A visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse includes the remains of 12th-century Holyrood Abbey, the Palace gardens, the State Apartments of the Palace itself, and stories of its most famous residents from the past and present.
A reflection of the changing tastes of successive monarchs, the State Apartments are famous for their beautiful plasterwork ceilings and unrivalled collection of French and Flemish tapestries.
As you walk through the Palace, you will notice how the rooms become progressively grander as you approach the King’s Bedchamber – the grandest room of all, where historically, only the most important guests would have been granted an audience.
Warden Short Talks
Join our daily short talks to learn about Palace life and discover some of the hidden treasures in the Palace. Look out for our short talk sign on the visitor route or ask one of our wardens for more details.
Perhaps one of the most famous monarchs to live at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Mary, Queen of Scots’ chambers where she lived between 1561-1567 are not to be missed. When you climb the steps up to the north-west tower you enter a world of intrigue, tragedy and murder.
Standing next to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and overlooked by the dramatic Salisbury Crags, Holyrood Abbey was once one of the grandest medieval abbeys in Scotland. Join our Palace Wardens on a daily guided tour of the Abbey, and discover the history, myth and legend surrounding this iconic national treasure.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of Arthur’s Seat, the beautiful 4-hectare Palace gardens have uninterrupted views towards the Queen’s Park, also known as Holyrood Park.
During the summer, the gardens are a kaleidoscope of colour, filled with the chorus of songbirds. Highlights include the Jubilee Border, originally planted with silver plants in celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee; the Wentworth Elm, a species which until recently was thought to be extinct; and Queen Mary’s sundial, made for Charles I’s Scottish coronation in 1633. Each summer, The Queen hosts her annual Garden Party at the Palace.