Palace of Holyroodhouse Entry Ticket: my review

My verdict: for most visitors this is the one to buy. It is plain palace entry with the multimedia guide included, it costs the same as the Royal Collection Trust’s own advance ticket, and unlike booking direct it comes with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Unless you want a castle combo or a human guide, book this and spend your planning energy on the rest of your day.

4.8★★★★★6,110 reviewsfrom £22

DurationAbout 1–1.5 hours, self-paced

GuideMultimedia, 9 languages

Palace entryIncluded

Voucher exchangePalace ticket office

CancellationFree to 24 hours

What you actually get

Entry to the palace plus a multimedia guide in nine languages — French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese and Scots Gaelic among them, with a British Sign Language version available. You exchange your voucher at the palace ticket office, pass a security check, and follow the one-way route through the state apartments, Mary’s chambers, the abbey ruins and the gardens at whatever pace suits you. Most people take about an hour to an hour and a half. Phones go off inside and there is no interior photography.

What it does not cover: food and drink, transfers, and conversion to the 1-Year Pass — that conversion only works on tickets bought direct from the Royal Collection Trust, as do the concession rates for young people, children and disabled visitors. The full price breakdown, including who should book direct instead, is on the ticket prices page.

What bookers say

The review record is long and consistent. Justina, visiting from the US, wrote “The whole experience was fascinating… Wow for the dining room that seats 400 guests!” Massimo, from Italy, picked his tickets up at the office right away and reckoned “For me, it’s more beautiful than the Castle” — a view I hear on my own tours more often than you’d think. Patricia and Caterina both liked going at their own speed; Valentina and Daphné found the audio guide well explained in their own languages, and Szostak rated the French version and called the gardens splendid. Riccardo’s only real caveat was the one I’d give you too: you can’t take photos inside.

What works

Same price as the official advance ticket, with free cancellation to 24 hours added on
Multimedia guide in nine languages included, BSL version available
Self-paced — nobody hurries you through Mary’s chambers
Booking ahead avoids the £26 walk-up price at the gate

Worth knowing

No interior photography, and phones must be switched off inside
Concession rates and the 1-Year Pass conversion only apply to tickets bought direct from the Royal Collection Trust
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays outside 21 May–7 Sep, plus full closures 16–25 May and 27 Jun–5 Jul 2026

Price£22

Rating4.8 / 5

Reviews6,110

Duration1–1.5 h

GuideMultimedia

CancellationFree to 24 h

Insider tip

Check the calendar before anything else. The palace is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday for most of the year, and shuts completely for royal events — the best time to visit page has the 2026 dates.

Who it suits

First-time visitors who want the royal interiors without a fixed schedule, anyone whose first language is not English, and people pairing the palace with a castle morning — my suggested one-day plan is in the Holyrood vs Edinburgh Castle comparison. If you would rather have a live storyteller than a handset, the Mary, Queen of Scots walk covers the history outside the walls for less.

Other tickets to consider

Best value bundle

Check dates & book the entry ticket

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on most tours — book now, decide later.

Frequently asked questions

Is this ticket cheaper than booking direct with the palace?

It costs the same as the Royal Collection Trust’s advance price, £22, and both beat the £26 charged at the gate on the day. The difference is that this ticket comes with free cancellation up to 24 hours before — useful in a city where you may want to shuffle days around the weather. Full 2026 prices are on the ticket cost page.

How long does the visit take?

About an hour to an hour and a half with the multimedia guide, longer if you linger in the abbey ruins and gardens or stop at the café. The timing page covers fitting it into a half day with the castle.

Can I take photos inside the palace?

No — interior photography is not allowed and phones must be off inside. The abbey ruins and gardens are on the visitor route too; the room-by-room guide walks through the whole circuit.

What days is the palace closed?

Every Tuesday and Wednesday outside the 21 May–7 Sep summer season, and completely on 16–25 May and 27 Jun–5 Jul 2026 for royal events. The best time to visit page lists the dates and the quieter hours.