CityBuddy
Palace of Holyroodhouse (Holyrood Palace)
Best time to visit
Visit early morning or late afternoon on weekdays for smaller crowds and better light for photos; summer offers longer opening hours and the palace gardens at their best.
Budget tips
Paid entry for most visitors, children under 5 are usually free; book tickets on the Royal Collection Trust website to save a small online discount and avoid queues, and consider a Royal Collection membership if you plan to visit other royal sites.
Recommended for
History buffs, Royal history fans, Architecture lovers, Photography enthusiasts
Plan your visit
1-2 hours
About
Quick facts: Stone walls and ceremonial state rooms glow with gold leaf and tapestries, giving visitors a vividly tactile sense of courtly ceremony while ruined abbey arches peek into the clipped gardens. Whispered stories about a turbulent 16th-century queen linger in the private chambers, and the rooms still host official royal ceremonies and visiting heads of state.
Highlights: Step into the Great Gallery and your eye is immediately caught by 96 near life-size oil portraits of Scottish kings, each draped in crimson and ermine and painted in the 17th century so the room feels like a glittering roll call of rulers beneath a gilt ceiling. In the Queen's bedchamber you can still feel the hush of 1566 when the murder of David Rizzio was carried out in front of Mary, Queen of Scots, a story people quietly tell while tracing the creak of old floorboards and the faint smell of beeswax on the sash windows.
Insider tips
- Wear comfortable shoes, the State Apartments and Abbey involve steps and uneven stone floors.
- Head straight to the Great Gallery and the throne room on arrival to photograph them before larger tour groups arrive.
- Skip the audio guide if short on time, palace labels are informative and guided tours cover the main stories.
- Combine the visit with a short walk up the Royal Mile or Arthur's Seat for dramatic exterior views and to escape the busiest spots.
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