes and B&Bs are easy to find off-peak.

Traveler reviews

★★★★★

Walked the Old Course on a quiet evening and stood on the Swilcan Bridge — incredible even for a non-golfer. The cathedral ruins and beach made for a perfect half-day add-on.

Graham P. · June 2024

★★★★★

Loved the small-town feel mixed with golfing history. West Sands beach at sunset was one of the highlights of our whole Scotland trip.

Lena K. · September 2023

★★★★☆

Got into the Old Course ballot on our second attempt — book accommodation early as everything fills up around tournament dates.

Robert D. · May 2024