Holyrood Palace

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Visit the official residence of the Queen in Scotland when you take a trip to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (also known as Holyrood Palace). Explore the luxurious State Apartments, the ruins of the original Holyrood Abbey, and the beautiful grounds when you visit!

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4 tips for visiting the Holyrood Palace

Palace of Holyroodhouse | Photo: Flickr, LWYung - CC-BY 2.0

Use the multimedia guide! It’s included for free with every ticket bought and is available in English, Gaelic, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Mandarin, and British Sign Language, with an additional version specially designed for families.

Arthur’s Seat | Photo: Flickr, Magnus Hardorn - CC BY-SA 2.0

You’ll get a great view of Arthur’s Seat from the grounds of Holyrood Palace, especially as the sun begins to set. Watch out for the opening times though, the gardens are only open at the weekends in November, January, February, and March.

No photographs can be taken inside the palace, but are encouraged outside in the grounds. Visitors are asked to turn their phones off during their time inside the palace to avoid disturbing other guests.

If you feel like being a little bit fancy, why not enjoy a regal afternoon tea in the café? Regular afternoon tea costs £18.95 per person and includes home-made cakes, pastries, and sandwiches, plus your choice of tea. It’s served from noon to 4 pm from April to October and from noon until 3 pm from November until March.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will we see the queen?

Holyrood Palace is the official residence of the Queen when she’s in Scotland, though she doesn’t always stay there. Every year her Majesty attends the ‘Holyrood Week’ of engagements, which includes a garden party in the grounds of Holyroodhouse in the last week of June or first week of July. The family doesn’t spend a huge amount of time at the palace, most of the autumn, winter, and spring they are either at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, or Sandringham, and they tend to spend the summer at Balmoral in the Cairngorms rather than in Edinburgh. So it’s unlikely, but you could bump into her.

What will we see on a visit to the palace?

On your trip to the palace you’ll be able to see the State Apartments, which include the magnificent bedchamber created for Charles II (but which he never got to use), the Royal Dining Room, which is still in use when the Queen is in residence, and the Throne Rome and Privy Chamber, which are used for ceremonial purposes and meetings between the Queen and the First Minister of Scotland. You’ll also see the bedchamber where Mary, Queen of Scots lived between 1561 and 1567, and where she witnessed the murder of her private secretary, David Rizzio, in 1566. Next to the palace, you can explore the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, the original building on the site, built in 1128 on the orders of King David I of Scotland. Finally, you can unwind in the beautiful gardens of the palace. In addition to the multimedia guide, you can get free tours of the gardens, the Abbey, and the palace with a warder. Just ask what the tour timetable is for the date of your trip when you arrive at the palace.

Why is it called Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse?

The word ‘rood’ is an Old English word for cross, and the term ‘Holyrood’ was used to refer to the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. There are two different stories which explain the name. In the first, King David I of Scotland was hunting in the forest when he was thrown from his horse, as it had been startled by a stag. He was either saved by the appearance of a miraculous cross in the sky, or by sunlight reflected from a crucifix which appeared between the stag’s horns and as a mark of gratitude and thanksgiving he founded the abbey in its present site. The name could also come from a relic of the True Cross, brought by the King’s mother to the abbey and then known as the Black Rood of Scotland. The relic later fell into the hands of the English before disappearing from Durham Cathedral during the Reformation. Whichever story is true, Holyrood means ‘Holy Cross’, and the palace takes its name from the Abbey.

What’s in the Gallery?

The Gallery of Holyrood Palace is used as an exhibition space, featuring different temporary exhibitions of art from the royal collection. From November 2018 to June 2019 that exhibit features art from the time of King Charles II, from June 2019 to November 2019 it will feature art on the theme of Russia, Royals, and the Romanovs, and from November 2019 to March 2020 it will host the largest collection of the work of Leonardo da Vinci ever shown in Scotland, on display to mark the 500th anniversary of the artist’s death.

How long does a visit take?

The multimedia tour takes about an hour, but you can take your time to explore everything thoroughly, especially the gardens. If you take a tour with a Warder in addition to using the multimedia guide then you should plan at least 3 hours for a visit.

Is a visit suitable for children?

A trip to the Palace of Holyroodhouse is suitable for families with children of all ages! There are special child-friendly activity trails for the palace, the abbey, and the gardens, which you can print in advance. The multimedia tour also has a family-friendly version in English, so children will enjoy following along as you explore. There are also special seasonal events for children, many of which include arts and crafts and other activities, so watch out for those! The only caveat is that strollers aren’t allowed inside the palace, so you might want to bring a baby carrier for the smallest family members, or you can borrow one from the visitor information desk.

Are there any ghosts in the palace?

With a history of murder, revolution, and warfare, it would be surprising if nobody had ever reported any mysterious sightings. Guests at the palace have reported unusual drafts and the sound of crying coming from the lower floors. More concerning that spooky wind-like sounds are the reports of the ghost of Agnes Sampson, also known as Bald Agnes, who was tortured, tried, and executed for witchcraft in 1591. Her crime was to have hampered the new Queen Anne’s voyage to Scotland from Oslo by raising storms. Other reported ghosts include Mary, Queen of Scots, who was executed in England in 1587, and her murdered secretary David Rizzio.

General information

opening hours

From April 1 to October 31 the palace will be open from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, with final admission at 4:30 pm. From November 1 to March 31 the palace will be open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with final admission at 3:15 pm. The palace is usually closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except from May 25 to September 8 when it is open 7 days a week. Please note there are scheduled closures from May 15 to May 24 and from June 26 to July 4, 2025. The palace is a working building and may be closed on short notice several times during the year.

address

Palace of Holyroodhouse
Canongate
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh
EH8 8DX

how to get there

The palace is a 15-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley station. The closest tram stop is York Place, a 20-minute walk away from Holyrood Palace. You can also take bus numbers 6 and 35 to stops near the palace. If you’re intending to use Hop-On Hop-Off bus services, they also have stops close to the palace. Public car parking is available near the palace for a fee.

website

Official site: https://www.rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse

tickets

Tickets for the Palace of Holyroodhouse cost £21.00 for adults in advance, or £25.00 on the day. £13.50 for young persons (18-24) in advance, or £16.50 on the day. £10.50 for children aged 5 to 17 or disabled visitors in advance, or £12.50 on the day. Access companion tickets are free of charge. Entry is free for children under the age of 5. Private Guided Morning Tour for groups is £50.00 per person (minimum booking value £1,250). Private Guided Morning Tour per person is £55.00. Workshop tickets such as the Physic Garden workshop are £75.00 for adults. Palace Page Turners workshop is £10.00. Guided Touch Tour is £10.50. Relaxed Morning and Relaxed Evening tickets are £10.50 for adult, young person, child and disabled visitor; access companions and under 5 free. Lectures are £6.00 and performances £21.00. Exhibition Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography is £11.00 for adults, £7.00 for young persons (18-24), £5.50 for children and disabled visitors, with a free access companion ticket and under 5 free. Family Studio Saturdays workshop is £8.00 per child with one free adult included, additional adults £8.00. Royal Rhyme Time is £3.00 per adult and £3.00 per toddler/baby. Private Evening Talk and View for Groups (Royal Portraits) is £30.00 per person (minimum booking value £750). Private Morning Talk and View for Groups (Royal Portraits) is £25.00 per person (minimum booking value £625). Private Guided Evening Tour of the Palace for groups is £55.00 per person (minimum booking value £1,375). Special event and tour pricing varies by event. £1 ticket for Universal Credit and benefits is currently not available, scheme is expected to return later in 2025.

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