St. Andrews luggage storage

About St Andrews 

Situated on the Fife Coast just 10 miles from Dundee and 30 miles north of Edinburgh, St Andrews is one of the most popular day trip destinations in Scotland. Its historic town center is famous for its historical landmarks like St. Andrews Castle, and the ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral along with various monuments memorializing the town’s fascinating history. The University of St Andrews is one of the oldest academic institutions in the English-speaking world, and its libraries house a revered collection of ancient texts and priceless artifacts. 

While the town’s history is as vital to the experience as you can ask for, this town is most famous for being the “birthplace of golf.” While the origins of the sport are up for debate, the town’s Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the key settings for golf. The club’s Old Course is one of the true golf destinations for both spectators and players, with golfers from around the world traveling to this unassuming town for a chance at 18 holes on this windswept links course. 

Outside of golf, the lovely coastline around St Andrews is lined with beaches and lovely hiking terrain for spending time outdoors. It makes sense that so many international travelers (golfers or not) would make St Andrews a stop on a trip through either Edinburgh or Dundee. A weekend here represents a small-town experience in Scotland along with some impressive sightseeing and even more impressive golfing. 

Here’s everything you need to know about St Andrews:

 Does St Andrews bus station have lockers?

Unfortunately, the transit facilities in St Andrews are fairly bare-bones when it comes to amenities like luggage lockers. 

Can I store luggage at a hotel if I'm not staying there?

It depends entirely on the hotel, but it’s generally very rare for a hotel concierge desk to take bags of non-guests. They generally ask for a reservation confirmation or other customer information when accepting belongings. Because this is generally a complimentary perk (save for the customary tip), hotels are only obliged to take the bags of guests. You can always call ahead to see if a nearby hotel can look after your bags, and if there will be a fee.

How do you store luggage in St Andrews?  

 If you need luggage storage in St Andrews, there will be a few options like a hotel concierge or a museum cloakroom. However, the easiest way to store your luggage in St Andrews is through a service like Bounce. Our luggage storage network has locations throughout Scotland, including ones serving St Andrews. With Bounce’s mobile app, you can find the closest location to where you’re heading and book ahead of time.

How to get to St Andrews 

• Bus: There is a small bus network serving St Andrews, but the vast majority of international travelers won’t need to rely on it. St Andrews Bus Station, situated in the town center, provides connections to other towns in Fife and Edinburgh. The most common route is the X59/X24 bus from Halbeath, where travelers arrive via train from Edinburgh. This isn't the most efficient way to get there as it takes almost an entire day.
• Train: Unfortunately, there aren't any train stations in St Andrews.
• Taxi and rideshare: There are taxis that operate in St Andrews and will be easily hailed from pubs, local hotels, student accommodation, or restaurants in town. Rideshare services like Uber also operate in the city. A ride generally costs between $10 and $20 for most short trips around town. 
• Walking: Being fairly compact, the town is incredibly walkable. Most restaurants, pubs, and attractions will be within a 10-15 minute walk from the city center (generally considered the area around the University of St Andrews). 
• Driving: Renting a car is incredibly popular for many international travelers looking to hit multiple towns in Scotland. There are reliable bus networks and trains, but many of the country’s top attractions, including the ones in St Andrews, aren’t directly accessible via public transportation. It’s the most efficient way to get around, especially given that parking in Scotland is generally very convenient. 

How to get to St Andrews from Edinburgh Airport 

Most international travelers will fly into Edinburgh Airport and rent a car or hop on a tour group (usually traveling by shuttle bus). There is an option for getting to St Andrews without renting a car, but it’s not the most efficient way. You can take the train from Edinburgh to nearby Leuchars and then take a 10-minute taxi ride to St Andrews which will cost less than $40. This way takes just a few hours.

Things to do near St Andrews

Take a deep dive into Scottish golf culture 

You don’t have to be a golf junkie to sense that this sport is a big deal in St Andrews. Regardless of whether or not you play, the main reason you know about St Andrews will undoubtedly come down to its revered place in the sport’s culture.

The town has seven links-style golf courses that are widely considered some of the best in the world. There are several that are open to the public that are “bucket list” courses. The Old Course, New Course, Jubilee, Eden, Strathtyrum, Balgove, and Castle courses are all scattered around St Andrews. The most famous is the Old Course, which you’ll know as the home of the Open Champion, one of the premier golfing events. You can book rounds at these courses, based on availability. Multiple companies in St Andrews rent out equipment to travelers.

The British Golf Museum is also (fittingly) located in St Andrews and can be toured in an hour or so. You’ll find early artifacts from the sport’s origins on the Scottish highlands along with detailed exhibits shedding light on how your fad’s favorite pastime came to be. 

St Andrews Castle

Easily the most notable landmark unrelated to the sport of golf, St Andrews Castle was built in the 12th century alongside the cathedral. Together, these two were cornerstones of the prosperous town as it was a center of religious life in Scotland.

The castle was where the Scottish archbishops and bishops would reside and govern churches around the country. The Scottish Reformation ended this forever, and the political and cultural upheaval that followed eventually saw the castle as the setting for some gruesome battles and events. Some politically motivated murders and even a siege took place that saw the town sustain heavy damage. Much of this has contributed to St Andrews being overtaken by other cities to remain a smaller settlement.

It’s a fascinating history that explains Scottish history through an interesting context. The castle itself remains as formidable as it was during its prime, and you can tour the battlements and even dungeons. Most travelers visiting St Andrews start at the castle before exploring the rest of the town.

St Andrews Botanic Garden

Situated further inland from the town center along the Kinness Burn River, this wonderful botanic garden spans over 18 acres and features a wide array of greenery from both Scotland and abroad. With a naturally woodsy setting, this University-led organization has imported an enviable assortment of exotic plants from countries around the globe while also showcasing the natural beauty of Scottish flora. Across the beautiful grounds, there are over 8,000 unique species of plants featured in the different themed zones and two massive greenhouses. 

St Andrews Cathedral 

This 12th-century church was once the largest structure in all of Scotland and attracted masses of religious travelers who made pilgrimages to visit.

It was by far the most important place in St Andrews for almost seven centuries before the Scottish Reformation upturned the country's religious and cultural landscapes. Catholic mass was banned throughout the country, and the building was never repurposed, eventually becoming a hollowed-out shell of its former glory.

To call it a ruin is not hyperbole, all that remains of this glorious cathedral are the stone structures. It’s fit enough to visit and tour, as the hauntingly beautiful bones of this old cathedral, with the dreary Scottish countryside in its background, make for a stunning image. You can still climb the bell tower for stellar views of the coastline and town. One part of the cathedral has been turned into a museum where you can admire a few of the artifacts that were recovered from before the Reformation.

Luggage storage near St Andrews

The vast majority of travelers end up in St Andrews on a day trip from either Edinburgh or Dundee. Many of these folks will have rented a car or are on a tour group through Scotland. However you get to St Andrews, you might end up needing a place to store the bags while you play a round of golf or tour St Andrews Castle. Being a smaller town, you won’t have as many options as you will in Edinburgh or Glasgow, so using an international luggage storage network like Bounce is easily your best bet. With secure facilities in convenient locations, it’s easy to trust your belongings with Bounce storage spots. It’s even easier to find them via the Bounce mobile app! With key features, your trip to St Andrews will be a breeze. Disclaimer: reliable luggage storage doesn’t make you a better golfer…