Combos

Combo (Save 5%): Palace of Holyroodhouse + Edinburgh Zoo Tickets

Name: Combo (Save 5%): Palace of Holyroodhouse + Edinburgh Zoo Tickets
Start: 2026-10-23T12:00:00
End: 2026-10-23T16:00:00
Location: Edinburgh

4.6/5(6,311)

Eleonora M

Family

Verified booking

Last week

Visiting the Palace of Holyroodhouse was an unforgettable experience, one that felt less like visiting a historic monument and more like stepping into the pages of a living history book. From the moment you approach its magnificent façade, there is an undeniable sense of grandeur, elegance, and quiet majesty that makes this place truly extraordinary. Every room tells a story, every corridor whispers secrets of the past, and every intricate detail reflects centuries of royal heritage, political intrigue, romance, and tragedy. The historic chambers, exquisite decorations, and remarkable atmosphere create an experience that is both intellectually fascinating and deeply moving. Knowing that these walls have witnessed the lives and decisions of some of Scotland’s most significant historical figures makes the visit all the more powerful. What makes the palace particularly special is the perfect balance between royal splendour and the human stories hidden behind it. It is not simply a beautiful building; it is a place where Scotland’s history feels tangible, intimate, and alive. The surrounding gardens add another layer of charm, offering a peaceful contrast to the richness of the interiors, with the magnificent backdrop of Arthur’s Seat completing the picture. The visit is beautifully enriching, captivating even for those who are not usually passionate about history. It is the kind of place that stays with you long after you leave, not only because of what you see, but because of what you feel. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is far more than a royal residence: it is the soul of Scottish history expressed through architecture, art, and timeless elegance. A truly remarkable experience and an absolute must-see in Edinburgh. If you want to understand Scotland beyond its landscapes, this is where its history comes to life.

Roshini N

Family

Verified booking

Last week

Booking our Edinburgh Zoo tickets through Headout was quick and hassle-free. The e-tickets arrived instantly by email, and when i arrived at the zoo, the entry was smooth and I just needed to scan the tickets. The zoo itself was the highlight of the day. Seeing the flamingos, penguins and the rhino up close was a real treat, and the hillside walk gave us lovely views across Edinburgh. The paths were easy to follow using the map on the app and the staff were friendly and helpful giving us fun facts and infomation regarding the animals. It's really cute how some of the animals were named after the staff memeber's children names. I also now know that the rhino was 4 years ago and enjoys his warm water bath pool. Overall, I had a relaxing and memorable weekend with my partner and I'd happily book with Headout again.

Davnet H

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

Easy to book online. Extremely friendly and helpful staff when we arrived at the Palace. Audio equipment supplied was excellent to help use navigate the Palace and give us a greater insight to both the history and present day details of the Palace. Great communication after booking tickets. Would definitely recommend booking with this company and visit to Hollyrood Palace. We really enjoyed our visit.

Jade T

Solo

Verified booking

Last week

No issues in getting into the zoo. Just had to show my ticket and code to the front desk and was in within a minute. Spent the whole time exploring the zoo and visiting the animals until closing. Also really good in getting your steps in as there is a lot to explore and you go uphill at times. Got the see the Wee Waddle with the penguins. Their new baby hippo was sleeping with her mama indoors.

Caron T

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

We stayed longer than we expected at this lovely palace cum home. There is a lot to appreciate. A bonus for me & the D/deaf community was the audio guide which has BSL & captions in English. I had forgotten my loop ear hooks so relied on the subtitles. I'm not sure if the subtitles would work in different languages but that would be something to consider.

Carol S

Group

Verified booking

Last week

The Palace of Holyrood was absolutely excellent, well informed staff and well organised no it was beautiful wandering around the garden. Finished in the coffee shop which was also very good. The worst thing was booking with Headout and not booking direct. We were given wrong information by them

Book this combo ticket to seamlessly access the historic Palace of Holyroodhouse (The King's official Scottish residence) and the Edinburgh Zoo.

Maximise your Edinburgh visit by combining 500 years of Scottish royal history with an educational day out at the UK's only Royal Zoological Society of Scotland zoo.

Save money compared to buying separate entry tickets, and save time by securing access to two major sites (history and wildlife) with one simple booking.

Explore the Palace's tumultuous past, including the historic chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots, a site of murder and intrigue, enhanced by your multilingual audioguide.

