Edinburgh · Canongate · foot of the Royal Mile
Holyrood Palace: tickets and opening times
The King's official residence in Scotland, with the rooms of Mary, Queen of Scots and the ruins of a royal abbey.
Today
Opening hours for every month are on the Opening hours page.
Checked against the official website on 31 October 2026 · Official source
In short
- The Palace of Holyroodhouse stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile, about a mile from the castle. It is the King's official residence in Scotland.
- The entry ticket covers the palace, the State Apartments and the rooms of Mary, Queen of Scots, the ruins of Holyrood Abbey and the public garden, with a free multimedia guide. Count on about 90 minutes.
- From 1 November to 31 December 2026 the palace is open Thursday to Monday from 9:30 to 16:30, with last entry at 15:15. It is closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and on 25 and 26 December.
- The King's Gallery, at the entrance, has its own ticket. The palace ticket does not include it.
The rooms of Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary lived in the palace from 1561 to 1567, in the tower built for her father, James V. This is the oldest part of the palace that still stands, and it dates from 1528 to 1536. In March 1566, her secretary David Rizzio was murdered in her rooms.
The rooms of Mary, Queen of Scots have no wheelchair access.
Holyrood Abbey: a ruin open to the sky
David I founded the abbey in 1128. Its roof fell in on 2 December 1768, and today it is a ruin open to the sky. Several kings are buried here, among them David II, James II and James V.
Parts of the abbey and the garden sometimes close for conservation work, so check what is open before you go.
The State Apartments
The palace was rebuilt in the 1670s for Charles II under the architect Sir William Bruce. The Great Gallery has portraits of Scottish kings. The palace is still used by the King and the Royal Family for State ceremonies and official entertaining.