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

Palace of Holyroodhouse exterior with stone towers and courtyard in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Royal Dining Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse with ornate table settings and portraits.
Chilean flamingos in habitat at Edinburgh Zoo.
Visitors observing primate skeletons at an exhibit in Edinburgh Zoo.

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Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the start of your experience

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

4.5/5

(5,245)

Claudia Reda

Claudia

Dec 2025
Verified booking
A visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh's royal residence, was a deeply evocative experience. The complex is impeccably maintained and managed with great attention to detail. The tour remains rich and engaging, offering an authentic journey through centuries of Scottish history. The interiors, still used today by the Royal Family, are remarkably well preserved and restore a solemn and refined atmosphere. Each room tells stories of intrigue, power and destiny, linked in particular to the intense and tragic figure of Mary Stuart. Holyrood Palace is an essential stop for anyone visiting Edinburgh: a place where history, elegance and emotion are harmoniously and unforgettably interwoven.
Pranitha Gollamandala

Pranitha

Dec 2025
Verified booking
I loved my visit to Edinburgh Zoo. The day was full of memorable highlights, especially seeing the animals in such spacious and thoughtfully designed habitats. The penguins were a real standout for me – watching them during feeding time was both fun and heart-warming, and their playful behaviour made the experience unforgettable. I also appreciated how calm and scenic the zoo felt as I walked around. The setting, combined with the clear efforts made for animal care, made the visit feel genuinely meaningful. The staff were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and their passion for the animals and conservation added a special touch to the whole experience. Overall, the visit was enjoyable, educational, and truly memorable.
Pearl Naylor

Pearl

Jan 2026
Verified booking
We always visit a zoo wherever we are if possible. Edinburgh Zoo is in the outskirts of town which was a bit odd. My husband has mobility issues so the staff drove us to the top of the zoo by the dinosaurs exhibit & we slowly walked down. You can hire an electric buggy but theres some parts you cant get to as the slopes are too steep, even when walking down. Not all the ankmals were out for viewing which i dont blame them, it was NY Day & very cold. Penguin cafe was nice, a ham sarnie, a scone with jam & butter plus 2 large teas was £14 i think, which was the cheapest bill so far in Edinburgh! We were there for 2hrs, if it wasnt so hilly we woulc have seen more. But we enjoyed it.
    • 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.

  • 5,245 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.

    3.8K
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    Guests from United States, Spain, France and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Mubeen saeed

    Mubeen

    Jan 2026
    Verified booking
    Edinburgh Zoo is a fascinating and enjoyable place to visit, especially for families and animal lovers. Set on a hillside, the zoo offers beautiful views over the city, which makes walking around even more memorable. One of the main highlights is seeing the giant pandas, which are rare and exciting animals to observe. The zoo is also home to penguins, koalas, lions, and many other species from around the world. The penguin parade is particularly popular and entertaining. The enclosures are generally spacious and designed to suit the animals’ needs, and there is a strong focus on conservation and education throughout the zoo. Informational signs help visitors learn about endangered species and the importance of protecting wildlife. Although the zoo involves a lot of walking uphill, there are plenty of rest areas and cafés. Overall, Edinburgh Zoo is an educational, fun, and worthwhile attraction that offers a great day out.
    Justin Holland

    Justin

    Jan 2026
    Verified booking
    Me and my girlfriend went to edinburgh zoo and it was amazing! We were worried that because it was winter we wouldn't see any animals. However, we were suprised to see all the animals we went in for. The staff were lovely and the enclosures for the animals were amazing. My girlfriend was so excited to see the capybaras, she cried!! Amazing experience, would highly recommend to anyone that has a love for animals and conservation. The zoo seem to be participating in a lot of conservation work which i love to see as a wildlife and conservation management student at SRUC. 10/10 experience, thanks to everyone at Edinburgh Zoo
    Adam Bruce

    Adam

    Jan 2026
    Verified booking
    This was a wonderful day out, the rockhopper penguins were sat right in front of us the whole time and a lovely volunteer had a super interesting chat with us while a group of three king penguins waddled over to wave at us. We were really happy to see all the animals had lots of room and many seemed to enjoy the attention and would approach us. Just a wonderful experience, highly recommend!
    Grace Leckey

    Grace

    Jan 2026
    Verified booking
    My partner and I were only in Edinburgh for a short few days and the zoo was the first thing that we did in googling tickets to the zoo had it was so simple and we had tickets exactly for the time we wanted on our phones within minutes, they were cheaper than if you were to buy them in person and we spent all day at the zoo and had a ball
    KIRSTY GRACE MCINNES

    Kirsty

    Jan 2026
    Verified booking
    A must-do attraction in Edinburgh that is great for kids too!! The audio guide is very helpful and I love that it has a child version as this kept my daughter entertained for the whole visit- she loved learning about the history of this place!! Thank you to the polite helpful staff here, you make this a wonderful attraction!
  • 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.

  • Palace of Holyroodhouse

    Monday09:30am - 04:30pmlast entry 03:15pm
    TuesdayClosed
    WednesdayClosed
    Thursday09:30am - 04:30pmlast entry 03:15pm
    Friday09:30am - 04:30pmlast entry 03:15pm
    Saturday09:30am - 04:30pmlast entry 03:15pm
    Sunday09:30am - 04:30pmlast entry 03:15pm

    Edinburgh Zoo

    Monday10:00am - 04:00pm
    Tuesday10:00am - 04:00pm
    Wednesday10:00am - 04:00pm
    Thursday10:00am - 04:00pm
    Friday10:00am - 04:00pm
    Saturday10:00am - 04:00pm
    Sunday10:00am - 04:00pm
  • 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.

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