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Edinburgh · Royal Mile · Royal residence

The Palace of Holyroodhouse

The King's official residence in Scotland, and the other crown at the foot of the Royal Mile. Home to Mary Queen of Scots' chambers, a ruined medieval abbey, and 500 years of royal drama — here's everything to see inside, and how to pair it with the Castle.

See castle + palace tickets What's inside
★★★★★4.7 visitor average · The King's home in Scotland Reserve now, pay later

Holyrood Palace at a glance

1128 Abbey founded
1.5–2hr Time inside
96 Royal portraits
King's Scottish home
What it is
The King's official residence in Scotland — a working royal palace, not a museum piece
Where
Foot of the Royal Mile, opposite the Scottish Parliament
Don't miss
Mary Queen of Scots' Chambers · the Great Gallery · Holyrood Abbey
Good to know
Closes for royal visits (e.g. Royal Week) — check the open dates before you go
Getting there
Walk down the Royal Mile from the Castle, or bus to the bottom of the Canongate
Best paired with
Edinburgh Castle — the two ends of the Royal Mile

If Edinburgh Castle guards the top of the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse — almost everyone just calls it Holyrood Palace — holds the bottom. It's the official Scottish residence of the British monarch, which means it's a living royal palace, not a museum piece: the King still stays here, and parts of it close to visitors whenever royal duties require. When it's open, you get to walk the same State Apartments used for ceremony today and the turret rooms where one of the most notorious murders in Scottish history took place.

Where the Castle is about sieges and soldiers, Holyrood is about court life, intrigue and dynasty — Stuart kings, Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie. This guide walks you through what's actually inside, the history that makes each room worth slowing down for, the practical details, and why most visitors do it as a pair with the Castle rather than on its own.

Best way to do it

Link the two royal residences in one day

Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walking Tour — Entry Included. The Royal Mile exists because of the Castle and the Palace — it's the processional route monarchs rode between them. This guided walk gives you skip-the-line entry into Edinburgh Castle at the top, then walks the Mile down toward Holyrood with a local guide telling the story that connects the two.

★ 4.8 841 reviews 2h 15m Small group Free cancellation
  • Skip-the-line entry into Edinburgh Castle and the Crown Jewels
  • Guided Royal Mile walk down toward the Palace
  • St Giles', Victoria Street and the hidden closes en route
  • Stay-on castle access before you continue down the Mile

From $70 per person · free cancellation · instant confirmation · mobile ticket. Add the Palace: Holyroodhouse admission is sold directly by the Royal Collection Trust (rct.uk), since it's a working royal residence — book the castle walk here, then add your palace timed-entry to complete the royal day.

Inside the palace

What to see inside Holyrood Palace

The tour runs in a loop through the State Apartments and up into the oldest tower, then out to the abbey ruins and gardens. Here's what to look for, in the order you'll meet it.

The State Apartments

The ceremonial heart, still in use

  • The Great Gallery (don't miss) — the largest room in the palace, lined with 96 portraits of Scottish monarchs both real and legendary, painted by Jacob de Wet. Bonnie Prince Charlie held court and balls here during the 1745 rising.
  • The Throne Room & Royal Dining Room — still used for official receptions and investitures today, which is exactly why the palace closes when the King is in residence.
  • The King's Bedchamber & drawing rooms — a sequence of state rooms with original plaster ceilings, tapestries and royal furniture, each grander than the last as you approach the monarch's private space.

Mary Queen of Scots' Chambers

The palace's most infamous rooms

  • Up the narrow turnpike stair in the oldest part of the palace are the private chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots, kept much as they would have looked in the 1560s — the emotional high point of any visit.
  • The murder of David Rizzio (the story) — in 1566 Mary's private secretary was dragged from her supper room and stabbed 56 times by a group led by her jealous husband, Lord Darnley, while Mary, six months pregnant, was held at gunpoint. A plaque marks the spot.
  • Mary's bedchamber & relics — period furnishings, needlework associated with the queen, and the sense of claustrophobia that makes the Rizzio story land so hard.

Holyrood Abbey

Roofless, romantic ruin

  • Founded in 1128 by King David I, the Augustinian abbey is older than the palace that grew up beside it. Now a roofless shell open to the sky, its soaring Gothic arches are the most photographed corner of the whole site.
  • Royal burials & coronations — kings and queens were crowned, married and buried here for centuries before the Reformation and later mobs left it in ruin.

The Gardens & grounds

Under Arthur's Seat

  • The Palace Gardens — open lawns and borders set against the dramatic backdrop of Holyrood Park and the extinct volcano of Arthur's Seat. This is where the famous royal Garden Parties are held.
  • The Queen's Gallery (optional add-on) — a separate exhibition space beside the palace showing rotating treasures from the Royal Collection. Worth checking what's on if you have extra time.

The Castle and the Palace are a matched pair

Seeing one without the other tells half the story

The Royal Mile exists because of these two buildings — it's the processional route monarchs rode between fortress and palace. The Castle is power and defense; Holyrood is court, ceremony and dynasty.

That's why almost everyone visits them together, walking the Mile in between. Read our full Royal Mile walking guide for every stop along the way.

Before you book

Holyrood Palace tickets & visiting tips

Holyrood behaves differently from a normal tourist attraction because it's a working royal residence. A few things worth knowing before you go.

