St Andrews Heritage Museum & Gardens

About the museum

The museum occupies a house at 12 North Street, close to the cathedral, in the oldest part of St Andrews. The building in its present form dates from no later than the seventeenth century and stands on land once linked to the early Celtic abbey of Kinrymont. For generations it was let to fisher families, and the 1851 to 1891 census returns show it divided into four rooms, each home to a large household.

As the fishing trade declined and slum clearance followed in the 1930s, the property was placed under a demolition order in 1935. A local architect, James Hoey Scott, bought it and restored it with care. Today it is run by the St Andrews Preservation Trust, an independent charity, as a museum about the people of St Andrews.

The displays explore the early history of the town, the fishing community that lived in the Ladyhead district and a traditional grocer's shop that traded on South Street from 1837 to 1981. A major redevelopment project began with roof repairs in 2024 and added a new Garden Gallery for exhibitions and events behind the house. The museum reopened on 14 September 2025.

Highlights

• Restored 17th-century house in the former fisher quarter near the cathedral
• Permanent displays on early St Andrews, its fisherfolk and a traditional grocer's shop
• New Garden Gallery and garden at the rear
• Activity sheets and free sensory backpacks for children
• Free guided tours, booked by email

Permanent exhibitions

• Our Ancient City – Follows St Andrews from early settlement about 6,000 years ago through the Pictish and Culdee period and the building of the cathedral up to the Reformation.
• Fisherfolk of St Andrews – Shows the lives of the fishing community of the Ladyhead near the cathedral, from the peak of the industry in 1881 to its decline, using archive material and interviews.
• Aikman & Terras – Recreates a traditional grocer's shop on South Street that traded from 1837 until 1981, using some of its salvaged fittings.

Operated by

St Andrews Preservation Trust

Admission & discounts

Members of the St Andrews Preservation Trust and carers enter free. Tickets can be booked online; the ticket can be exchanged on arrival for an annual pass for year-round visits. Admission supports the upkeep of the building and collection.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Ramps at the front and rear give access to all spaces except the first floor and a small photo room on the ground floor. A digital guided tour of the first floor is available on arrival. A portable hearing loop and a large-print guide are kept at the welcome desk. Two disabled parking bays are directly opposite the museum. A detailed accessibility statement is published on the website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Activity sheets and free sensory backpacks are available on arrival, and interactive displays run throughout the museum.

Getting there & parking

Leuchars railway station is about 8 miles away; taxis wait there, and an accessible taxi should be booked in advance. Journeys can be planned on traveline.info using the postcode KY16 9PW.

Amenities & dining

An online shop sells books, cards, gifts and art prints.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 54 guests.

The Garden Gallery in the rear garden is an accessible space for events of up to 54 people, and the surrounding garden can also be hired. Discounts are offered to local charities and community groups.

Plan your visit