- Edinburgh
- Indoor and Outdoor
- Ages 4+
- Castles and Palaces, Tourist Attractions
Attraction Information
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official Scottish residence of Her Majesty The Queen and stands against the spectacular backdrop of Arthur's Seat - an ancient volcano overlooking Edinburgh. Spend a day getting stuck into some royal history!
The Palace is a beautiful baroque structure where Mary Queen of Scots once lived during her short but turbulent reign. Explore the ill-fated queen’s quarters, including her bedchambers. Learn loads with the aid of a free audio guide which will point out the best bits you might have missed. There’s also a great programme of family-focused activities, like storytelling and face painting.
Be sure to visit The Queen's Gallery which has portraits of legendary Scottish monarchs lining the walls - see if you can name any! During the summer months, you might also fancy a visit to Holyrood Abbey which sits alongside the Palace. Learn all about its extraordinary history with a guided tour, plus be escorted by the Warden’s dresses in their ancient Stewart tartan. They may even inspire the more flamboyant dressers amongst you to crack out a kilt!
- See where Mary Queen of Scots once lived
- Explore exhibitions from The Royal Collection
- Take a guided tour of Holyrood Abbey
*Images credit: Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017, and Ian Jones.
Opening hours
1st April - 31st October
Monday to Sunday 09:30 – 18:00
1st November - 31st March
Monday to Sunday 09:30 – 16:30
Last Entry
1 hour 15 minutes before attraction closes.
Pricing
General Admission
Adults: £14.00
Kids (5-17): £8.10
Family (2 adults, 3 kids): £36.10
Travel & Contact Information
Address
Canongate, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Edinburgh and Lothian, EH8 8DX, Scotland
Phone number
0303 123 7306
Map
Website
Click here to visit Palace of Holyroodhouse's website.FAQ & Additional Information
Yes, there is parking nearby.
Yes, there are toilets, accessible toilets and baby changing facilities.
Yes, there are baby changing facilities.
Palace of Holyroodhouse has not told us if you can bring a picnic.
Yes, there is an onsite restaurant.
Yes, Palace of Holyroodhouse is wheelchair friendly and has accessible toilets.
There is no wheelchair access to may, Queen of Scots' Chambers.
Palace of Holyroodhouse has not told us if they are fully pushchair friendly.
Assistance/Guide Dogs only.
Reviews
Great -,Steeped in history 5 out of 5 stars
Visited on 4/2/2018 with a friend. Great audio self guided tour with first voice you hear through your headphones being Prince Charles himself! You get a real feeling of what it must have been like to live in the times of Mary Queen of Scots. Gruesome and fascinating! No children in our party but there were lots of school children on school outing and they looked very entertained with the live shows!
CazBud