  • It closes for royal use. The palace shuts to visitors during Royal Week (usually late June / early July) and at other times when the King is in residence or for state occasions. Always check the open dates before traveling.
  • An audio guide is included. Admission normally comes with a multi-language audio guide that walks you through every room — no need to book a separate tour to understand what you're seeing.
  • Allow 1.5–2 hours. That covers the State Apartments, Mary's chambers, the abbey and the gardens at an unhurried pace.
  • Book ahead in summer. Timed-entry slots sell out in peak season; pairing it with an Edinburgh Castle tour locks in the busier half of your day first.
  • Photography: generally not permitted inside the State Apartments, but the abbey and gardens are a photographer's dream.
  • Getting there: it's a downhill walk straight down the Royal Mile from the Castle, or a short bus ride to the bottom of the Canongate.
Side by side

Holyrood Palace vs Edinburgh Castle — which to visit?

If you only have time for one, here's how they differ. If you have a full day, do both — they tell two halves of the same story.

Holyrood Palace versus Edinburgh Castle comparison
Factor Holyrood Palace Edinburgh Castle
ThemeCourt life, royalty, ceremonySieges, military, the nation's story
SettingBottom of the Royal MileTop of the Royal Mile, on the rock
Headline sightMary Queen of Scots' chambersThe Crown Jewels & Great Hall
CrowdsUsually calmerBusiest attraction in Scotland
Time needed1.5–2 hours2.5–3 hours
Open year-round?Closes for royal useOpen almost daily
Book it

Edinburgh Castle tours for your royal day

The castle half of a Castle-and-Palace day, bookable with skip-the-line entry. Pair any of these with a Holyroodhouse timed ticket from the Royal Collection Trust.

Links both ends

Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walking Tour — Entry Included

★ 4.8 841 reviews 2h 15m Free cancellation
$70 from, per person

Castle entry + the Mile walk toward Holyrood

  • Skip-the-line entry into Edinburgh Castle
  • Guided Royal Mile walk down toward the Palace
  • Crown Jewels, Great Hall and St Margaret's Chapel inside
  • St Giles', Victoria Street and the hidden closes en route
Pоwered by GetYourGuide
Most booked

Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

★ 4.7 13,041 reviews 90 min Free cancellation
$52 from, per person

The cheapest skip-the-line castle entry to pair with the Palace

  • Skip-the-line entry to Edinburgh Castle
  • Almost 3,000 years of history with a local guide
  • Great Hall, Royal Palace and Crown Square inside
  • The biggest review volume of any castle tour
Pоwered by GetYourGuide
Premium pick

Edinburgh Castle 120-Minute In-Depth Tour with Expert Guide

★ 4.9 3,110 reviews 120 min Free cancellation
$69 from, per person

For history fans doing the full royal day

  • 120 minutes of expert commentary — the deepest dive
  • Scottish Crown Jewels and the 900-year-old St Margaret's Chapel
  • Mary Queen of Scots' birthing chamber story in detail
  • Highest rating of any castle tour: 4.9 from 3,110 reviews
Pоwered by GetYourGuide
Good to know

Holyrood Palace FAQ

The questions travelers most often ask about visiting the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

What is the Palace of Holyroodhouse?

It's the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, at the foot of Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Often called Holyrood Palace, it's a working royal palace used for state ceremonies, as well as a major visitor attraction with State Apartments, Mary Queen of Scots' historic chambers and the ruins of Holyrood Abbey.

Can you visit Holyrood Palace?

Yes, on most days of the year. Because it's a working royal residence, it closes to visitors during Royal Week (usually late June to early July) and whenever the King is in residence or it's needed for official engagements, so it's worth checking the open dates before you travel.

How long do you need at Holyrood Palace?

Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours. That's enough to see the State Apartments, climb up to Mary Queen of Scots' chambers, explore the roofless Holyrood Abbey and walk the gardens, using the included audio guide.

What's the difference between Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle?

They sit at opposite ends of the Royal Mile and tell different stories. Edinburgh Castle is a hilltop fortress about war, the Crown Jewels and the nation's history; Holyrood Palace is a lowland royal residence about court life, ceremony and the Stuart monarchs. Many visitors do both in one day, walking the Royal Mile between them.

Did Mary Queen of Scots live at Holyrood?

Yes. Holyrood was Mary's main residence after she returned to Scotland in 1561. Her private chambers are preserved in the oldest tower, including the room linked to the 1566 murder of her secretary David Rizzio — one of the most dramatic episodes in Scottish royal history.

Is Holyrood Abbey included in the ticket?

Yes. The ruins of Holyrood Abbey, founded in 1128, are part of the palace site and included with admission. The roofless Gothic shell beside the palace is one of the most striking and photographed parts of the visit.

Can you walk from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace?

Yes — the walk between them is the Royal Mile itself, a straight, mostly downhill route of about 1.1 miles that takes 15–20 minutes at a steady pace. A combined castle tour and palace ticket lets you start at the Castle and finish at the Palace in a single day.

Is Holyrood Palace worth visiting?

For anyone interested in royal history it's well worth it — it's a genuine working palace where you can stand in rooms still used by the monarch and in the chambers of Mary Queen of Scots. It's calmer than the Castle and pairs naturally with it for a full royal day in Edinburgh.

Do the full royal day

Skip-the-line Edinburgh Castle entry at the top of the Mile, the King's palace at the bottom. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Check availability & prices Walk the Royal Mile