St Andrews is home to world-class golf, an ancient university and medieval streets lined with exquisite classic buildings. The town is located about 77 km from Edinburgh International Airport.

It is a good idea to have some ideas about taxi fare estimates before arriving in North East Fife. This will help protect you against potential overcharging by rogue drivers.

How to Get There

Located on the east coast of Scotland within Fife, St Andrews is an easy-to-get-to destination for both local and international visitors. From the town’s historic university to its medieval streets and exquisite classic buildings, there is plenty to see and do. The famous golf course is also a major draw, attracting tourists from across the world every year.

The town has a range of transport options, including taxis and public transport. For those arriving by air, Edinburgh Airport is the closest airport to St Andrews. You can take a taxi or shared shuttle bus directly to St Andrews from the airport, or catch a train to Leuchars station, then a bus or taxi into St Andrews. You can check the price of these services in advance using Rome2Rio’s journey planner, or on the websites of airport transfer providers such as St Andrews Direct.

Car hire is another option, with a number of companies providing car rental in St Andrews and the surrounding area. Some of the most popular include Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. It is worth booking your rental in advance to ensure that you get the best rate possible.

If you are travelling to taxi in St Andrews by train, it is best to book your tickets in advance online as well. If you do not, you may find that the trains are fully booked when you arrive. You are unsure about the schedule of trains, contact the train operator directly for more information.

Visitors to St Andrews should be aware of rogue taxi drivers looking to rip-off tourists during The Open. Legitimate taxi firms say customers are being charged over the odds for journeys and some are being tricked into thinking that they are getting a pre-booked service when they are not.

Fares

If you’re travelling to St Andrews from one of Scotland’s main airports, then there are a number of transportation options that you can choose from. The most comfortable option is to take a taxi to St Andrews, which will get you to your destination in an hour or less. Alternatively, you can also travel to St Andrews by train or bus. These methods of transport will take slightly longer, but offer a cost-savvy alternative.

The exact fare you pay for your taxi will depend on a variety of factors, including the distance you are travelling, how many passengers you have and whether you have any luggage. The amount you pay for your taxi will also depend on the time of day and the season, as well as local taxes and surcharges. You can find the precise fare for your trip by entering your location and destination into Rome2Rio’s smart tip.

Be aware that rogue taxi drivers are targeting tourists in St Andrews, with some operators charging over the odds for journeys. James Glen, from St Andrews Taxis, says that he has received complaints of unscrupulous drivers trying to rip-off visitors, especially during the Open golf championship last year. He cites one instance where a visitor was charged PS150 for a six-minute journey from St Andrews Old Station to Leuchars railway station, which is normally just a PS15 fare.

Taxi Ranks

St Andrews is a small town, making it easy for visitors to get around without the need for a car. Many hotels offer parking, but it can be limited at peak times of the year. On-street parking is metered and requires coins. There are also a number of taxi ranks around the town.

Alternatively, visitors can take the train to Leuchars railway station, situated around six miles from St Andrews. Trains are operated by Stagecoach East Scotland and Moffat + Williamson, and the journey takes approximately 15 minutes. For more information, select an option from the list above to see step-by-step directions and compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio’s travel planner.

Visitors can also catch a bus to taxi services St Andrews from Edinburgh, which takes around an hour. A variety of domestic and international airlines operate at Edinburgh Airport, which has a 24-hour bus connection to the city centre and onward connections to St Andrews.

The main taxi companies in St Andrews are St Andrews Taxis, Golf City Taxis and Elite Taxis of St Andrews. They offer luxury vehicles for hire, with uniformed drivers, leather interiors and privacy glass. Established in 1998, St Andrews Taxis has built up a prized reputation among local residents, university students, hoteliers, wedding organisers and tens of thousands of golf tour operators and tourists each year.

The company is a member of Fife Council’s licensing enforcement committee and has a strict vetting process for drivers. Rogue taxi operators have been accused of ripping off visitors. James Glen of St Andrews Taxis says he heard of one visitor being charged PS150 for a trip to Colinsburgh during last year’s Open, when the fare should be just PS15.

Drivers

The taxi industry is a vital part of transport systems and economies in many countries worldwide. It is also a significant employer, bringing in substantial amounts of income for the workforce. As such, its role is highly valued in a country’s economic development. As such, a reduction in income has the potential to have wide-reaching social consequences and affect the health of workers. This paper explores the effect of COVID-19 on the wages and salaries of taxi drivers, who as an occupational group are at high risk for infection, with a view to inform policy directions to support this occupational group in coping with the impact of COVID-19 on their economic security.

Conclusion

Most of the taxi drivers were male, a finding consistent with a low-income profession populated by mainly unskilled workers. Almost 70% were the sole breadwinners for their families.

Most taxi operators were aware of the government’s COVID-19 relief package. However, only three in five of them were at the time of interview aware that they were eligible and had made an application. The remainder had not yet heard of the grant package or had forgotten to apply. This reflects the need to continue educating taxi drivers about the availability of these grants.