The Palace of Holyroodhouse is one of the top tourist attractions in Edinburgh, an architectural and historical gem dating back to the 12th century. Also called Holyrood Palace, it has been the official residence of the royal family in Edinburgh since the 16th century and serves for state occasions and official interactions. King Charles III stops for a week at the palace every summer to perform official ceremonies.
It is located at the end of the Royal Mile, surrounded by green gardens and incredible views of the mountains and next to Holyrood Abbey. A perfect morning outing during your trip to Scotland's capital!
In this article I will tell you the history of Holyroodhouse Palace, reasons to visit and several interesting facts!
Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh: what the tour is like
I consider Holyroodhouse Palace an attraction to visit on your second or third day in Edinburgh. It is a quieter place in the morning and you can visit other tourist attractions nearby such as the Parliament of Scotland It is DynamicEarth. If the weather is nice during the summer, you can even climb Arthur's Seat, the highest point in the city on top of an extinct volcano!
How to get to Holyroodhouse Palace?
Located at the eastern end of the Royal Mile and opposite the Scottish Parliament, the palace is one of the attractions furthest from the historic center. However, it is possible to get there on foot, just going down the street. It takes around 20 to 30 minutes on foot. The way back is the hardest part, as it will be uphill!
Another option is to buy the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour that passes by Royal Attractions which already includes tickets to Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
You can also go with City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Toura tourist bus that passes through several important points in the city.
How to buy a ticket to Palace of Holyroodhouse
Along with Edinburgh Castle, the Palace is a attraction that needs to be booked in advance, precisely due to the high flow of tourists. Dedicate a morning to your itinerary What to do in Edinburgh
The ticket price also includes a audio guide which tells the history of the place and various curiosities (it is available in several languages, including Brazilian Portuguese). It is also a multimedia guide that presents photos, pictures, details… One of the things I liked most was that you can see what the abbey was like in its glory days, as if it were a virtual reality.
>> Buy here Holyroodhouse Palace Ticket <<
Hotels near Holyroodhouse Palace
The palace area is very calm and has larger apartments and rooms compared to accommodation in the Old Town. This area is also quieter and is not far from Waverley train station (the city's main train station). I selected some accommodations with great value for money for those traveling as a couple or family (click on the link to book).
Aparthotel Adagio Edinburgh Royal Mile ⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating 8.5 This is one of the hotels my clients like to stay in the most! The location is very good, directly on the Royal Mile and the apartments are very comfortable with a fridge, microwave and induction oven. It also has a gym, laundry room and elevator.
Cheval Abbey Strand Apartments, at Holyrood ⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating 9.5 This hotel is literally next to the Palace in a historic building! The rooms are very good, everything is very clean and the kitchen is well equipped with a stove, oven and refrigerator.
Holyrood Aparthotel ⭐⭐⭐ rating 8.0 This hotel is close to the Palace and Dynamic Earth, the rooms are very comfortable and also include an oven, stove, dishwasher, refrigerator and washing machine.
See more options here Where to stay in Edinburgh: hotels and best neighborhoods
History of the Palace of Holyroodhouse
Before your visit to Holyroodhouse Palace, it's worth reading a little about its history. I selected the main parts so you can better understand what happened here.
The palace's architecture is a fascinating mix of styles, reflecting the centuries of history and renovations it has undergone. It all started with the construction of Holyrood Abbey in 1128 by David I. This area was remote and wild and was chosen because the king saw a deer with a cross between its antlers. He interpreted this meeting as a sacred sign and decided to carry out the construction.
Over time, the abbey grew in importance and became a center of religious and political power in medieval Scotland.
In 1501, the King James IV (Mary Stuart's grandfather) built a Gothic palace next to the abbey for the celebration of his marriage to Margaret Tudor. His son, James V, built the Tower, the oldest part of the Palace still standing. The palace was expanded and renovated in the following years and became the official residence of the Scottish monarchs. It was no longer interesting to live inside the Edinburgh Castle.
Over the centuries, the palace has been the site of significant events, including coronations, royal weddings and important political meetings. Additionally, Queen Elizabeth II was brought here after her death in 2022 during Operation Unicorn.
Palace of Holyroodhouse and Mary Stuart
One of the most famous times in the history of the Palace of Holyroodhouse was during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th century. Mary spent part of her tumultuous life in the palace. She married her second husband Henry Stewart (Lord Darnley), in the palace's private chapel.
Their marriage was not the best and full of intrigue. This is revealed during the Palace tour when passing through the royal bedrooms. There was an episode where her husband and accomplices invaded her room during dinner and captured her friend and secretary David Rizzio. They take David to the next room and kill him with more than 50 stab wounds. All this while Mary was 6 months pregnant.
Coronation of the new king
Several kings were crowned at the Abbey, but one of the most important was James VI, the son of Mary Stuart. During his reign, the palace was renovated with the addition of galleries and apartments. His wife, Anne of Denmark, was also crowned here, in addition to the baptism of 3 children.
After the death of Elizabeth I, James VI became the first king of England, Scotland and Ireland. So he had to move to London.
See also: 10 things to know before your trip to Scotland
Decline and renewals
In the following centuries, the palace was not visited much by kings and was occupied by other nobles as “guardians” who did not always carry out renovations. Consequently, the Palace of Holyroodhouse lost importance as the official residence of the royal family. There was a time when Bonnie Prince Charlie of the Jacobite revolution and even George III (brother of Louis XVI of France) lived in safety for a time.
Major renovations only took place in the 20th century with the presence of George V (Elizabeth II's grandfather). There was a total modernization: installation of central heating, electric lighting, modernization of the kitchens and addition of new bathrooms and elevator. The palace was formally designated as the monarch's official residence in Scotland and became the location for regular royal ceremonies and events.
What is a visit to Holyroodhouse Palace like?
If you listen to all the audio in the guide, it will take more than 2 hours to go through all the rooms. I thought it was worth hearing about the rooms that interested me most. Just walk along, following the signs and dialing the number to hear the explanation.
I particularly liked King's Apartments and Mary, Queen of Scots' Chambers (the room where she slept and the room with various jewels, as well as the bloodstain from David Rizzio's death as I mentioned earlier in this article). Legend has it that his ghost still roams here!
The Throne Room is also very beautiful with the famous painting of Charles II and The Royal Dining Room with very fine porcelain!!
I also found it very interesting to use the guide to see what the Abbey was like in the past. During the glorious revolution in 1688 a mob broke into the abbey, stole items and destroyed almost everything and a few years later the roof collapsed. It was never renovated and is in ruins.
Walking through the gardens at the end of the tour was also very enjoyable, the place is very well looked after.
Is Palace of Holyroodhouse worth it?
I found it very relevant even for those who are not big fans of the current royal family. There are several details of the Scottish monarchy that can be seen in a 2-hour visit. I think the ticket price is fair for what it offers. >> Buy here Holyroodhouse Palace Ticket
In the video below, you can get a better idea of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, as well as other attractions that belong to the Royal Family in Scotland, such as Balmoral Castle and Britannia (the Queen's yacht which is also in Edinburgh). Click to watch!
Did you like this article about the Palace of Holyroodhouse? Also read 8 Typical Scottish products to buy in Edinburgh
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