At the Zoo, meet over 2,500 animals, including unique residents like Asiatic lions, sloth bears and pygmy hippos, supporting the Zoo's vital conservation work.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Entry to the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Audio guide in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and Spanish

Edinburgh Zoo

Entry tickets to Edinburgh Zoo

Palace of Holyroodhouse + Edinburgh Zoo

Guided tour

Transfers

Food and drinks

You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

6,311 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.
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Guests from United States, Italy, Spain and over 60 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Roshini N
Family
Verified booking
Last week
Booking our Edinburgh Zoo tickets through Headout was quick and hassle-free. The e-tickets arrived instantly by email, and when i arrived at the zoo, the entry was smooth and I just needed to scan the tickets. The zoo itself was the highlight of the day. Seeing the flamingos, penguins and the rhino up close was a real treat, and the hillside walk gave us lovely views across Edinburgh. The paths were easy to follow using the map on the app and the staff were friendly and helpful giving us fun facts and infomation regarding the animals. It's really cute how some of the animals were named after the staff memeber's children names. I also now know that the rhino was 4 years ago and enjoys his warm water bath pool. Overall, I had a relaxing and memorable weekend with my partner and I'd happily book with Headout again.
Elia B
Group
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
The visit to the palace was really wonderful—a place truly steeped in history and also very well organized. At the entrance, they give you an audio guide available in many languages, which you can listen to in every part of the castle to understand what you're seeing. Personally, it was one of the best visits in Edinburgh.
Samia M
Couple
Verified booking
Sep 2026
Amazing experience!! Absolutely loved every second of day out. From finally being able to see koala bears in person (my all time favourite animal) to seeing atty the baby sloth, this was hands down the best day ever. I spent 4 hours here and even then I felt I could have spent so much more time
Cinzia G
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
A wonderful experience! I found everything very beautiful and realistic. The audio guide with earphones in Italian was also very interesting, explaining everything accurately and to perfection. It felt like living back in the royal era. I recommend it to everyone.
Rachel F
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Particularly like the audio headsets that not only told explained where you were in the house, but also you had an opportunity to see certain rooms differently, by 'scratching' the scene. Plus the old palace and grounds were great to see.

Get ready for the ultimate Edinburgh experience, blending royal history with wildlife! This combo ticket grants you entry to two of the city’s top attractions: the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of The King, and the world-renowned Edinburgh Zoo, home to thousands of animals.

Getting started

You have the flexibility to visit the Palace and the Zoo on separate days or combine them into an action-packed itinerary. We recommend starting early if visiting both on the same day. The Palace is located at the foot of the Royal Mile, and the Zoo is situated west of the city centre. Be sure to collect your multilingual audio guide at the Palace to fully appreciate the royal history!

What to expect

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Step into the tumultuous world of Scottish royalty! The Palace of Holyroodhouse is a working royal palace used by King Charles III for State ceremonies, but it is most famous as the 16th-century home of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Features:

Mary, Queen of Scots' chambers: Explore the authentic, historic chambers in the oldest part of the Palace, including the Bedchamber and Supper Room, which were the site of murder and dramatic intrigue during her reign.

State Apartments & Royal Collection: Walk through magnificent rooms used by the Royal Family and admire tapestries, fine furniture, and artworks drawn from the Royal Collection.

Multilingual audioguide: Your entry includes a complimentary multilingual audioguide to provide comprehensive historical context and facts as you tour the site.

Holyrood Abbey & Gardens: Wander through the atmospheric 12th-century Abbey ruins and stroll through the historic palace gardens.

Edinburgh Zoo

Prepare for a wild adventure across 82 acres of parkland! Edinburgh Zoo is home to over 2,500 rare and endangered animals and is run by a wildlife conservation charity. Spend the day exploring diverse habitats, seeing incredible species unique to the UK, and learning about global conservation efforts.

Features:

Iconic animals: Meet some of the Zoo’s most popular residents, including koalas, giraffes, sun bears, and Scotland's only sloths.

Penguins Rock & Parade: Visit one of the largest outdoor penguin pools, Penguins Rock, and try to catch the famous daily Penguin Parade where the King and Gentoo penguins waddle around the park!

Budongo Trail & Living Links: Get up close to chimpanzees in one of Europe’s most innovative man-made wildlife habitats and watch primates interact at the Living Links research centre.

Keeper talks: Enhance your visit by attending daily ranger talks and feeding sessions, where expert keepers share fun facts and insights into the animals' lives and conservation status.

What’s not allowed

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Photography is strictly not allowed inside the State Apartments.

Large bags, rucksacks and suitcases (30L or over) are not allowed inside for security reasons.

Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.

Edinburgh Zoo

Safety is a priority, so guests under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a guardian.

Sharp metallic tools or objects, alcohol, drones, radios, scooters, bikes, rollerblades or skates and glass items are not allowed on this experience.

Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.

Smoking is not allowed, including e-cigarettes.

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.

Edinburgh Zoo

This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Your guide dogs are welcome at the venue.

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.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is open to the public on December 23. It is, however, closed on Christmas.

Edinburgh Zoo

Re-entry after entering isn’t permitted without park authority approval.

The park may close in extreme weather; tickets will be valid for a later visit.

Visitors wearing costumes might be asked to remove them for safety.

Facilities: parking.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.