Guided Tours

Palace of Holyroodhouse Small-Group Exclusive Guided Tour

Name: Palace of Holyroodhouse Small-Group Exclusive Guided Tour
Start: 2026-06-12T18:00:00
End: 2026-06-12T19:15:00
Location: Palace of Holyroodhouse

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 mins

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

4.5/5(33)

Stephanie N

Couple

Verified booking

Apr 2026

This was my 5th visit to Edinburgh and finally got the opportunity to visit the palace! The building itself lived up to my expectations but our guide -Jorges - made it more than I expected! His knowledge of history, art, the building and the royal family was evident but his personality & delivery brought it all to life! It was t truly memorable experience!

Robert M

Couple

Verified booking

Apr 2026

Well worth a visit to Holyroodhouse Palace. A seamless entry with a small group tour led by knowledgeable guides makes for an enjoyable, relaxing tour of this historical site. Personal favorites of the interior was the drawing room and the bed chamber of Mary Queen of Scots.

Karen J

Solo

Verified booking

Mar 2026

The guide was wonderful and a great story teller. The history of the royal succession is fascinating. The palace is spectacular. Well worth the price and I might come again with friends!

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

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 stories and royal 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

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.

33 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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4
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Guests from United States, Australia, France and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Matthew T
Couple
Verified booking
4 days ago
Welcoming from the start, enthralling journey through history. The staff were brilliant and tour really enjoyable.
Robert M
Couple
Verified booking
Apr 2026
Well worth a visit to Holyroodhouse Palace. A seamless entry with a small group tour led by knowledgeable guides makes for an enjoyable, relaxing tour of this historical site. Personal favorites of the interior was the drawing room and the bed chamber of Mary Queen of Scots.
Stephanie N
Couple
Verified booking
Apr 2026
This was my 5th visit to Edinburgh and finally got the opportunity to visit the palace! The building itself lived up to my expectations but our guide -Jorges - made it more than I expected! His knowledge of history, art, the building and the royal family was evident but his personality & delivery brought it all to life! It was t truly memorable experience!
David S
Couple
Verified booking
Apr 2026
The giude was very welcoming and informative and the whole visit was extremely interesting and enjoyable
Karen J
Solo
Verified booking
Mar 2026
The guide was wonderful and a great story teller. The history of the royal succession is fascinating. The palace is spectacular. Well worth the price and I might come again with friends!

Step inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse for an exclusive 2–hour guided tour of the royal State Apartments and experience centuries of royal tradition.

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. Discover the rich traditions of royal past while your guide shares stories of generations of monarchs and the palace's history.

Features:

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

Insights from your expert guide: Experience the Palace in near-silence with an expert guide, who provides deep historical insights and a unique perspective on the State Apartments, plus the chance to get your questions answered in real time.

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 royal historic building.

Complimentary guidebook: Take home a guidebook filled with historical details, 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.