This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at St. Andrews chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

My Top Wellness Spots in The Bubble

St Andrews is a small town, and while at first glance it seems like it may be lacking in what would traditionally be thought of as wellness, I encourage you to look again. Let me be your guide through my top wellness spots in St Andrews that I have tried and keep coming back to:

Food

Crunch

New on the scene but definitely a much-needed addition is Crunch: Munch’s healthier, trendier sister. This budget- and gut-friendly salad bar exceeded my expectations and has made me a loyal customer. There are endless toppings to choose from, as well as six already curated bowls that are all amazing (my favourite is the falafel one). As we head into the autumn season, their selection of soups will be perfect for a warming lunch as a remedy to the Scottish weather.

Combini

A classic— and definitely a sore spot for my wallet— is Combini. This student-founded Korean-Japanese fusion is the perfect stop for a library lunch or a treat to take to St Mary’s quad. Their bowls have the perfect balance of grains, vegetables, proteins, and flavour, making it one of the busiest spots in town during lunchtime. Their new double protein bowl is also perfect for all the athletes out there looking to maximise their protein goals.

Five Acres

A hidden gem on Market Street is Five Acres, which highlights seasonal and local produce in all their dishes. Their menu changes weekly and always has delicious picks for salads, bowls, soups, or sandwiches. They also host pop-ups, which offer a nice break from the limited selection in St Andrews. Their emphasis on vegetables and gut-healthy options makes it a perfect boost for those of us on a ‘girl-dinner’ diet and needing some extra brain fuel between classes.

Shops

Balgove Larder

A wee scenic walk from town is the Balgove Larder, arguably the most aesthetic food shop in St Andrews. I love walking in to see all the fresh and seasonal produce; I mean, who knew that’s what Brussels sprouts looked like? It’s definitely worth the walk to have a browse and pick yourself up a little treat. Their night market on the first Tuesday of every month is also a fun event for food and community.

Holland and Barret

Of course I couldn’t make this list without mentioning the queen of wellness herself: Holland & Barrett. Conveniently located right on Market Street, H&B is full of vitamins and supplements that are especially useful during fresher’s flu season. Their loyalty scheme is also great for saving a bit of money.

Naturity

The ultimate in-town healthy grocer is, of course, Naturity. Even just the smell of the shop seems to calm me down after a stressful day. I’ve spent so much time just looking through their extensive tea selection, which definitely has a flavour for everyone. They also focus on sustainability by offering a refill station, which means you can stock up on everything from nuts to spices to flour without buying single-use plastics.

Health and Fitness

Saunas

In St Andrews, we’re lucky to live next to the sea, and two businesses that make full use of it are Wild Scottish Sauna and St Andrews Seaside Sauna. The ultimate cool-girl wellness hobby is going to the sauna. The St Andrews Seaside Sauna also offers a stunning view of the sea as well as a student discount. So if you’re an athlete trying anything to recover, or just want to soak up the warmth as the Scottish weather gets colder, try a sauna!

Gyms

On first glance at the word gym, you may be thinking that it is the antithesis of wellbeing and is more suitably equated to a humiliation ritual, or at least that’s how I feel about the sports centre gym. However, I could not write a guide to wellbeing without including a gym. I think the sports centre gym is fine if you don’t mind crowds, but there are other (and in my opinion, better) options. For example, new to the scene is Salt, a functional fitness gym right on the outskirts of town. They offer a plethora of classes from reformer Pilates to Hyrox training. So there seems to be something there for everyone, and hopefully not as many people.

My Favourite

Pubs

Equally as important, in my opinion, is social wellness. The pub is my personal favourite way to uplift my energy and is the perfect antidote to a difficult day of lectures. All it takes is one look around at everyone laughing and enjoying each other’s company to make me feel better. I love going to a cozy pub like Whey Pat or the Criterion and playing card games or whatever random board game happens to be there. So while it’s not your traditional wellness hub, I think the pub is just as important as any other place on this list.

I hope my guide has shown you that St Andrews is home to a plethora of wellness spots. I encourage you to try the ones you haven’t already and remember that wellness is different for everyone, so find what works for you, whether that’s a sauna and a dip followed by herbal tea or a trip to the pub with your friends.

A Wellness Guide to St Andrews