St Andrews Cathedral
St Andrews Cathedral
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Please be aware there are a number of access restrictions in place at the cathedral at the moment. We know that this will be disappointing for visitors, but we are maintaining access where we can. Due to essential maintenance, St Rule's Tower is currently closed (anticipated reopening spring 2024). Sections of the graveyard are fenced off due to unstable gravestones. The remains of St Andrews Cathedral, which was Scotland’s largest cathedral and most magnificent church, show how impressive it used to be. The museum houses an outstanding collection of early and later medieval sculptures and other relics found on the site, including the magnificent St Andrews Sarcophagus of Pictish date. The precinct walls are particularly well preserved. St Rule's Tower, in the precinct, is part of the first church of the Augustinian canons at St Andrews built in the early 12th century. There are splendid views from the top.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,999 reviews
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690
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Redkitewatcher64
Andover, UK2,219 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
Walked around this site on a day trip to St Andrews. Beautiful site right next to the sea. Its huge, and must have been very impressive in its hayday , with the ruins and graveyard covering a large area. Its currently free to entry the site as the museum is closed for refurbishment although you can leave a donation. There are a few information boards but not really a lot of information about the site. Sadly much of the graveyard is now closed off with huge security fences due to some of the stones being unstable . One of the graves you can see is of Tommy Morris one of the pioneers of Scottish golf
Written 21 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DeanMurphy2020
Orlando, FL7,774 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
This cathedral lying in ruins in Fife, Scotland was constructed in 1158, 334 years before Columbus invaded the Caribbean islands. It was Scotland’s central Medieval Catholic Church and the seat of St Andrews Archdiocese controlled by St Andrews bishops. The footprint of the structure is 390 feet long, and is the largest church ever constructed in Scotland. It fell into ruin after Catholic mass was outlawed during Scottish Reformation in the early-to-mid 1500s. as part of the wider Protestant Reformation. Scottish scholars were influenced by Martin Luther’s teachings. In 1560, a group of Scottish nobles gained control of the government, which largely was controlled by the Catholic church. The Reformation reject papal supremacy.
All that is architectural and religious history. The grounds are lovely, with sturdy stone walls protruding from the grass almost as a beacon to history buffs. On a pleasant day, plan to spend a leisurely respite here and at the castle ruins. The water views are phenomenal.
All that is architectural and religious history. The grounds are lovely, with sturdy stone walls protruding from the grass almost as a beacon to history buffs. On a pleasant day, plan to spend a leisurely respite here and at the castle ruins. The water views are phenomenal.
Written 26 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claire N
107 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
A magnificent cathedral in ruin.
The site in relatively big and quite impressive. There are some informations boards regularly through but not quite enough to fully understand the extent of this building.
A lot of the thumbs are fenced off due to being unstable. And you can not visit the tower due to repair. Therefore the entrance is free.
I was disappointed that the shop was closed when we went as it would have been good to get some more information about the site itself.
Other than that a good visit.
The site in relatively big and quite impressive. There are some informations boards regularly through but not quite enough to fully understand the extent of this building.
A lot of the thumbs are fenced off due to being unstable. And you can not visit the tower due to repair. Therefore the entrance is free.
I was disappointed that the shop was closed when we went as it would have been good to get some more information about the site itself.
Other than that a good visit.
Written 29 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
helstravels
Redcar, UK894 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Free to enter the grounds although there was a charge for a museum it was currently closed for updates.
Quite a large site with plenty of information boards giving size and hse of the building as it was originally.
Pleasant to walk around and very popular with international. Tourists.
Well worth a visit if you are in the area.
Quite a large site with plenty of information boards giving size and hse of the building as it was originally.
Pleasant to walk around and very popular with international. Tourists.
Well worth a visit if you are in the area.
Written 20 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DebM908
Bedford200 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
We stopped at the tourist center in St Andrews and was told about these ruins. We went to this town to see the Old Golf Course but these ruins are spectacular to see.
So much history here. There was no charge to go in but they were asking for donations. The people at the entry were very knowledgable and eager to tell you about this site . Thanks to them for all the information they provided us.
This site is very old .You can see the outline of the walls of the original church which lay outside the left wall of the ruins . Although this site in under repair with some areas closed off it does not take away the beauty of it .
I would highly recommend seeing this site.
So much history here. There was no charge to go in but they were asking for donations. The people at the entry were very knowledgable and eager to tell you about this site . Thanks to them for all the information they provided us.
