Travelling to St. Andrews

Almost all participants will find it convenient to travel via Edinburgh, whether they come by car, by air or by rail. This travel information should enable all participants to organise their journey to St. Andrews, in particular for arrival on Tuesday August 8. The schematic diagram (see end of this document) should help participants to plan their route. Although some of the information is taken from recently published timetables we cannot guarantee complete accuracy and therefore participants should check relevant information with their travel agents at the time of booking.

There will be free coach transport provided for the convenience of those participants who may wish to be transferred from either Edinburgh or Leuchars to John Burnet Hall (Section 2). Access to rooms will be from 14.00 onwards on Tuesday August 8. There will be a buffet dinner at 19.30. Those who let us know they are arriving later than 20.30 will be provided with a cold evening meal.

1. Travelling by Car

From Edinburgh take the A90 to the Forth Road Bridge. The bridge has a toll that costs 80p for a private car in the northbound direction. Cross the bridge and proceed north along the M90 to Junction 8, and take the A91 to St. Andrews. Follow the A91 through Cupar following the signs to St. Andrews. There are useful maps including interactive versions at

You will find John Burnet Hall on your right almost immediately after the first roundabout. John Burnet Hall has a small car park and there is additional parking space at the Physics Department, a few minutes walk away. Car parking in St. Andrews itself is subject to restrictions.

2. The SUSSP61 transfer coach from Edinburgh

Provisionally, we are planning that on Tuesday August 7 SUSSP61 will provide a free coach service for the transfer of participants from Edinburgh airport and city centre to John Burnet Hall in St. Andrews. The coach will first pick up participants at Edinburgh Airport, arriving at 16.00 and departing at 16.30. It will then proceed to the city centre, parking on Waverley Bridge above Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station, arriving at approximately 17.00 and departing at 17.30 for John Burnet Hall. The journey time from Edinburgh to St. Andrews will be approximately 80 minutes.

3. By train from London and/or Edinburgh

The nearest British Rail station is Leuchars Junction (5 miles) on the main line from London Kings Cross and Edinburgh to Dundee and Aberdeen. However there are only three direct through trains from London each day, so participants may have to change at Edinburgh Waverley.

Further details on train times and routes will appear here shortly. The UKs train operators provide full details of their services online.

4. By air to Edinburgh Airport

Participants may have to change in the UK on the journey to Edinburgh/St. Andrews. The main internal flights to Edinburgh are from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, London Luton, London City and Manchester.

There are direct flights to Edinburgh from several European airports including Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Frankfurt, Paris and Zurich.

5. From Edinburgh Airport

Taxis operating from the terminal take about 20 minutes to reach the city centre and cost about £20. Airlink bus services (Bus #100) operate every 10 minutes from the terminal to the City Centre terminus at Waverley Bridge, situated above Edinburgh Waverley station. The journey takes about 25 minutes and costs £3.30 single and £5.00 for an open return. (If you have time to spare, your ticket also entitles you to a £1 reduction on a City Sightseeing Edinburgh Tour bus. You can also buy an Airsaver ticket for £4.20 that also gives you unlimited travel on Lothian transport buses for a day.)

Provisionally, SUSSP61 plans to provide transport from the airport. Further details will appear shortly.

6. By air to Glasgow Airport

Although Glasgow Airport is much further from St. Andrews than Edinburgh Airport, it has some transatlantic flights that can make it a convenient destination, avoiding the need to change in London. There are direct flights into Glasgow Airport from Chicago, Gothenburg, Halifax, New York, and Toronto with five other US destinations via Reykjavik with Icelandair.

7. From Glasgow Airport

There is a Scottish CityLink airport coach service from the terminal forecourt to Buchanan Street Bus Station in Glasgow, taking 20 minutes and this costs £3 single and £5 return. Taxis to Glasgow City Centre cost about £20.

From Buchanan Street Bus Station there are connecting express coach services to central Edinburgh. The fare is £4. The Edinburgh central bus station is within easy walking distance of Waverley Bridge and Edinburgh Waverley railway station.

Participants may prefer to alight from the Scottish CityLink airport service at North Hanover Street for Glasgow Queen Street main railway station. There is a Scotrail service, leaving every 15 minutes, from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley. The journey time to Edinburgh is 49 minutes and single costs about £7. There are connecting rail services from Edinburgh Waverley to Leuchars for St. Andrews (see Section 3) that take about 60 minutes.

8. By coach from London

There are inter-city express coaches operating between most major cities in England and Scotland. Coaches from London operate mainly from London Victoria Coach Station, although some services pick-up at London Heathrow Central Bus Station. The journey is about 8-9 hours as opposed to about 5 hours by train. Tickets vary in price but cost round £35.00 return. Services from London to Edinburgh, and Dundee are available. There is a National Express internet booking service at

9. Accommodation before the School

Accommodation at John Burnett Hall is not available before Tuesday August 7 or after lunch on Thursday August 23. Those wishing to arrive before August 7 or wishing to extends their stay after the School will have to make their own arrangements. Accommodation in Edinburgh and St. Andrews can be booked through the appropriate Tourist Information Centres.

The Edinburgh & Lothians Tourist Board has an information centre above Edinburgh Waverley railway station. You can book accommodation and tours via email

University of Edinburgh Halls of Residence accommodation can be booked via Edinburgh First at

The Edinburgh International Arts Festival runs from August 12 to September 1, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from August 5 to August 27, and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo runs from August 3 to August 25 so accommodation in Edinburgh will be in great demand during these dates.

There is a tourist information centre in Market Street in St. Andrews at

St Andrews Tourist Information Centre

70 Market St, St Andrews, KY16 9NU

Tel: 01334 472021

Fax: 01334 478422