Ultimate Guide to Visiting Holyrood Palace | Timings, Location, Tips & More
Holyrood Palace | Visitor Information at a Glance
- What are the Holyrood Palace opening hours?
- 9:30am to 6pm, daily (last entry 5:15pm)
- Where is the Holyrood Palace located?
- The Palace of Holyroodhouse is located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. You can find it on the map here.
- How many entrances does the Holyrood Palace have?
- The Palace of Holyroodhouse has 3 entrances: the Main Entrance, the Queen's Entrance, and the Gatehouse Entrance.
- How many number visitors does the Holyrood Palace see per year?
- The Palace of Holyroodhouse sees an average of 2.5 million visitors per year.
Where is Holyrood Palace Located?
Address: The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH8 8DX, Scotland
Closest Landmark: Scottish Parliament Building (200 m)
Directions to Holyrood PalaceGetting to the Holyrood Palace
By Public Transportation
By Bus
Closest stop: The closest bus stop to Holyrood Palace is Abbeyhill Crescent, Holyrood. It is a short walk from the bus stop to the palace.
By Tram
Closest Station: The closest tram stop to Holyrood Palace is York Place. It is a short walk from the tram stop to the palace.
By Train
Closest Station: The closest train station to Holyrood Palace is Edinburgh Waverley Station. It is a short walk from the train station to the palace.
By Car
From the city centre, take the A8 to the Royal Mile. The palace will be on your left.
There is limited parking available at Holyrood Palace. There are several parking garages nearby, including:
- Holyrood Car Park: 200 meters from the palace.
- Thistle Street Car Park: 300 meters from the palace.
- Canongate Car Park: 400 meters from the palace.
- Royal Mile Car Park: 500 meters from the palace.
- Market Street Car Park: 600 meters from the palace.
Know Before You Go To Holyrood Palace
Main Entrance: This is the main entrance to the palace and is located on the Royal Mile. It is accessible to all ticket holders.
Queen's Entrance: This entrance is located on the Canongate and is only accessible to ticket holders who have booked a tour of the Queen's Apartments.
Gatehouse Entrance: This entrance is located on the High Street and is accessible to all ticket holders. It is the only entrance that is open late in the evening, for the "Evening Opening" event.
- Cloakroom: A cloakroom is available where you can leave your coats, umbrellas, and other belongings.
- Restrooms: There are several restrooms located throughout the palace.
- Baby-changing facilities: There are baby-changing facilities located in the cloakroom and in the Queen's Gallery.
- Wheelchair accessible: The palace is wheelchair accessible and there are ramps and lifts available throughout the building.
- Audio guide: An audio guide is available for hire, which provides commentary on the history of the palace.
- Gift shop: There is a gift shop located in the palace, where you can buy souvenirs and gifts.
- Restaurant: There is a restaurant located in the palace, where you can buy food and drinks.
- Café: There is a café located in the palace, where you can buy coffee, tea, and snacks.
- Wheelchair accessible: The palace is wheelchair accessible and there are ramps and lifts available throughout the building.
- Wheelchairs for rent: Manual wheelchairs and rollators (wheeled walking aids with a seat) are available to borrow free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis for the duration of a visit. Mobility scooters can be used in the Palace grounds, and are permitted in the Palace providing they can fit in the lift – the lift measures 130cm in width x 125cm in depth, the door width is 89cm and there is a weight limit of 800kg.
- Other facilities: There are also accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities available.
- The Cafe at the Palace: This restaurant is located within the palace grounds and serves light meals and snacks.
- Holyrood Restaurant: This restaurant is located on Holyrood Road and serves Scottish cuisine.
- The Pakora Bar: This restaurant is located on Holyrood Road and serves Indian cuisine.
- Surf & Turf at Holyrood Hotel: This restaurant is located in the Holyrood Hotel and serves seafood and steak.
- Oink Delicious Hog Roast Rolls: This restaurant is located on Cockburn Street and serves hog roast rolls.
- Luxury Hotels
The Balmoral, The Principal Edinburgh George Street, Principal Edinburgh George Street Hotel - Mid-range Hotels
The Edinburgh Grand, The Apex Waterloo Place Hotel, Apex Waterloo Place Hotel, Edinburgh - Budget Hotels
The Edinburgh Backpackers, The Waverley Hotel, The City Inn
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Holyrood Palace
Holyrood Palace is located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is opposite Edinburgh Castle.
Yes, you can visit Holyrood Palace. It is open to the public from April to October: 9:30am - 6pm (last admission 5:15pm); November to March: 9:30am - 4:30pm (last admission 3:45pm). It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except during July, August and September when it is open 7 days a week.
Holyrood Palace is a fascinating place to visit for its history and its connection to the Scottish royal family. It has been the official residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland since the 16th century, and it has played host to many important events in Scottish history. The palace is also home to a number of important artworks and artifacts, including the Honours of Scotland, and the Scottish Crown Jewels.
There is no free entry to Holyrood Palace. However, there are a number of discounts available, including for children, students, and seniors.
You can book tickets to visit Holyrood Palace online or at the palace ticket office. Tickets can be purchased up to 3 months in advance.
Children under three years old can enter Madame Tussauds London for free.
The cost of tickets to visit Holyrood Palace varies depending on the age of the visitor and the type of ticket purchased. Adult tickets cost £18.00, Young Person (18-24) tickets cost £11.50, Child (5-17) tickets cost £10.00, and Disabled tickets cost £10.00. There are also family tickets available.
The best time to visit Holyrood Palace is during the morning or late afternoon, when the crowds are smaller. The palace is also open late in the evening for the "Evening Opening" event, which is a great way to see the palace in a different light.
Holyrood Palace is open from April to October: 9:30am - 6pm (last admission 5:15pm); November to March: 9:30am - 4:30pm (last admission 3:45pm). It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except during July, August and September when it is open 7 days a week.
Yes, you can visit Holyrood Palace in a group. There are a number of group tours available, including guided tours and self-guided tours.
The average time to visit Holyrood Palace is 2-3 hours. However, you can spend more time if you want to see everything the palace has to offer.