This site is very old .You can see the outline of the walls of the original church which lay outside the left wall of the ruins . Although this site in under repair with some areas closed off it does not take away the beauty of it .
I would highly recommend seeing this site.
Written 15 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ck_Nest
Kennesaw, GA741 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
This is one of the must go places in Scotland if you are a history buff or Christian. The size is something else.
It’s sad to think of all the bad things that happened here.
This was the finish of a pilgrimage for me and a fitting place to end.
It’s sad to think of all the bad things that happened here.
This was the finish of a pilgrimage for me and a fitting place to end.
Written 16 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JMK
10 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We visited both the Cathedral and Castle. There are charges to get into the castle grounds via the museum but you can walk the Cathedral grounds free of charge. There is a charge for the Cathedral museum but we only did the Castle museum. There is a lovely walk along the cliff from the Castle to the Cathedral and you can walk to the harbour too.
Written 7 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JulienRose
Turin, Italy1,493 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
We visited St. Andrew's Cathedral during a stop on our road tour in Scotland. Entrance is free but it is possible to visit, for a fee, a part where ancient tombs are preserved.
I would have been pleased to find more detailed information on the history of this place (not necessarily in Italian, although it would have been greatly appreciated). What we understand from the video is that it was a very famous Cathedral in history, similar to what Notre Dame de Paris is for us. Unmissable if you are in these parts!
I would have been pleased to find more detailed information on the history of this place (not necessarily in Italian, although it would have been greatly appreciated). What we understand from the video is that it was a very famous Cathedral in history, similar to what Notre Dame de Paris is for us. Unmissable if you are in these parts!
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,135 contributions
Sept 2020
Once Scotland's greatest church building. Now it's a ruin, but what a postcard picture perfect ruin. The east and west towers are two of the greatest structures still standing and the isolated remains served to magnify the brilliance of the Gothic architecture.
The ground of cathedral are free to enter, you only have to pay if you want to visit the museum. The ticket would normally get you into St Rule's Tower as well, but that's not possible right now due to social distancing rules. The museum is not extensive, but does exhibit some of the best preserved elements from the ruin, history of the building and local history. Some of the best exhibits in the museum are the coffins which for me was the bizarre fascination with displaying death.
The ground of cathedral are free to enter, you only have to pay if you want to visit the museum. The ticket would normally get you into St Rule's Tower as well, but that's not possible right now due to social distancing rules. The museum is not extensive, but does exhibit some of the best preserved elements from the ruin, history of the building and local history. Some of the best exhibits in the museum are the coffins which for me was the bizarre fascination with displaying death.
Written 13 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WHY
6 contributions
Aug 2022
Only by walking through the ruins of this once great cathedral can you get an idea of how large it was. The museum exhibits go from stones of the Picts to Post Reformation and are well described. It is worth paying the entry charge for this.
Written 4 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it possible to visit the Cathedral in the evening after 6 pm? Thank you!
Written 15 April 2019
are the castle and cathedral open on sundays ?
Written 16 June 2016
St Andrews Castle and Cathedral are both open on Sundays
The summer opening hours are 9:30 - 5:30 Monday to Sunday. (last entry 5pm)
Written 16 June 2016
Good Evening. How long should we allow ourselves to enjoy the Cathedral and the Castle.
Kind Regards
Written 22 April 2016
Late answer for other future visitors: about an hour should be fine. This includes checking the grounds and climbing the tower. The Castle is within 5 minutes walk, right next to a beach.
Written 10 September 2017
Good evening, how much does it costs to go up the tower please ?
Written 11 June 2015
Hello, thank you for your enquiry. Entry to St Andrews Cathedral is as follows: Adult £4.50, Child £2.70 and Concession £3.60. This includes access to St Rule's Tower. Please note that in high winds the tower may be closed at short notice.
A joint ticket for St Andrews Cathedral and St Andrews Castle is: Adult £8.00, Child £4.80, Concession £6.40.
Enjoy your visit to St Andrews!
Written 12 June 2015
Kelly B
Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom
Are you allowed to take dogs with you to veiw the ruins?
Written 23 January 2015
Good Afternoon Kelly,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Unfortunately dogs are not permitted at this site.
Kind Regards
Written 6 February 2015
Kelly B
Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom
Are you allowed to take dogs with you to veiw the ruins?
Written 23 January 2015
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