Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence in Scotland of Her Majesty The Queen, stands at the end of Edinburgh's Royal Mile against the spectacular backdrop of Arthur's Seat. This fine baroque palace is closely associated with Scotland's rich history and today one of the highest visited Scotland tourist attraction and favorite place to have a Scotland break. The Palace is perhaps best known as the home of Mary, Queen of Scots, and as the setting for many of the dramatic episodes in her turbulent reign. Mary was married at Holyroodhouse and witnessed the brutal killing of her secretary Rizzio by her jealous second husband, Lord Darnley, in her private apartments. The Palace briefly served as the headquarters of Bonnie Prince Charlie during the 1745 uprising. Successive kings and queens have made the Palace of Holyroodhouse the premier royal residence in Scotland.
The Investiture held in the Great Gallery is for Scottish residents whose achievements have been recognised in the twice-yearly Honours List which appears at New Year and on The Queen's Official Birthday in June. King George V and Queen Mary held the first garden party in the grounds of Holyroodhouse and the tradition has been maintained to the present day. Each year, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh entertain around 8,000 guests from all walks of Scottish life during Holyrood week. Visiting Scotland can not be completed without the visit to the Palace of Holyrood. Today, the Palace is the setting for State ceremonies and official entertaining. During The Queen's Holyrood week, which usually runs from the end of June to the beginning of July, Her Majesty carries out a wide range of official engagements in Scotland.Come to Scotland and explore this magnificent Scottish destination.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
Opening hours:
| The Palace is open daily |
| 1 November - 31 March |
09:30-16:30 (last admission 15:30) |
| 1 April to 31 October |
09:30-18:00 (last admission 17:00) |
| 9 August 2010 |
09:30-14:00 (last admission 13:00) |
Timing your visit
A typical visit lasts between 1 and 1½ hours.
The Palace is closed
15 May - 4 June 2010
6-17 July 2010
13-16 September 2010
25-26 December 2010
During Royal Visits
Admission prices:
| Palace of Holyroodhouse(includes an audio tour) |
| Adult |
£10.25 |
| Over 60/Student(with valid ID) |
£9.30 |
| Under 17 |
£6.20 |
| Under 5 |
Free |
| Family(2 adults, 3 under 17s) |
£27.00 |
Lavatory facilities are available in the Courtyard, including toilets suitable for wheelchair-users. Baby-care rooms are also provided.
Photography and filming (for private use only) are permitted in the grounds of the Palace. Mobile phones must be switched off inside the Palace.
The shop sells a wide range of merchandise, much of which has been designed exclusively for the Royal Collection.
Family Activities
Use our lively and interactive family audio tour to explore the Palace and learn more about its history.
In addition, a programme of family workshops and activities are available during school holidays and at weekends. Click on the link below to check for details of forthcoming events.
Café at the Palace
In the historic setting of the Palace's Mews Courtyard, the Café at the Palace offers simple home-made dishes made from fresh, locally sourced produce. Choose from a selection of soups, two hot main courses and a range of delicious salads, sandwiches, speciality breads and home-baked cakes.
Audio Tours and Guidebooks
An audio tour is included in the admission price and is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Chinese. A family audio tour and activity trail is also available in English. The official guidebook is available in English. A souvenir guidebook is also available and is printed in eight languages, English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.