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Explore a castle caught in the Protestant Reformation struggle for hearts and minds. St Andrews Castle was a bishop’s palace, a fortress and a state prison during its 450-year history.

Protestant preacher George Wishart may have been imprisoned in the castle’s bottle dungeon. Cardinal Beaton’s murdered body was certainly kept in the dank and airless hole. The assassination sparked the brutal siege of 1546–47, when opposing sides dug the remarkable mine and countermine into the rock close to the castle battlements.

Today, visitors can peer into the notorious bottle dungeon, one of medieval Britain’s most infamous castle prisons and imagine the grim reality faced by those once confined within. Outside, take time to marvel at the Hamilton Façade, an impressive architectural statement that reflects the wealth, ambition and refined taste of its creator.

An aerial view of St Andrews castle with beach in foreground
A visitor holding a smartphone explores the siege mine underneath St Andrews Castle.

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Get expert insight and scintillating stories as you explore! You can enjoy the St Andrews Castle audio guide on your own smartphone or on one our devices.
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Membership

Ideal for regular visitors and heritage supporters

Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events

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Valid for 14 consecutive days

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  • Valid for 14 consecutive days
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  • 20% discount on audio guides at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Glasgow Cathedral
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