Visiting Edinburgh gives you the chance to step inside the official residence of the British royal family in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a unique experience for anyone interested in royal history.
Explore the legacy of different dynasties
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, or Holyrood Palace, is, together with Balmoral Castle, the monarch’s official residence in Scotland, as it has been for their predecessors since the 16th century. The King normally spends a week here every summer, when the palace is closed to the public.
It was built by King James IV of Scotland, tired of the harsh weather at Edinburgh Castle, where Scottish monarchs had lived until then. If you visit both on a windy, rainy day, you’ll understand why he moved to this more sheltered spot!
The move gave its name to Edinburgh’s most famous street. If you walk from the Castle gate to the Palace gate, you’ll have covered one Scots mile (about 1.8 km), hence the name Royal Mile.
Practical information
Opening hours
- November to March
- 9.30am–4.30pm
- April to October
- 9.30am–6pm
Tickets (including audio guide)
| Ticket | Advance | On the day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £22 | £26 |
| Young person (18–24) | £14 | £17 |
| Child (5–17) and disabled visitor | £11 | £13 |
| Under 5s and access companions | Free | Free |
As a working royal residence, the palace closes during royal visits, and opening arrangements may change at short notice. Check the official website before visiting.
Inside the palace
Highlights inside Holyrood Palace include the State Apartments, with their carefully preserved period furniture; the Throne Room, still used for official receptions; and the chambers of Mary Queen of Scots.
Mary, one of Scotland’s most famous monarchs, lived at Holyrood between 1561 and 1567, and was at the centre of some of its most turbulent episodes, such as the murder of her secretary, David Rizzio, in front of her.
In the palace’s largest room, the Great Gallery, you can see portraits of 96 Scottish monarchs, real and legendary, starting with Fergus I, the mythical founder of Scotland, and including Macbeth, the inspiration for Shakespeare’s play, Robert the Bruce, hero of the Wars of Independence, and the Stuarts, who ruled for over 300 years and eventually also became kings of England.
Holyrood Abbey
At the end of your visit, you’ll reach the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, one of the most important in Scotland since it was founded in the 12th century. It is one of the highlights of the visit.
This majestic Gothic abbey saw royal coronations, baptisms, weddings and burials for centuries, until Canongate Kirk, a little further up the Royal Mile, replaced it as the palace’s parish church in the late 17th century. Today, its ruins still convey its former grandeur.
Your ticket also includes the palace gardens, with stunning views of Holyrood Park. This is where the royal garden party is held at the start of each summer.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is a must if you love royal history, but with its fascinating past and the remains of its extraordinary abbey, it will interest everyone.
Location
You can find the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom of the Royal Mile, opposite the Scottish Parliament and next to Holyrood Park. Before heading to the main gates, go to the ticket office and gift shop, in a small building next door.
Get directions to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.