Map
Open this stop on the map.
Open this stop on the map
Edinburgh · Castle
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is a good Edinburgh choice for children who like royal stories, grand rooms and dressing up. The family multimedia tour gives them something to follow, and the Family Room offers a break from the historic rooms. Most of the visit is indoors, with the abbey and gardens adding outdoor time when the weather suits.
- Best for
- History-loving children from around 5
- Cost
- Paid palace; under-5s free
- Weather
- Indoor rooms, outdoor abbey and gardens
- Time to allow
- Around 1½–2 hours
Our family take
Choose it for a shorter royal-history visit at the foot of the Royal Mile. We would start considering it from around age 5, with the family multimedia tour aimed at 7–11s. Younger siblings can enjoy the Family Room, but children wanting a whole afternoon of active play may prefer another outing.
- Bring a buggy backup. Pushchairs are normally allowed, but staff may ask you to leave yours at the entrance during busy periods. Mary, Queen of Scots’ rooms are reached by steep spiral stairs.
- Choose your ticket carefully. GetYourGuide tickets cannot become an RCT 1-Year Pass. The King’s Gallery is a separate ticket, and disability concessions and free companion tickets must be booked directly with RCT.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Admission
- 2026 advance prices: adult £22, child aged 5–17 £11; under-5s free. On the day: adult £26 and child £13. Compare the official ticket options if you expect to return or need a concession.
- Opening and booking
- Usually closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays for standard visits. April–October: 9:30am–6pm, last admission 4:30pm. November–March: 9:30am–4:30pm, last admission 3:15pm. Book ahead and check the date calendar: royal use can mean short-notice closures.Tickets & booking
- Getting there
- At the foot of the Royal Mile on Canongate. RCT estimates 15 minutes on foot from Waverley; allow longer with young children. Bus 35 stops nearby. Broad Pavement has a public car park; check current parking arrangements before driving. Accessible bays on Horse Wynd are first come, first served.
Café or restaurantGift shopAccessible toiletsToiletsBaby changingFamily Multimedia Guide
4 October 2026
A little more detail
Make it work for your family
The family tour, trails and play break
The free family multimedia tour is in English and aimed at ages 7–11. Children follow the royal stories and search for hidden unicorns and lions along the route. Drawing activities and trails are available to download before you go, including a garden trail for outdoor time.
The Family Room has a reading corner, dressing-up clothes, hands-on objects, hobby horses and a miniature carriage. It gives younger children a chance to play between the more formal rooms. Keep the visit selective if your children tire of listening or looking.
Find the family activities and trailsBuggies, stairs and facilities
Have a plan for carrying a younger child if the palace is busy. Staff can direct you to the pushchair storage area inside the entrance, and baby carriers and hip seats are available on request. Other belongings must stay with you; there is no cloakroom. Bags larger than 45 × 20 × 30cm cannot go inside.
Read the pushchair and bag guidanceAsk a Warden for the step-free route through the State Apartments. Mary, Queen of Scots’ chambers have no wheelchair access: the approach is a steep spiral staircase with 25 steps. Film and audio about Mary are available on the multimedia guide if you cannot use the stairs.
Use the toilets and baby-care facilities in the Mews Courtyard before starting the one-way palace route. Accessible toilets are in the café. For children who benefit from preparation, RCT has communication cards and a photo journey; BSL, subtitled and audio-described guides are also available.
Plan step-free accessRain, lunch and the rest of your day
Allow around 1½–2 hours as a family planning estimate, with longer for the gardens or a café stop. The main palace rooms work in wet weather, but bring coats for the outdoor parts. The garden trail is a bonus rather than something to promise on a very wet day.
Food and drinks must stay in closed bags inside the palace, apart from bottled water. Plan snacks around the visit or use the Café at the Palace for a break. There is a water refill point in the Mews Courtyard.
Dynamic Earth is nearby if science would suit your children better than royal history. Choose one as the main paid visit when attention or budget is limited. For a free indoor alternative, compare the National Museum of Scotland; Edinburgh Castle is the larger landmark outing at the other end of the Royal Mile.
Use our indoor Edinburgh guide if keeping the whole outing under cover matters most.
Plan the rest of your day
Save this stop
Add it to your trip plan or save it for later.