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1 / 6St Andrews is compact, coastal and famous the world over for golf and its medieval university town. Where you stay shapes the trip: the historic Old Town puts you in the thick of things on foot, the golf-focused streets near the Old Course carry a premium, and the surrounding beaches and Fife fishing villages trade centrality for calm and value. Here are the areas worth considering, with the honest trade-offs of each.
🏨Compare St Andrews hotel prices on Hotels.com →🧭Also compare on ExpediaTown Centre / Old Town (North Street, South Street, Market Street)
This is the historic heart of St Andrews: a medieval-and-Georgian core of cobbled streets threaded with the University, cafes, pubs and shops. It suits first-timers and anyone who wants to walk everywhere, since the Cathedral ruins, the Castle, St Salvator's Chapel and the restaurants of Market Street are all on the doorstep. Prices are mixed, so you can find both value rooms and smart hotels here. The trade-off is noise: the town is lively and Market Street in particular can be loud at night, so light sleepers may want a room set back from the street.
The Scores & Old Course district (incl. Murray Park / Murray Place)
Golfers wanting to be steps from the first tee gravitate here. The Scores is a prestigious cliff-top street, and the adjoining B&B streets of Murray Park and Murray Place hold a cluster of guest houses alongside landmark hotels. The mood is refined and firmly golf-focused, with the Old Course, the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse, West Sands Beach and the British Golf Museum all close by, and the Castle at the far end of The Scores. It is an upscale area, so expect to pay a premium for the location and prestige.
West Sands / Old Course Hotel side
Just off-centre, beside the vast dune-backed beach and the links, this side of town suits couples and golfers who want beach views and calm. It is quiet and scenic yet only a short walk into the centre, anchored by the resort hotel. You are right by West Sands (the Chariots of Fire beach), the Old Course, the Links courses and the Old Course Hotel spa. Like the golf streets, it sits at the upscale end, and being slightly out of the centre means a walk for the town's cafes and nightlife rather than having them at your door.
East Sands & Harbour
On the south side of town, East Sands is a more intimate, sheltered beach beside the working harbour. It is a good pick for families and anyone after a quieter seaside stay, staying calm at night with little bar or club noise and sitting close to the cathedral end of town. Nearby you have East Sands Beach, the harbour, St Andrews Cathedral and St Rule's Tower, the Pends and the East Sands Leisure Centre. Prices here are mid-range. The trade-off is that you are a little removed from the main run of shops and restaurants around Market Street.
West End (around Hepburn Gardens)
The West End, around Hepburn Gardens, is a quieter, leafy residential quarter on the western edge of town, home to larger guest houses. It is relaxed and away from the nightlife, which makes it a peaceful base for families and travellers who value calm, while still being walkable to the centre. Kinburn Park, the Kinnessburn walk and the University science campus are close, with the town centre and Old Course a 10-15 minute walk away. Prices are mid-range. The main trade-off is simply that gentle 10-15 minute walk into the heart of things.
East Neuk villages (Anstruther & Crail)
For budget-conscious visitors and anyone touring the Fife coast by car, the East Neuk fishing villages a short drive south of St Andrews are a lovely alternative. Anstruther and Crail offer picturesque harbours, seafood and coastal walks, and rooms are often cheaper than staying in town. Highlights include Anstruther's harbour and its award-winning fish and chips, the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Crail's harbour and the Fife Coastal Path. The honest catch is transport: you need a car (or to rely on buses) since you are staying outside St Andrews itself rather than within walking distance of the town.
How to choose
If it is your first visit and you want everything on foot, base yourself in the Old Town and accept a little night-time noise. Golfers who want to roll out of bed and onto the first tee should look at The Scores and the streets around the Old Course, or the West Sands side for beach views, both at a premium. Families and anyone after peace will be happier at East Sands by the harbour or in the leafy West End, both mid-priced and walkable. And if you are driving, exploring the coast and watching the budget, the East Neuk villages of Anstruther and Crail give you charm and value in exchange for needing a car.
FAQs
Where should I stay in St Andrews for my first visit? The Town Centre / Old Town is the natural choice, putting the Cathedral, Castle, University and Market Street's shops and restaurants all within an easy walk. Just be aware that the centre is lively and can be noisy at night.
Where is best to stay for golf at the Old Course? The Scores and Old Course district, including the guest-house streets of Murray Park and Murray Place, sit closest to the first tee, while the West Sands / Old Course Hotel side adds beach views. Both are upscale areas.
Is it cheaper to stay outside St Andrews? Yes, the East Neuk villages of Anstruther and Crail are often cheaper than staying in town and are only a short drive south. The trade-off is that you will need a car or buses to get in and around.
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