St Andrews Town Tour: Golf History and Cathedral Graves
The graves of golf's founding figures and the bridge where the Open Championship began.
A guided walking tour of St Andrews covers the University, Cathedral, Castle and Old Course in under two hours with a professional English-speaking local guide. You'll visit the graves of Old and Young Tom Morris and Allan Robertson at the Cathedral, walk the 1st/18th fairway of the Old Course at your own risk during live play, and finish with a photo on the Swilkan Bridge. Children from age 5 are welcome; the tour is not suitable for travelers with walking difficulties, hip or knee problems, or poor cardiovascular health.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore St Andrews history and golf
- Start at Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake's bar
- Visit University of St Andrews and chapel
- See St Andrews Cathedral and graves of golf legends
- Explore St Andrews Castle and learn Open Championship history
- Walk to Old Course and learn golf evolution
- Photo opportunity on Swilcan Bridge
The Experience
The tour starts at a bar and restaurant near the first tee, then moves into the University of St Andrews—Scotland's oldest, established in 1413—where you'll see St Salvator's College and the University Chapel. From there, the guide leads you to the Cathedral ruins to pay respects at the graves of Old and Young Tom Morris, Allan Robertson and Jamie Anderson, the golfers who shaped the game here.
Walking toward the Old Course, you pass the former Bishop's Palace (now St Andrews Castle) while the guide explains how Tom Morris and Allan Robertson developed the course and launched the Open Championship. At the Old Course itself, you'll learn about its evolution and walk across the 1st and 18th fairway—a crossing you make at your own risk, keeping watch for golf balls during live play. The tour finishes with a photo opportunity on the famous Swilkan Bridge, with details of nearby landmarks, unless the day is a tournament day.
The whole tour runs roughly two hours. Your guide speaks English fluently and is a local, so the insight into how golf developed through St Andrews' unique history comes from someone who knows the place. There's nowhere to leave bags, strollers or golf clubs during the tour, so arrange storage beforehand.
What’s included
- Professional English-speaking local guide.
- entry to the University and Cathedral.
- access to St Andrews Castle.
- a walk across the Old Course fairway.
- a photo opportunity on the Swilkan Bridge.
Operated by St Andrews Tours
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the story of how golf began told by someone who knows St Andrews—the guide is local and fluent, and the graves of Tom Morris and Allan Robertson are part of the walk itself, not a separate museum visit.
Traveler reviews
Compare the 4 similar options
St Andrews Town Tour: Golf History and Cathedral Graves★ 4.86 (161)1h 45mEN£ 25
St Andrews Walking Tour: Main Sights with Local GuideWalk the cobbled streets of St Andrews on a 1.5-hour tour with a local guide who covers the Cathedral, Castle, Old Course and University★ 4.84 (576)1h 30mEN£ 15View ›
St Andrews: Old Course History Walk & Swilkan Bridge PhotoWalk St Andrews’ Old Course with a former caddie, hear golf legends, and get a pro photo on Swilkan Bridge. Includes local guide and Sunday fairway walk.★ 4.70 (211)1h 15mEN£ 20View ›
St. Andrews Old Course Walking Tour: Local Expert GuideNinety minutes on the Old Course with a local guide who knows the politics and the quirks—walk the 1st, 17th and 18th fairways★ 4.96 (94)1h 30mEN£ 140per groupView › Top questions
What is St Andrews Cathedral and why do golfers visit the graves there?
St Andrews Cathedral is the iconic ruins where Old and Young Tom Morris, Allan Robertson and Jamie Anderson—the founding figures of golf—are buried. The tour includes a stop to pay respects at their graves as part of the history of how the game developed in St Andrews.
Will I walk on the Old Course during the tour?
Yes, you'll walk across the 1st and 18th fairway of the Old Course at your own risk during the tour. You must keep watch for golf balls if there is live play happening, and the guide will explain the course's evolution and its role in the Open Championship.
How long does the St Andrews tour take?
The tour takes roughly two hours and covers the University, Cathedral, Castle, Old Course and finishes with a photo on the Swilkan Bridge.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Children from age 5 are welcome on the tour. Children under 5 are free but the tour is not recommended for children under 2. Strollers and carriages are not suitable, and there is no storage for them during the tour.
What should I know about walking during this tour?
The tour involves walking through the town and across the Old Course fairway. It is not suitable for travelers with walking difficulties, hip or knee problems, sprained ankles, or those using walking frames, crutches or mobility scooters. Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness.
Can I book a private version of this tour?
A private St Andrews Town, Golf and Old Course Walking Tour is available as a separate booking option.
St Andrews Town Tour: Golf History and Cathedral Graves
1h 45m · EN
from £ 25 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.86161 reviews














