Palace of Holyroodhouse

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.