Landmarks

Palace of Holyroodhouse Entrance Tickets

Name: Palace of Holyroodhouse Entrance Tickets
Start: 2025-01-23T09:30:00
End: 2025-01-23T16:30:00
Location: Palace of Holyroodhouse

Tourists at Palace of Holyroodhouse entrance, London, holding tickets and multimedia guide.

Tourists exploring the historic Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, with entrance tickets and multimedia guide in hand

Tourists at Palace of Holyroodhouse entrance, Edinburgh, using multimedia guide.

Tourists exploring the historic Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, with entrance tickets and multimedia guide

Visit the official residence of His Majesty The King, in Scotland, and discover historic secrets housed within the opulent walls of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Highlights

Step into the royal world of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. See where King Charles III stays when in Scotland, and learn about its rich history.
Discover the eclectic State Apartments, a royal masterpiece showcasing the blend of grand and contrasting tastes of successive monarchs.
Walk in Mary, Queen of Scots footsteps as you visit her Historic Apartments and find out the chilling stories about murder that haunt the walls.
Seek solace in a peaceful oasis amidst the crumbling ruins of Holyrood Abbey which once used to be one of the grandest abbeys in Scotland.
Opt for a ticket upgrade to enjoy a 48-hour hop-on-hop-off pass which gives you entry into Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Yacht Britannia.
Did you know? The name 'Holyrood' comes from 'holy rood' or 'holy cross', which is a Christian relic alleged to be part of the True Cross on which Jesus died.

Inclusions

Entry to the Palace of Holyroodhouse
Audio guide in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish
48-hour hop-on-hop-off bus (as per option selected)
Entry to Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Yacht Britannia (as per option selected)
Audio guide on the bus (as per option selected)

cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 36 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

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4.5

4.4K ratings

5/5

3.1K

4/5

858

3/5

2/5

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270

Paul

5/5

Jan, 2025

The commentary on both routes we did was very informative and the tours we did - especially Britannia - were very enjoyable and informative too

Nancy

5/5

Jan, 2025

It's a great way to tour the city and see the sights. Unfortunately, on The Edinburgh Tour green bus, the only language offered was English, but several languages were available on the other two tours. Stops and directions are well indicated. We liked the fact that the 48-hour ticket period begins when the ticket is validated.

View original review in French

Sofia

5/5

Dec, 2024

Really well-organized visit right from the entrance: the service at the box office is efficient and quick. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is simply magnificent, with great attention to detail, both in the rooms and in the historical narrative. The explanations and narratives offered along the tour are clear and engaging, making the experience even more interesting. The gardens surrounding the palace add an enchanting touch to the visit. I was truly satisfied and would recommend this experience to anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the history and beauty of a unique place.

View original review in Italian

Richard

5/5

Dec, 2024

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Lots of interesting information on the audio guide and excellent displays. Well organised route around the palace ending in the lovely tearoom.

Joanna

4/5

Dec, 2024

Great day out, only thing to be mindful of is whether you have a ticket that's eligible for a full years re-entry. Ours wasn't and we didn't realise when booking but definitely would have gone back.

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Your experience

A royal escapade in Scotland

Situated at the end of the Royal Mile in the center of Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is absolutely stunning both inside and out. A royal residence in Scotland for over 5 centuries, His Royal Majesty The King uses it for state ceremonies and official entertaining. Explore the Historic Apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots. These walls have witnessed many dramatic events during her short and turbulent reign, including the murder of her Italian secretary by her husband Lord Darnley. It is hardly a surprise then that her Bedroom came to be described as 'the most famous room in Scotland'. Take a walk through the exquisitely decorated State Apartments, renowned for their beautiful plasterwork ceilings, historical works of art, and unparalleled collection of Brussels tapestries.

Opulent interiors and haunting ruins

Visit the Great Gallery, where Bonnie Prince Charlie held several lavish balls after the setup of the Jacobite Court in September 1745. Take the chance to discover the ruins of Holyrood Abbey and the Palace's unique gardens, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Arthur’s Seat. Admire a colorful array of medicinal and culinary plants inspired by some of the earliest recorded gardens of the site, at the newly added physics garden. You can also choose to upgrade your tickets to include a 48-hour hop-on-hop-off bus pass which gives you entry into Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Yacht Britannia, along with the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Operating hours

Edinburgh Castle

Monday	09:30 AM - 05:00 PM	last entry 04:00 PM
Tuesday	09:30 AM - 05:00 PM	last entry 04:00 PM
Wednesday	09:30 AM - 05:00 PM	last entry 04:00 PM
Thursday	09:30 AM - 05:00 PM	last entry 04:00 PM
Friday	09:30 AM - 05:00 PM	last entry 04:00 PM
Saturday	09:30 AM - 05:00 PM	last entry 04:00 PM
Sunday	09:30 AM - 05:00 PM	last entry 04:00 PM

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Monday	09:30 AM - 04:30 PM	last entry 03:15 PM
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	09:30 AM - 04:30 PM	last entry 03:15 PM
Friday	09:30 AM - 04:30 PM	last entry 03:15 PM
Saturday	09:30 AM - 04:30 PM	last entry 03:15 PM
Sunday	09:30 AM - 04:30 PM	last entry 03:15 PM

Know before you go

What's not allowed

Keep in mind that bags larger than 45cm × 20cm × 30cm are not allowed in this experience. Pack wisely!
Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.
Keep your camera tucked away – photography is strictly not allowed inside the State Apartments.

Accessibility

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.

48-hour HOHO Pass

Only parts of Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse are wheelchair accessible. The Royal Yacht Britannia experience and the HOHO bus 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.

Additional information

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.
The palace is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

48-hour HOHO Pass

Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult or senior citizen during their visit.
You can board your HOHO bus anytime between 9am to 6pm and visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Castle, and the Royal Yacht Britannia within 48 hours.
Please click here for detailed route maps and boarding points.