Alpha Andromedae is better known as Alpheratz (or Sirrah) and forms the head of Andromeda. Many of the other bright stars represent her flowing hair.
    This star was once part of Pegasus and is still sometimes known as delta (d) Pegasi, as it forms the northeast corner of the Great Square of Pegasus.

It is easiest to find Alpheratz with the naked eye. Beginning at the North Pole draw a line from the Pole Star to Caph (beta Cassiopeia). Now extend this straight line the same distance and you will come to Alpheratz.

Depending on the time of year, this will be your view: Winter; Summer; Late Summer and early Autumn, looking north. And looking south, in late September: culmination

You will have noticed how Alpheratz is one of four stars which make a circular line around Cassiopeia, four equally-bright stars roughly at the same distance from each other. (This quartet is particularly evident just as the brighter stars are beginning to make their appearance, early in the evening.)
     Clockwise, starting from Alpheratz (alpha Andromedae), we have beta Andromedae (Mirach), gamma Andromedae (Almach), and alpha Persei (Mirfak). Remember this quartet: Alpheratz, Mirach, Almach, and Mirfak. (Easy to do: just think of ‘al, mir, al, mir’ and fill in the rest.)
    The first three are the brightest stars in Andromeda, the last one is the brightest star in Perseus (Mirfak also goes by the name of Algenib).

Now take a look at Alpheratz through binoculars.

(Note that you'll have to turn the diagram to point toward the North Pole. For example, in the summer Andromeda is turned such that North is toward the west as the observer faces north, so the other stars in the diagram--that form the ‘wedge’ in Pegasus--are to the east of the observer.)

From Alpheratz move over to beta Andromedae (Mirach). Either find the star with the naked eye or sweep your binoculars clockwise two fields of vision, through delta until you reach beta. Its red colour makes it fairly easy to find: binoculars. Now click on that star on the graphic to find out how to find M31.