shopping in st andrews

Visitors come to St Andrews for many reasons. The most obvious is to to play golf. Another common reason is to attend the University. And then there's the Cathedral and Castle and the sense of history that seems to pervade every nook and cranny. But one reason that often brings visitors back to St Andrews a second time deserves to become more widely known ... the shopping!

A Unique Shopping Experience

St Andrews is refreshingly free of national outlets and chain stores, save for a few exceptions. Instead, the town centre offers an excellent range of independent, family-run shops and businesses, where you are guaranteed to find a unique range of goods matched by personal service. Shopping in St Andrews is always a rewarding experience.

Shopping Guide

St Andrews Merchants' Association invites you to explore the town centre. Just follow the links in the menu on the left below to discover the range of shops and services available. Besides retailers, our members also include accommodation providers, restaurants and visitor attractions.

Opening Hours
Most shops open between 9.00 and 5.30. In the summer, an increasing number of shops stay open in the evening. Sunday opening is common, especially in summer and on the four Sundays preceding Christmas. A few shops close on Thursday afternoons. St Andrews has five local holiday Mondays, mostly during the early half of the year, but not all shops take all of them.

Tax Free Shopping
Many of the shops offer tax free shopping for visitors from outside the EU. If you do not see the Tax Free sign, ask an assistant if the shop offers this service.

Banks
The banks are mostly open Monday to Friday from 9.15 to 4.45, except on Bank Holiday Mondays. Bureau de Change facilities are available at most banks.

Free Town Map and Guide
Look out for this free leaflet available from the Tourist Information Centre and many shops and hotels.