Educational Tours & Excursions for
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Edinburgh & St Andrews
The capital city of Scotland since at least the 15th century has many places of interest for school visits. Edinburgh Castle offers a unique look into Scotland’s rich history and struggles and connection with England. Edinburgh also has many museums including the National Museum of Scotland and National Gallery of Scotland which both offer free admission and hours of interesting viewing. Along with these and its unique landscape and charming cobbled-lined streets, visits to this city for students are both interesting and enjoyable.
St Andrews is located in the Kingdom of Fife and is named after St Andrew the Apostle. It is famous for being the birthplace of golf and has the world famous Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. It regularly hosts major golf tournaments each year. It is also home to the University of St Andrews which is the oldest in Scotland and the third oldest in the English speaking world. Although the population of the town is considered to be low, it offers a great get away from the much larger Scottish cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Example itinerary
Day 1 | Evening: Departure from your school and overnight travel by coach into Scotland. |
Day 2 | Morning: Arrival outside of Edinburgh for breakfast stop and chance to freshen up before travelling into Edinburgh. Start of walking tour and see Calton Hill, National Monument, Nelson Monument, Scott Monument, Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile and more. Afternoon: Spend time with your school group visiting Edinburgh’s places of interest before meeting with coach for transport to accommodation. Evening: Check-in and overnight stay. Evening activities available upon request. |
Day 3 | Morning: After breakfast, travel to ancient city of St. Andrews to see the birthplace of golf and the charming harbour and seaside town. See the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, the links of St Andrews’ golf course, British Golf Museum, and much more. Afternoon: Spend your day enjoying the city of St Andrews at your leisure. Evening: Return back to accommodation for overnight stay. |
Day 4 | Morning: After breakfast, group checks-out of accommodation and begin return journey back to England. Afternoon: Lunch stop on the Scottish-English border at the famous Gretna Green Blacksmith’s shop. Evening: Return back to school. |
Sights & places of interest in Edinburgh & St Andrews
This museum located in central Edinburgh in a neoclassical design by William Henry Playfair, houses the Scottish national collection of fine art, including Scottish and international art. The collections represented begins from the Renaissance up to the 20th century. Masterpieces by Jacopo Bassano, Van Dyck among others will leave art lovers interested for hours.
This museum was once the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland and The Royal Scottish Museum before being joined together. It’s collections relating to Scottish Antiquities, culture and history and the Royal Museum covering science and technology, natural history, and world cultures.
This hill in central Edinburgh just next to Princes Street is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Atop the hill we can see some of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks such as the National Monument, the Nelson Monument, the Dugald Stewart Monument among others whilst offering panoramic views of the city.
This castle situated atop a volcanic rock called Castle Rock has been a royal castle since the 12th century. Its part as an important fortress during the Wars of Scottish Independence makes it a historically important monument. It is hosts a series of performances known as Edinburgh Military Tattoo where parades of pipes and drums fills the air.
This Gothic monument dedicated to the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott overlooks Princes Street near to Edinburgh Waverly Station. With a height of 61 meters, it offers a series of viewing platforms open to the general public.
Located Queen Street, this art museum, holds the collections of portraits, by both Scots and famous international artists. It also holds the Scottish National Photography Collection. It has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment. Portraits of Mary, Queen of Scots, Robert Burns, Billy Connelly among others.
The Queen’s Gallery is part of the Palace of Holyroodhouse and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002. It exhibits works from the Royal Collection. This Victorian building was orginially built as Holyrood Free Church prior to being converted into a gallery.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarch and is located at the bottom of the Royal Mile at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle. It has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scots since the 16th century. Visitors can enter and get a unique view of how royalty live.
This remarkable zoo spreads over 82 acres and inspires visitors with living animals. Orginally built in 1913, it promotes the conservation of threatened species and habitats. Each year over 600,000 visitors take pleasure and learn about the animal kingdom and animal behaviour. It main visitor attraction is Tian Tian, a female giant panda and her male companion.
This ruined Roman Catholic cathedral was originally built in 1158 and became the centre of the Catholic Church of Scotland. During its time, it was the largest and tallest church to have been built in Scotland. During the Scottish reformation the church was stripped of its altars and fell into ruin. Today the ruins are popular among tourists who want to see this ancient cathedral.
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is one of the oldest and most famous golf clubs in the world and is regarded as the “Home of Golf”. The organisation was founded in 1754 as the Society of St Andrews Golfers but grew in importance under King William IV. The club is the international ruling authority for the game of golf except for the USA and Mexico.
The ruins of St Andrews Castle sit atop a rocky cliff overlooking the North Sea. The castle dates back to the 1200s and was destroyed several times during the Scottish War of Independence. Many notable kings have spent time at the castle including James I of Scotland, and James II and James III as well.
Edinburgh & St Andrews on Map
Edinburgh tourism video
Edinburgh & St Andrews is suitable for
School Types:
Secondary Schools 6th Form Colleges Universities
School Subjects:
Art & Design Business Studies Drama & Performance Arts Food Technology French Language General / Cultural Geography History Media & Fim Studies Music Psychology & Sociology Religous Studies Science
Tailor Made Edinburgh & St Andrews Tour
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