Wardlaw Museum St Andrews Exhibits & Access Map

Wardlaw Museum, St Andrews, Scotland

University of St Andrews, Wardlaw Museum

The Wardlaw Museum in St Andrews, Scotland is a museum maintained by the University of St Andrews.

The museum is dedicated to the university's research and showcases the institution's large and diverse collections of art, history, science and natural history.

Altogether these total over 115,000 artefacts. The museum takes its name from Bishop Henry Wardlaw, the founder of St Andrews University.

Exhibits on display at the museum. — Exhibits on display at the museum

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

Academic dress from the University of St Andrews. — Academic dress from the University of St Andrews in the Scotland's First University gallery

Exhibits

The museum relates the history of the University of St Andrews which began in 1410, making it the oldest university in Scotland.

The four galleries at the museum are thematic and are Scotland's First University, Enquiring Minds, Reformers and Innovators and Expanding Horizons.

The Scotland's First University gallery outlines the history of the university. On display are articles of academic attire and the university's medieval maces, dating from the 15th century.

Enquiring Minds focuses on teaching and learning and includes specimens of microscope slides and butterflies.

The Reformers and Innovators gallery outlines the innovation and inventions that have taken place during research at the university.

Expanding Horizons has collections from around the world including lunar rock samples sent from NASA to St Andrews and a collection of nautical instruments. The latter includes the Great Astrolabe, manufactured in 1575.

There are also many hands-on, interactive exhibits which are a lot of fun for visiting school children.

The museum also hosts several temporary exhibitions throughout the year including presently First Women - a collection of photographic portraits of women in Britain who were first in their field.

Anatomical drawings from the University of St Andrews. — Anatomical drawings from the University of St Andrews

Access & Hours

Wardlaw Museum
7a The Scores
St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AR
Tel: 01334 461660
www: st-andrews.ac.uk/museums

Monday to Friday 11 am to 7 pm; Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. Closed 24th to 27th December inclusive and 31st December to 1st January inclusive.

Admission is free.

There are superb views out to sea and as far as the golf course from the museum's terrace and garden.

The museum has a shop selling a range of giftware and university souvenirs including sweartshirts and the like. Visitors can also purchase books, games and toys.

Other museums connected with the University of St Andrews include the Bell Pettigrew Museum of Natural History, open to the general public during school holidays and the Collections Centre with highlights of the collection that are not on general display but available to researchers.

Getting To St Andrews

The nearest railway station to St Andrews is Leuchars, which is about 10 km from the town. It is on the Edinburgh to Dundee line and Edinburgh to Aberdeen line from Edinburgh Waverley Station and Edinburgh Haymarket. There are bus and taxi connections from Leuchars to St Andrews.

The Caledonian Sleeper service runs from London Euston to Leuchars overnight six days a week, Sunday to Friday.

The Highland route runs between Fort William, Inverness or Aberdeen and London Euston. The Highland trains join at Edinburgh Waverley and continue to London. The Aberdeen to Edinburgh Waverley Highland train stops at Stonehaven, Montrose, Arbroath, Carnoustie, Dundee, Leuchars (for St Andrews), Kirkcaldy, Inverkeithing and Edinburgh Waverley.

Dundee Station on South Union Street has trains to London King's Cross Station in London from Aberdeen via Edinburgh, Newcastle and York Station in York as well as more local ScotRail trains to Glasgow Queen Street in Glasgow via Perth and Stirling as well as connections south to Edinburgh Waverley Station in Edinburgh.

There are frequent buses to and from Dundee from St Andrews via Leuchars. The #99, #99A, the #99B, the #99C, and #99D all connect the two cities. Leuchars to St Andrews by bus takes about 15 minutes.

There are Stagecoach buses running between St Andrews and the capital, Edinburgh. These are the X58, X59 and X60 services (about two hours) Stagecoach also operates the X24, X26 and X27 buses to Glasgow (about two and a half hours).

Edinburgh Airport is the nearest airport with direct shuttle buses to St Andrews. There are also trains to Leuchars from Edinburgh Gateway Station a short tram ride or bus (100 Airlink) ride from Edinburgh Airport.

Accommodation

If you wish to stay in St Andrews try the Fairmont St Andrews, with five stars and views of the St Andrews Bay. The hotel also boasts a spa and a pool.

Also recommended are the budget Ardgowan Hotel located in a Georgian terrace and Rusacks St Andrews, overlooking the Old Course.

Old Course Hotel St Andrews overlooks West Sands Beach and the Links Golf Course. Enjoy its Kohler Waters Spa, which offers luxury spa treatments, a hydrotherapy pool, experience showers and cold plunge pool.

Hotel Du Vin St Andrews on The Scores offers a French-style bistro and bar.

Kinnettles Hotel & Spa offers an à la carte restaurant amid five-star luxury.

See a listing of hotels in St Andrews.

Display case at the Wardlaw Museum in St Andrews. — Display case at the Wardlaw Museum in St Andrews

St Andrews Attractions

St Andrews Castle, the ruined St Andrews Cathedral, St Andrews aquarium, St Andrews Museum, Holy Trinity Church, the R&A World Golf Museum and, of course, St Andrews University are major attractions in the city.

Many visitors, especially from the USA, also come to play the Old Course, the home of golf.