The palace where the Crown stays in Edinburgh
At the eastern end of the Royal Mile, facing the Edinburgh Castle that dominates the opposite end of the thoroughfare, the Palace of Holyroodhouse backs up against the ruins of a medieval abbey. It serves as the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.
Behind its baroque facade lies a site born long before it: an Augustinian abbey founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland, according to tradition after having the vision of a stag bearing a luminous cross between its antlers.
Why visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse
The current palace is the result of several construction phases. Between 1501 and 1504, James IV had an initial Gothic palace built against the monastery, likely linked to his marriage to Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, celebrated in 1503. James V then expanded the residence with a massive tower in 1528, followed by a new western facade starting in 1535.
The building visitors tour today actually dates from the reign of Charles II, as this baroque palace was constructed between 1671 and 1678 during the restoration of the monarchy. The site had previously suffered occupation and damage by Oliver Cromwell's soldiers during the Civil War.
Mary, Queen of Scots apartments
The palace served as the main residence of Mary, Queen of Scots between 1561 and 1567. Her bedchamber, often presented as one of the most famous rooms in Scotland, remains open to visitors. Within these walls she witnessed the murder of her private secretary, David Rizzio, killed by a group of nobles led by her own husband, Lord Darnley.
The tour also leads to the Great Gallery, where tradition places the lavish balls hosted by Bonnie Prince Charlie during the establishment of his Jacobite court.
The abbey, the garden, and the nearby gallery
The stone ruins of Holyrood Abbey, adjoining the palace, are included in the standard admission ticket. The palace garden, a landscaped park with French style formal layouts, hosted Scotland's first medicinal botanic garden in the seventeenth century, which later inspired the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Just steps away, the King's Gallery hosts temporary exhibitions drawn from the Royal Collection.
Friendly tip: The palace closes to visitors when the monarch is in residence as well as for certain official events, with closures sometimes announced on short notice. It is best to check availability right before you go.
Opening hours
April to October: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
November to March: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Additional closures may occur when the palace hosts royal events.
How long for this activity
Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours to tour the entire estate.
*Information subject to change
The Palace of Holyroodhouse (the holy cross), right next to the former abbey of the same name, sits at the opposite end of Edinburgh Castle from the Royal Mile, and at the foot of Arthur's Seat.
Unlike the Castle, the area around the Palace is much less lively.
The Palace itself: you follow a self-guided route with audio guide commentary that leads you to the royal bedrooms and Mary Stuart's reception room, where her private secretary was murdered right in front of her by her husband.
The tour lets you learn a lot about the Crown of Scotland, the Stuart dynasty, and how it joined with the British crown. The rooms still have their period furniture and decor (the royal family still visits occasionally to stay or for events).
Interesting, without being mind-blowing or massive. The visit ends with the ruins of the old abbey and the pretty French-style gardens.