St Andrews, one of Scotlands many delightful historic towns has a lot more to offer than just golf. It is set in a superb coastal location, brimming with miles of golden sands and nature walks. St Andrews is convenient for Edinburgh, Dundee and indeed all main Scottish towns and cities. Architecturally it is incredible with a real historic feel and properties still lived in dating back to the 1500s, a famous university of course, Scotlands oldest, and a must visit' castle and cathedral.
The Albany Townhouse Hotel is situated right in the heart of historic St Andrews, in an elegant Georgian townhouse which dates from 1764. We are close to the Castle, Cathedral, University, cinema, shops and restaurants are only a short distance from the famous Golf courses. North Street is quiet yet centrally located, close to local amenities, bars, restaurants, cafes, shops and all that St Andrews has to offer.
We are surrounded by a plethora of great restaurants and eateries and are happy to make recommendations for your stay. 42 restaurants are situated within just 3 minutes walk of the hotel. St Andrews and North East Fife offer some superb places to eat out, whether you fancy fish and chips or fine dining, your choices are almost endless.
The Tailend Restaurant and Fish Bar
Little Italy
Playfairs Restaurant
The Adamson
Forgans
For more restaurants please click on the link below:
http://www.stayinstandrews.com/eating-out
One of the best things about our superb location, and about St Andrews in general, is that most attractions are within walking distance of each other so you can leave the car at home and enjoy a great day out on foot. And there is so much to do in the surrounding area of Fife, just check out the Visit Scotland video below;
Closer to home, Craigtoun country Meadows, The Eden Estuary and Tentsmuir Nature Reserve are great places to relax and enjoy the beauty of Nature. A short drive will take you to Falkland Palace, the Folk Museum, the Scottish Fisheries Museum, The Famous Secret Bunker, as well as many other stunning attractions. Click here for more possibilities in Fife.
St Andrews is well known for golf, but can also be well proud of its gardens.
We are one of the few St Andrews town centre hotels with a delightful little walled garden and patio. The nearby St Andrews Botanic Garden has often been described as a real 'hidden gem' of Scotland. Close by enjoy Cambo Gardens or NTS Hill of Tarvit mansion house gardens and Kellie castle – a completely organic garden.
Craigtoun Country Park and the Eden Estuary Nature Reserve are great places to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. A short drive will take you to Falkland Palace, the Fife Folk Museum and the Scottish Fisheries Museum as well as many other stunning attractions.
Explore this beautiful and inspirational 18-acre garden set in the heart of historic St Andrews. This horticultural gem is a must see, enjoy the rare and unusual set amongst mature trees and shrubs, waterfall and ponds, amazing rock and peat gardens, herb garden, fine herbaceous border and extensive glasshouses.
Cambo walled garden attracts many visitors throughout all the seasons; enjoy woodland walks by the burn in this Victorian walled garden with a modern twist.
Hill of Tarvit Mansion house is home to a fabulous collection of locally influenced furniture, porcelain and art and is one of Scotland's finest Edwardian mansion houses.
The house is Surrounded by 279 acres of gardens, woods, open heath and parkland to explore.
One of the main attractions of this property is the original 9-hole hickory golf course. Turn back the clock and enjoy the game as it was played in Edwardian times.
A few yards from the famous Old course you can find the British Golf Museum with over 500 years of golfing history on display.
The museum also boasts a spectacular café on the roof serving local produce with views of the 1st tee of the famous Old Course.
These spectacular ruins of St Andrews Castle give you an idea of how impressive the once largest church of Scotland used to be.
The site includes the Cathedral museum which is home to a collection of medieval sculptures as well as St Rules tower. Climb to the top of this impressive structure and enjoy the stunning views over St Andrews and the surrounding Fife Countryside.
Dating in part from the 13th century the castle is the ruins of the castle of the archbishops of St Andrews.
The visitor centre has a very good exhibition of the history of the town and the underground 16th-century siege tunnels are well worth a look.
St Andrews Museum is a stunning Victorian mansion which explores the heritage of this university town from its medieval past to the flourishing present.
The museum hosts a series of exciting temporary exhibitions and events including talks, concerts and children's workshops.
Fife Coastal Path is an experience not to be missed! The path runs from the Forth Estuary in the south, to the Tay Estuary in the north and stretches for 117 miles. The path is clearly waymarked and is suitable for all levels of walkers.
Take in the award winning beaches, rugged cliffs and the small fishing villages on this path which has something for everyone.
Enjoy a variety of beach based activities with this mobile outdoor experience company who are regularly based on West Sands in St Andrews.
Blown away offer a range of activities such as beach kayaking, stand up paddling and land yachting.
Perfect for beginners and experienced shooters, the centre has fantastic facilities with fully qualified instructors to ensure you have a great day.
Below are some useful links to help you plan your stay with us here at the Albany Hotel:
The essential visitor guide to St Andrews
Tourist and travel guide to St Andrews
University of St Andrews website
What's on in St Andrews
Please note that parking in many other parts of town is extremely limited and you will need to purchase parking tickets from the road-side machines in order to avoid a fine from the local traffic wardens. These parking restrictions are enforced from 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday but parking is free thereafter.
Free parking is available on North Street from St Salvators' to the Cathedral and also directly outside the Hotel.
The local bus/coach provider is Stagecoach. Local buses run fairly frequently between St Andrews and Edinburgh, Dundee and Leuchars the nearest railway station.
For local timetable information see: www.stagecoachbus.com.
If you would like a transfer from an airport to the hotel, we can arrange a car or minibus to pick you up.
Alternatively, if you wish to arrange your own transport then we can recommend the following suppliers:
St Andrews Taxi Service
Fife Shuttle
The Albany Hotel benefits from our town centre location. We are 10 minutes walk from the Bus Station, and 15 minutes drive from Leuchars Train Station. St Andrews is approximately a 1 hour drive from Edinburgh Airport. Please see our Directions page for further information on how to find us.
