Does anyone from down south go to St Andrews university? I didn't realise it was 50 miles away from Edinburgh?

[UlezSchmulez]

Why do they call it At Andrews university Edinburgh when it's nowhere near Edinburgh!

It's 50 miles, 1 hour and 40 minutes by train.
If you're from Southern England do you just accept that you don't return for any weekend during term time.

Just thinking of booking an open day there but wondering if it's just too far?
Which is a shame as it's very highly rated for maths which my son wants to study.
Any thoughts?

https://x.com/EleanorMorton/status/1418592109142200323?s=20

In case they never make it to the open day.

Just a tradition but yeah I see it.

You are correct. The Cupar one is THE best. Full choice of everything.

Well it is very northerly and would feel very remote to a lot of people not used to that. As for Aberdeen, I'm sorry, but it's extremely grey and grim even on a sunny day. I was there 48 hours and I found it very depressing to the point I felt quite ill. I'm not saying there aren't depressing places in London - obviously there are - but let's be honest. The weather is southern England is bad enough. I've just been to Iceland. Yes very nice for a few days, but let's get real.

This thread is good value! I did warn my DC against applying to universities in London, because what is there south of there except Brighton, Plymouth and remote areas such as Devon and Cornwall? Plus the only time I've had borderline hypothermia - genuinely - was in London. And it was grey and dirty the whole time I was there. And it's on the same latitude as Warsaw and Winnipeg.

By contrast, Aberdeen had two universities when there were only two in the whole of England.

At the moment I'm on holiday in Sweden, where your average Swede is looking considerably more bronzed than most Brits.

Summers in Sweden are gorgeous.

Will have to pop in to Fisher and Donaldson on my way home to the north for a fudge doughnut, and to enjoy the beauty of St Andrews where one of my DC was at university and emerged totally unscathed.

I agree, London is remote. And if you want to go anywhere south of there you have to spend ages negotiating the underground with all your luggage - much worse than a 20 minute bus trip - to reach stations heading that way. Plus all the grime and pollution. Last time I flew into London there was a brown haze over the whole city. And if you want to drive, the amount of traffic once you get below Scotch corner or Cumbria is huge.

Aberdeen IS grim and the majority of people who are from the area agree.

However Aberdeenshire...

Dunnottar Castle,
Crathes Castle,
St Cyrus Beach,
Balmedie Beach.

The NE coast is stunning & I thank my lucky stars daily about living here.

I'll take cold & crisp over crammed & expensive ta!

@windywalk Could you drop me a few off? Not too out of your way ... South Lanarkshire

I honestly don't think I can rest again until I try a coffee tower.
Well 2.
One for each hand.

They really are delicious, but a fudge doughnut is the best. Or one of each. I live a long way away from F&D now though 🫤

Yes London is in the same latitude as Warsaw - a.k.a too far north and let's not go any further! (in my view).

Will you be able to rest once you have had them?!

No actually…. I used to buy Bridies every Saturday at Fisher And Donaldson in St Andrews

Along with a coffee tower

As a Fifer (South cost so much more acceptably close to Edinburgh...), I've thoroughly enjoyed skimming this post. Luckily, our local shop gets deliveries from F&D so there's no need to regularly schlep to the frozen north.

Aberdeen only looks grey cos the buildings are made out of granite.

You know, granite. Famously GREY stone.

Unlike the sandstone of my much warmer, sandier coloured south Fife. Which is sand coloured. And porous.

Good job the east coast is dryer than the west...

Oh and whilst it's not Fisher and Donaldson, my local Stephens bakery does a mighty fine empire biscuit and a delightful custard slice.

Fuck. I'm going to have to go out and get some now, aren't I?

Yes, I'm thankful to live on the Moray Firth Riviera, with clean air, a lovely climate, uncrowded, northern lights, starry skies, dolphins, and plentiful fresh seafood. Not to mention whisky and gin!

I remember queuing up to get Bridies and donuts from the back door of a bakery in St Andrews in the early hours of the morning after parties with my pals who were studying there. I'd bravely travelled up from Edinburgh.
Nobody ponced about calling it an elite university in those days either, it was viewed as a rather eccentric choice for the very swotty at my school!

Skies can be so clear my dd has seen the northern lights at St. Andrews.

golden sand beaches, toastie shack, crystal clear sea, castle, pretty quadrangles, student halls in baronial halls. Yep tough place to hang out

I am just here for the OP to return and explain who ‘they’ are who say St Andrew’s, Edinburgh.

I think it has the highest proportion of international students in Scotland, so clearly not that difficult to get to.

Totally agree. Not a medic, but also did my master's in Manchester. It was so much colder and wetter moving south. St Andrews is semi- arid. Manchester is most definitely not!

Tops both The Times and The Guardians university rankings for 2024, ahead of both Oxford and Cambridge. So perhaps worth the trek?

Well I wasn't recommending Manchester, JessicaBrassica. Don't even get me started on the Lake District.

I was once in Warwick and someone asked me how to get to the university. I said I didn't know exactly where it was but to head towards Coventry and there would be signs. They said they didn't want to go to Coventry.

Well at least you could drive through.