By day, the route from London is LNER or Lumo from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley, a little over four hours with four stops, then ScotRail or LNER from Waverley to Leuchars, about 70 minutes with four stops, and finally the 42, 77 or 99 bus from Leuchars to St Andrews, 12 minutes. The typical journey takes about six hours, with around half an hour of waiting spread over the two changes, and the best connections trim it to just under six.
On the weekday timetable we checked, connecting trains left King’s Cross about hourly, mostly on the half hour, from 06:30 to 18:30, with an extra 14:15. The 06:30 has you in St Andrews at about half past twelve. The 18:30 was the last and got there shortly after half past midnight, so an earlier train is the more comfortable choice. Other combinations, some swapping Leuchars for Cupar as the place to pick up the bus, took between about 5h50 and 6h20 and add little to the King’s Cross pattern. By road it is 461 miles via the M1 and about 8h35, some two and a half hours longer than the day trains.
The overnight alternative starts from London Euston rather than King’s Cross. On the weekday we checked, the Caledonian Sleeper left Euston at 23:45 and reached Edinburgh Waverley about seven and three-quarter hours later, at around 07:30. From there it is a ScotRail train to Leuchars, 69 minutes, and the 99 bus, so you reach St Andrews at about 09:30 the next morning, around 9h45 after leaving London and with roughly 40 minutes of waiting across the two changes. It suits anyone who wants a full day in St Andrews without spending the day before on a train.
From the bus in St Andrews, Market Street is roughly 500 metres on foot, about seven minutes.
Journey times and changes below come from the rail and bus timetables for Tuesday 1 December 2026. Weekend and holiday timetables differ, so check the day you travel.
From London King's Cross on the weekday we checked: about hourly between 06:30 and 18:30.
From London Euston on the weekday we checked: one departure, at 23:45.
By road it is about 461 miles from London to St Andrews, mostly via the M1 — roughly 8h 34m with clear roads. Car parks in St Andrews are listed on the Getting Here page.