Family trip to St Andrews

[SauvignonPlonker]

We've got a family weekend coming up in St Andrews - there will be about 12 of us ranging from age 3 to nearly 80.

Any suggestions for things we could do? I've heard there's Botanic Gardens, an indoor pool (in case it's rainy). Obviously we know about the beach.

Would appreciate ideas, especially for eating out - family-friendly, informal places who take bookings.

Thanks

[jingscrivensanhelpmeboab]

Hello!

St Andrews is beautiful, great place for a holiday. So, if it's nice weather, I'd recommend a visit to Craigtoun park. If you are going to the botanic gardens, walk down to it via the lade braes, it's a beautiful walk.

The cathedral and castle are both interesting to see, the both ruins so very much outdoors. Cathedral is free or a small fee if you wanna go up the square tower which is worth it for the view.

For eating, for casual walk in things, Blackhorn does great burgers and amazing milkshakes. There is also the Tail End chip shop which has a sit in bit at the back, they have loads of different things and do free refill chips! Don't let it being a chip shop put you off, it's definitely worth a visit.

There is a small cinema in the town if you need something to do in the evenings, and also the Byre Theatre is worth checking out as it has a whole range of different shows on the ought the year.

While in St Andrews, a trip to the nearby Elie on a nice day is great if you like water sports. Had a great time on a banana boat last time I was there!

Oh and in St Andrews, you have a choice of two great ice cream shops! Janettas is my personal favourite as it has a fantastic choice of flavours. It often has large queues on hot days though so be prepared, it's worth it though! Luciano is also great though.

The East Sands swimming pool is decent but I think the swimming pool in nearby Dundee is much better for older kids as it has flumes with lights and music and all sorts. It also has a much bigger kids area, but the St Andrews pool is quieter generally and a nicer feel in my opinion.

There is a small sea life centre near the west sands beach which has amongst other things, meerkats. It's very small compared to the big one near Edinburgh but a nice thing to do all the same.

Hmmm trying to think what else there is to do now. Forging has ceilidhs every week, both evening adult ones and ones for kids as far as I know. They also have various other activities for kids although you may have to sign up in advance.

Other than that, charity shops, coffee shops and golfing haha!

[Redyoyo]

If you get a nice day drive along to Cupar and go to Cairnie Fruit Farm and go strawberry picking it's a great day out.

[PurpleFrog]

Where is Luciano's ice cream shop? I know about (and have sampled) Luvians and Nardinis but not that one.

[SauvignonPlonker]

These are great, thank you!

Any family-friendly restaurant suggestions?

[peggyundercrackers]

Forgans is quite a nice place and our kids always love the food there. Some people think it's expensive but we have never had bad food there.

[jingscrivensanhelpmeboab]

Purple whoops that was autocorrect, I meant Luvians haha.

Also agree that Forgans is good, especially if you get a booth. I love the Grill House restaurant too (especially their strawberry and raspberry frozen margaritas!!).

And second vote for Crail, and the Cairnie Fruit Farm. They have a maze there too.

[OhMrDarcy]

Don't forget about the Himalayas - the pitch and putt golf course out by the old course which would be great for most ages. You can rent a club and ball cheaply there too, and take cheesy photos of you all playing golf at St Andrews!

[PurpleFrog]

Ahhh jings I was wondering if a new posh kiosk had opened at one of the beaches or something!

The Himalayas is actually just putting, not pitch and putt. There are 2 courses now - an 18 hole and a 9 hole. It is closed at various random times when it is reserved for members only. You can check the web for opening times. The 18 hole course is like nothing you will have played before... :-)

The Botanic Gardens currently has a Tropical Butterfly House which is running until the end of September. No idea what is is like, but it is obviously important enough to warrant yellow AA signs!

If you do venture as far as Cairnie Fruit Farm, it is not just fruit picking. There is a large fun yard with lots of stuff like trampolines, go-karts, zip lines, a straw bale fort and a Maize Maze. The tea room is very nice and we are frequent visitors visit occasionally for lunch. The food is lovely and good value with lots of delicious strawberry tarts, pavlovas, cheesecakes etc!

[PurpleFrog]

Just wondering what you did in St Andrews and where you ate in the end, OP?

[SauvignonPlonker]

We had a great time, thanks! Cairnie Fruit Farm was great, the indoor swimming poo was just perfect for young kids & the weather was reasonable by Scottish Standards.

We ended up eating in Pizza express, which was fine. Would have preferred Forgan's, but they insisted on a set menu as there was a group of us (12) - these started at around £25 a head, so not ideal with a group of kids - didn't fancy a 3 course set menu.

[PurpleFrog]

Glad you enjoyed Cairnie! DP and I were there for lunch today as I had a day off work and wanted to have one last visit before it closes for the season! (This is its last weekend but it has Halloween activities so will be mobbed...)

Interesting about Forgans. We looked at it a few weeks ago for a Fri evening at short notice as dd decided she needed a lift into St Andrews to meet friends, but we couldn't get a booking. We went to the Guardbridge Inn instead as that was somewhere we had heard good things about.