FOUR can't-miss St Andrews experiences during The Open week

Things to do in St. Andrews during The Open

The Open week is now upon us here in St. Andrews, and what a special occasion this one is. This 150th milestone will be hosted at the Home of Golf.

The likes of Willie Park Snr and Old Tom Morris couldn't ever have imagined what The Open would become back when they played in their 1st Championship at Prestwick in 1860, with a field of only eight players.

While many are visiting primarily for the prestigious competition, there are several other unmissable experiences to do here in St. Andrews while stopping in for the world's biggest and most popular golf event.

1) Visit the World of Golf Museum

Discover the world's premier golf heritage centre. It is located just yards from the renowned Old Course in St. Andrews.

You can explore the six different galleries on site. These exciting and interactive zones will take you on a journey of St. Andrews and the globe, exploring the very origin of golf in Scotland right through to the global reach it now has.

The museum is open seven days a week and is a five-minute walk from the town centre – directly opposite the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse. You can purchase your tickets right here.

 2) Visit St. Andrews Botanic Garden

Located in Canongate, a short twenty-minute walk from The Open, you will find a living research and conservation area where the ways in which ecology and evolution unfold in the plant kingdom are explored.  

Spanning across 18 acres, there is lots to do at this beautiful and peaceful place. An incredible place for both learning and discovering, you can explore the rock garden, rhododendron glade, pond, pinetum and much more.

The little ones can run wild in the forest, with a brand-new play area being built – this has been constructed with trees that were brought down during storms Barra and Arwen, giving them a whole new lease of life!

There are also often events running at the location, but none during The Open, we’re afraid. But fear not! You can still do many self-guided tours around the gardens – allowing you and the family to take things at your own pace.

Feeling a little peckish? The garden is the ideal place for a picnic with all the lovely weather we’ve been having. Or you can visit one of the site’s food vendors to enjoy a sandwich and a coffee in the sun.

Find the St. Andrews Botanic Gardens at Canongate, St Andrews KY16 8RT

3) Have dinner at Haar Restaurant

You couldn't come to St. Andrews without visiting one of the most iconic restaurants in the town. It is a contemporary, relaxed dining experience brought to you by Chef Dean Banks.

Holding storytelling at its core, Haar is a truly unique and immersive culinary adventure.

Join us first at the Chef's Bar, where Dean and the team will prepare some pre-dinner snacks while you sip on a cocktail or two. We aim to showcase Scotland's best produce while telling tales of all things Haar.

Following your Chef's Bar experience, let the team bring you to our dining area, where we will wow you with an incredible tasting menu. Dean and the team have carefully curated each course. Expect firm favourites like our signature St. Andrews Bay lobster in mirin butter sauce or the ever-popular Loch Etive trout in a galangal curry gravy.

You can reserve your table right here.

4) Stay a night in one of our Haar rooms

After all the fun of your day exploring what St. Andrews and The Open have to offer, we couldn't think of a better way to round it off than staying in one of our newly refurbished rooms.

Each room has been modernised to the highest and most luxurious of standards. Every room has a large and super comfy bed, high-speed wireless internet, coffee machines, en-suite bathrooms, televisions, complimentary toiletries, desks and, of course, a delicious breakfast in the morning. Also, depending on your room, you will enjoy the iconic views of the Old Course, West Sands and the North Sea.

You can book your room right here.