Step into royal history with entry to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, The King’s official residence in Scotland.
Getting started
Begin with your entry ticket to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Just present your voucher at the entrance and enjoy direct access to centuries of royal history.
What to expect
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Discover this working royal palace nestled at the end of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile. From State Apartments to the haunting ruins of Holyrood Abbey, explore the historic site that played a central role in Scotland’s monarchy, once home to Mary, Queen of Scots and still used by the royal family today.
Features:
State Apartments: Tour grand rooms with elaborate plasterwork, historic furnishings, and elegant tapestries still used for official functions today.
Holyrood Abbey: Stroll through the atmospheric ruins of this 12th-century abbey, once a major religious centre in medieval Scotland.
Multimedia guide: Enjoy an included multimedia guide that brings the Palace’s rich history and royal stories to life through engaging audio and visuals.
Extras
Digital guidebook: Get a high-quality digital guidebook for a more immersive dive into the Royal Collection.
Edinburgh audio guide: Get a self-guided Edinburgh city audio tour to explore the capital’s landmarks after your visit with expert city narration, perfect for those who want to discover the secrets of the Old Town on foot at their own pace.
Guided tour: Join a 2-hour English guided tour with an expert and learn about the palace's history without the crowds.
Royal Edinburgh Ticket: Upgrade to a 48-hour sightseeing experience including:
Edinburgh Castle: Visit the hilltop fortress home to the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
Royal Yacht Britannia: Step aboard this former floating palace, now docked in Leith, and explore its State Apartments and royal quarters.
Hop-on Hop-off bus pass: Enjoy unlimited travel for 48 hours on three major sightseeing tours—Edinburgh Tour, Regal Tour, and CitySightseeing Edinburgh—with onboard commentary and stops near major attractions.
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Palace of Holyroodhouse
Bags larger than 45cm × 20cm × 30cm are not allowed in this experience.
Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.
Photography is strictly not allowed inside the State Apartments.
Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted in the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
In consideration of other visitors, mobile phones must be switched off inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible, except in some parts of Mary, Queen of Scots' rooms.
Your guide dogs are welcome at the venue.
Concessionary rates for disabled visitors and a complimentary companion ticket are only available to book directly with Royal Collection Trust.
Royal Edinburgh Ticket
Only parts of Edinburgh Castle are wheelchair accessible. The Royal Yacht Britannia experience and the Hop-on Hop-off buses are wheelchair accessible.
Mobility scooters are allowed if they can be folded and stored as luggage.
Your guide dogs and pet dogs are welcome aboard.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
As the Palace of Holyroodhouse is a working royal palace, security and opening arrangements may be subject to change at short notice.
You may be subject to security checks. Some items may have to be checked in and reclaimed at the end of your visit.
For safety and security reasons, a one-way route operates inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The palace is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Last admission time is 3:15pm.
Under 5s must be booked with a paid ticket.
Royal Edinburgh Ticket
This ticket guarantees entry to the Castle during the 48-hour validity of the tour; it does NOT guarantee entry on the day that the ticket is purchased. The last entry slot for the Castle is 2:30pm.
Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult or senior citizen during their visit.
You can board your Hop-on Hop-off bus anytime between 9am to 6pm and visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Castle, and the Royal Yacht Britannia within 48 hours.
First departure from Stop 1 at 8:45am and last departure from Stop 1 at 6pm. Please click here for detailed route maps and boarding points.
Kids go free! Up to 3 kids can travel for free per adult ticket. Child tickets must be added to the basket when purchasing tickets.
Cancellation is allowed up to 36 hours before the scheduled start time. Variant-specific cancellation policies may apply.
