Best things to do with teenagers in St Andrews

Holidaying with teenagers can be a mixed bag. Luckily in St Andrews and the East Neuk of Fife there are plenty of things to do to keep your ‘almost adult’ occupied.

Screen time to Scene time

If your objective is to get your teenager off their screens and out in to the fresh air, then why not stay at one of our country cottages and accommodations?

Simply open the back door and you have large secluded gardens, country walks, farm trails and sea views on your doorstep. Whether it’s a kick around in our shared play areas or a long family meander round the coast stopping off for seafood delights, you can do it easily.

The Fife Coastal Walk is easy to follow and is a great day out activity:

All the countryside cottages and accommodations have wifi but as you’re in the countryside the signal isn’t as supercharged as you’ll get in towns or cities, meaning you have to slow down slightly.

Wear them out

When you come to St Andrews or any of our coastal villages, there is one thing you can rely upon – outdoor pursuits.

If your teenager wants to try their hand at surfing, windsurfing, kayaking, paddle boarding or even sand yachting on the West Sands in St Andrews – they can! Click here for more information.

Or you can head to Anstruther (20 min drive from St Andrews down the coast and next to Crail) and engage in kayaking, canoeing, Axe throwing, Archery, Bushcraft and Fire making or paddle boarding. Find out more here.

If they’re already keen golfers then you’ll know all about the fabulous, world-famous courses in the area but if you have a first-timer, you could always sign them up for a golf course, so that when they leave our golf mad town, they can play a wee round. Or simply try the driving range. Find out more here. We have a lot of accommodations and properties close to all the main golf courses.

For outdoor Scottish sporting pursuits like falconry, archery and fly-fishing, you can get 20% off all activities when you stay with Kingask at The Scottish Countryman (near Crail). Just input KINGASK20 at checkout when you’re pre-booking activities.

You can head to Elie, about a 25 min drive from St Andrews down the beautiful coast road, a cool little bay with lots of water sports on offer – most teenagers love a spin on the doughnuts behind a speed boat! They can also try water skiing and pedalos. Contact Elie Water Sports for more information. Or, if you don’t want to spend money – they can simply jump off the pier at Elie Harbour and then go and hang at The Pav for ice cream, both good spots to meet like-minded teenagers.

Cycling is a great way to explore the area, if you didn’t bring your bikes, don’t worry there are plenty of places to hire. Get on your bike and get on the open road. More info.

You could also take a 30 minute drive to Dundee across The Tay Bridge, if your teenager fancies some go-karting or lazerquest! Find out more.

Hang outs

If your teenagers are independent and just want to hang out without their parents ☹, St Andrews is an incredibly safe town in which to do so. If you drop them off there are plenty of places for teenagers to have a good time just mooching around.

The West or East Sands beaches are great places to just relax, fling a frisbee, have a picnic, sit, sunbathe and chat. Both are watched over by lifeguards in peak months.

There are many firm teen favourites to visit for lunch or a snack – Nandos, Pizza Express, Dominos, Blackhorn, Subway, and Pret a Manger.  There’s also Combinico for trendy, healthy Korean fast food and Dr Noodles for some take away noodles. They can also sit and while away the hours at Janettas Ice Cream Parlour which has lovely pastel coloured booths, making it feel like you’re on the East Coast of the US in style. Cromers and Tailend also have sit in dining areas to enjoy some fresh Fife fish and chips!

So come to St Andrews for your holidays and enjoy all that the city and its surroundings have to offer. Book your accommodation and leave behind all the city stress.