Guided Tours

Palace of Holyroodhouse Small-Group Christmas-Exclusive Guided Tour

Tour group gathered outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.

Palace of Holyroodhouse dining room decorated with Christmas garlands and festive table settings.

Palace of Holyroodhouse grand room with Christmas trees and portraits.

Ornate room with a canopy bed and paintings at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.

Duration

1 hr 15 min

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

4.7/5

(15)

Veera

Oct 2025

Verified booking

4/5

The guide Nina was superb, we got a full 1.5 hours experience and more at the castle, she did not cut corners and explained and answered all our questions. It has been the first time I have thoroughly enjoyed touring a castle, the abbey and the gardens with Nina. It was cold outside but the cold did not bother us as Nina made her way to explaimed the grounds until she saw us off at the gates.

Asif

Sep 2025

Verified booking

5/5

It was a majestic tour,pun intended ,with our guide at her best detailing every move minute historical facts and the tour of the castle left one with a surreal feeling

Ignace

Sep 2025

Verified booking

4/5

The guide and her assistant Louise did a great job. Very gentle people at the reception helped us to have our printed voucher. '

Enjoy exclusive access to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, The King’s official residence in Scotland, during a magical, Christmas-themed guided small-group tour.

Step into a festive wonderland as the Palace is beautifully adorned for the season, with twinkling lights, elegant wreaths, and traditional décor fit for royalty.

Step inside the exquisite West Drawing Room, usually closed to the public, for a rare glimpse into one of the Royal Family’s private sitting rooms.

Experience the grandeur of this historic site in a serene, crowd-free setting, as your expert guide shares festive stories and royal holiday traditions from centuries past.

Take home a complimentary Palace guidebook, an ideal keepsake to remember your visit and deepen your understanding of the Palace’s royal heritage.

Entry to Palace of Holyroodhouse

2-hour guided tour of the State Apartments during Christmas

Expert English-speaking guide

Complimentary guidebook

Small group of max. 25 guests

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

4.7
15 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, Australia, Germany and over 6 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Veera
Oct 2025
Verified booking
4/5
The guide Nina was superb, we got a full 1.5 hours experience and more at the castle, she did not cut corners and explained and answered all our questions. It has been the first time I have thoroughly enjoyed touring a castle, the abbey and the gardens with Nina. It was cold outside but the cold did not bother us as Nina made her way to explaimed the grounds until she saw us off at the gates.
Claire
Oct 2025
Verified booking
3/5
I did not get to the place in time. So unfortunately, I missed the tour completely. The day I came back to Edinburg Holyrood was closed. So I never got to see that.
Jennifer
Oct 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Amazing tour and storytelling from our guide. Tickets were easy to purchase.
John
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Everything was great and Rosie our guide couldn't have been better.
Patricia
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
The content and Jordan. First rate - worth every penny.

Step inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse this festive season for an exclusive 2–hour guided tour of the royal State Apartments, beautifully decorated for Christmas. Experience centuries of royal tradition in a setting that sparkles with seasonal charm.

Getting started

Arrive at the main entrance, where your expert guide will greet you with a warm welcome and validate your ticket. After a brief introduction, you’ll join a small group of fellow guests and begin your private tour, free from crowds.

What to expect

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Nestled at the end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse serves as the official royal residence in Scotland. During the festive season, the palace takes on a special sparkle with Christmas trees, garlands, and twinkling lights adorning its historic halls. Discover the rich traditions of royal Christmases past while your guide shares stories of how generations of monarchs celebrated the holiday season.

Features:

State Apartments access: Take in the grandeur of the Palace’s lavish rooms and ceremonial halls, softly lit and festooned with festive decorations. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and unique photo opportunities in this rare, crowd-free experience.

Festive insights from your expert guide: Hear captivating stories about royal Christmas traditions, from court banquets to family gatherings, and see how the palace prepares for the season today. Your guide will bring the Palace’s Yuletide history vividly to life.

Small-group experience: With a maximum of 25 guests per tour, savour the intimacy of a quieter, more immersive visit. Ask questions, linger in your favourite rooms, and enjoy a relaxed pace through this winter wonderland of royal history.

Complimentary guidebook: Take home a guidebook filled with historical details, festive highlights, and illustrations to remember your visit and continue exploring long after the tour ends.

What's not allowed

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

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.

Additional information

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.

The tour is only available when the Palace is closed to other visitors.

Please arrive at least 15 mins before your scheduled tour time.

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.