Combos

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

Name: Combo (Save 5%): Palace of Holyroodhouse + Edinburgh Zoo Tickets
Start: 2026-09-07T12:00:00
End: 2026-09-07T16:00:00
Location: Edinburgh

4.6/5(6,083)

Matt W

Family

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

We had a fab time at Edinburgh zoo! When we first got through the entrance the first animal we saw was the Red Panda, and a helpful staff member told us all about him, his personality and his friend (who was off on an adventure to hopefully have a baby!). This carried on into the rest of the trip as we had several very helpful and friendly staff members come over and talk to us about the animals or exhibits we were looking at, which was really nice to see and very appreciated! The penguins were really fun, there's windows around the back of their area and if you wander down there, the ones swimming enjoy interacting with you - we stayed there for about 20 minutes playing hide and seek between the windows with one curious little penguin. We had lunch in the Grasslands restaurant and while the app to order was running a little slow (could have been my phone too!), a server saw and came over to take our order instead, she was also very lovely and helpful. The prices at the restaurant were very fair and also included a free child's meal with 2 adults - bonus! The food was also gorgeous and there's a decent range including vegetarian options. There's so many animals to see, you'll burn off a fair few calories getting round them all but you can easily spend several hours here. A really fun, very insightful and very fairly priced day out!

Marco G

Family

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Good evening; I am absolutely certain that this was the most exciting experience of our family vacation (myself, my wife, and our 7-year-old daughter). Unfortunately, we spent only five days in Edinburgh, but the Royals' summer residence is truly unforgettable. The rooms—intimate in size yet exquisitely furnished down to the last detail—create a genuinely welcoming, home-like atmosphere. It is easy to imagine oneself as a lucky guest at the parties held there, or to relive the tragic moments in the Princess's chambers with a genuine sense of distress—especially upon seeing the bloodstain left by Rizzio, still visible on the beautiful wooden floor of the meeting room. Creaking floors and oak-paneled walls that carry the scent of history—unforgettable! The grandeur of the gardens shown in the photos and the splendid Rolls-Royce—royal in the true sense of the word.

Nidal A

Solo

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

We had such a wonderful day at Edinburgh Zoo! 🐧🦁 My son absolutely loves animals, so this was one of the highlights of our trip to Scotland. There is so much to see, the grounds are beautiful, and we really enjoyed taking our time exploring together. The staff were friendly and the whole experience was very well organised. Definitely worth visiting, especially with children. A lovely day and some very special memories for us. ❤️

Pauline C

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

The check-in went smoothly and directions were clearly provided. The headset was easy to understand and app tour was available. The wall through the palace was entertaining and interesting. The walk around the grounds was lovely and the weather cooperated the entire time. We followed up the for with a strenuous hike up to the cliffs, looking out over the city. We enjoyed the flora and fauna.

Dana A

Family

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

The zoo is a wonderful outing for anyone, kids or otherwise. There is a lot of uphill and downhill walking so factor that in. The app is very helpful in navigating the huge space and the playgrounds were incredible. There are also some food and beverage options to satisfy. Though the entry line was long, they processed it fast! Book tickets online to make that even faster.

Joanne S

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

It was much better than I expected, it was very interesting and the information from the headphones that you get is really good, if I had known how good it was i would have bought the full package, I only purchased for Holyrood House. I would definitely recommend it both myself and my daughter loved it, a very enjoyable couple of hours.

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.

6,083 reviews
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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 64 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Marco G
Family
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
Good evening; I am absolutely certain that this was the most exciting experience of our family vacation (myself, my wife, and our 7-year-old daughter). Unfortunately, we spent only five days in Edinburgh, but the Royals' summer residence is truly unforgettable. The rooms—intimate in size yet exquisitely furnished down to the last detail—create a genuinely welcoming, home-like atmosphere. It is easy to imagine oneself as a lucky guest at the parties held there, or to relive the tragic moments in the Princess's chambers with a genuine sense of distress—especially upon seeing the bloodstain left by Rizzio, still visible on the beautiful wooden floor of the meeting room. Creaking floors and oak-paneled walls that carry the scent of history—unforgettable! The grandeur of the gardens shown in the photos and the splendid Rolls-Royce—royal in the true sense of the word.
Nidal A
Solo
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
We had such a wonderful day at Edinburgh Zoo! 🐧🦁 My son absolutely loves animals, so this was one of the highlights of our trip to Scotland. There is so much to see, the grounds are beautiful, and we really enjoyed taking our time exploring together. The staff were friendly and the whole experience was very well organised. Definitely worth visiting, especially with children. A lovely day and some very special memories for us. ❤️
Mrs Sharon T
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
I have been to Holyrood Palace many times in my life. This time I had a Japanese visitor with me. We both enjoyed the visit immensely and she really appreciated the audio guide. The way the tour is organised now makes it very easy to get a picture of the history and the current use by The Royal Family.
Sharon S
Family
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
It was an epic visit!! To see the Queen's private rooms was a special treat for my daughter and I who were on a trip to my mom's homeland of Scotland. My mom saw the coronation of the queen. So it was extra special. They guides were outstanding ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Miss Elizabeth B
Family
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
Having booked the tickets made entry to the zoo quicker and cheaper. The highlight was seeing the recenly born baby animals, like the capybara and sloth. I also saw the armadillo for the first time.

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.