Duration
Guided tour
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Celebrate the Queen’s centenary with a rare 1-hour tour of her private rooms at Holyroodhouse with a guided apartment visit plus full entry to the Palace.
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Available only in 2026, step inside Queen Elizabeth II’s private apartments, opened to the public for the first time ever to mark her 100th birth anniversary.
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An expert guide reveals the 70-year history of these rooms, sharing stories of how the Queen and Prince Philip lived and worked while in residence.
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Tour the Royal Breakfast Room, the Sitting Room with its iconic red dispatch boxes, and a Dressing Room featuring three of Her Majesty's historic outfits.
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Your ticket includes a self-guided tour of the main Palace with a multimedia guide, allowing you to explore the Throne Room and Mary, Queen of Scots’ historic chambers at your pace.
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Entry to Palace of Holyroodhouse
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1-hour guided tour of Queen Elizabeth II's private apartments
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English-speaking guide
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Multimedia guide in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish
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These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
To celebrate the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, the Royal Collection Trust is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step behind the velvet ropes. For the first time ever, and exclusively in 2026, you can enter the private apartments at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, providing an intimate glimpse into the personal life of Britain's longest-reigning monarch.
Getting started
Your journey begins at the historic Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. Tours are intimate, with a maximum of 25 guests per session, ensuring a quiet and respectful atmosphere as you traverse these formerly restricted spaces.
What to expect
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Upon arrival, you will be met by an expert English-speaking guide who will lead you through the private living quarters used by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip for over 70 years. The experience is designed to be deeply personal, blending the grandeur of a royal residence with the lived-in history of a family home. After your guided session, you are free to explore the wider Palace grounds at your own pace with a complimentary multimedia guide.
Features:
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The inner sanctum of royalty: Step into the Sitting Room, the very space where the late Queen reviewed her famous Government red dispatch boxes. You will also visit the Royal Breakfast Room, the setting for private morning meals between the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
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A glimpse into the royal wardrobe: In the Dressing Room, you’ll find a curated display of three iconic ensembles. Each outfit was hand-selected for its significance to the Queen’s history and her enduring relationship with the city of Edinburgh.
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900 years of Scottish history: Your ticket includes standard admission to the Palace, where you can walk through the Throne Room and visit the legendary historic chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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Lasting royal connections: Whether you are admiring the Great Gallery or strolling through the Physic Garden, the Palace offers a comprehensive look at the evolution of the British Monarchy from the medieval era to the modern day.
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What's not allowed
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Bags larger than 45cm × 20cm × 30cm are not allowed in this experience.
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Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.
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Photography is strictly not allowed inside the State Apartments.
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Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted in the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
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In consideration of other visitors, mobile phones must be switched off inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Accessibility
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The tour at 1pm on Jul 25 and Aug 15 will include a British Sign Language interpreter.
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This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible, except in some parts of Mary, Queen of Scots' rooms.
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Your guide dogs are welcome at the venue.
Additional information
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These tours run daily from May 21, 2026, to Sept 10, 2026, except on Jun 10, Jun 26, Jun 27, Jun 28, Jun 29, Jun 30, Jul 1, Jul 2, Jul 3, and Jul 4.
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Tours start at various times throughout the day.
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Queen Elizabeth II's Private Apartment Tours will be available only in 2026.
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After your guided tour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Private Apartments, which lasts around 1 hour, your guide will escort you to the start of your self-guided visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which includes a multimedia guide.
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There is limited availability, with a maximum number of 25 places on each tour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Private Apartments.
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As the Palace of Holyroodhouse is a working royal palace, security and opening arrangements may be subject to change at short notice.
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You may be subject to security checks. Some items may have to be checked in and reclaimed at the end of your visit.
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For safety and security reasons, a one-way route operates inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
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The palace is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
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Last admission time is 3:15pm.
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Under 5s must be booked with a paid ticket
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- 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.
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