Walk the halls of the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and soak up the historic atmosphere of this incredible ruin in Linlithgow. Whether you want to take a tour or wander at your own pace, there’s plenty to discover in this royal pleasure palace from the royal chambers, grand hall, and palace kitchens, to the incredible views from Queen Margaret’s Bower over the loch and the hills beyond. Although maintained after Scotland’s monarchs left for England in 1603, the palace was burned out in 1746.

A number of events are hosted in the grounds including an annual jousting tournament event on Linlithgow Peel right beside the palace, bringing the past back to life with family-friendly fun and medieval garb. Come spend the day at the Stewart’s favourite holiday residence!

How old is Linlithgow Palace?

While a castle was built on this site in 1301 by Edward I of England, the Palace you see today was built in 1425 by James I, with regular additions made by his successors through the centuries. It's architecture is a mixture of late medieval to renaissance styles, with different parts of the palace reflecting the tastes of it's Kings.

Linlithgow has plenty of fantastic cafes, restaurants and pubs for you to stop by after your time at the palace, Located right in the centre of town, everything you need is just a trip down the hill from the palace. In the present, the palace has also been home to big film productions, with stars like Chris Pine and Florence Pugh having filmed there. It also played host to a Chanel fashion show with designs by Karl Lagerfeld modelled down a medieval catwalk inside the palace walls!

  • Adults (16-64) £7.20
  • Concessions (64+ and unemployed) £5.20
  • Children (5-15) £4.30
  • Family tickets available from £21 to £24
  • Under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult
  • Under 5s go free
  • Temporarily closed due to safety checks but opening again soon
  • The gatehouse and grounds are open

Check out things to do nearby...