Explore at your pace
Free cancellation
Book now, pay later
Audio guide
-
Enjoy full access to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish home of the British monarch, located at the end of Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.
-
Wander through the hauntingly beautiful ruins of 12th-century Holyrood Abbey, steeped in almost 900 years of religious and royal history.
-
Enhance your visit with complimentary multimedia guides and printed guidebooks, available with select ticket options.
-
Opt for a digital palace guidebook, an Edinburgh city audio guide, a guided tour, or 48 hours of hop-on hop-off bus travel and entry to Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Yacht Britannia.
-
-
Entry to Palace of Holyroodhouse
-
Multimedia guide in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish
Additional paid upgrades:
-
Digital guidebook
-
Edinburgh city audio guide
-
2-hour exclusive guided tour
-
Expert English-speaking guide
-
48-hour access to 3 City Tours
-
Edinburgh Tour
-
Regal Tour
-
CitySightseeing Edinburgh
-
Live English commentary on the Edinburgh Tour
-
Audioguide on the CitySightseeing bus and the Regal Tour in 9 languages
-
-
Entry to Edinburgh Castle
-
Entry to The Royal Yacht Britannia
-
-
Transport
-
Food and drink
-
You can cancel these tickets up to 36 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
- 5,095 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
3.7K9617244278
Guests from United States, Italy, Spain and over 53 countries have loved this experienceWhat our guests say
Robert M
CoupleVerified bookingBeth M
CoupleVerified bookingMarija D
CoupleVerified bookingGiorgia R
GroupVerified bookingAiden W
FamilyVerified booking
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.
-
-
What's not allowed
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.
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.
-
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.
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.
-
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.
-
-
Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
-
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.
Redemption Point
-
Show your ticket at Palace of Holyroodhouse.
-
Address: Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, United Kingdom..
-
Similar experiences you'd love
Top things to do in Edinburgh
Nearby cities to explore
How Headout makes choosing experiences effortless
