Edinburgh Castle

Over het museum

Edinburgh Castle stands on Castle Rock, a volcanic crag above the city that has been fortified for many centuries. Its oldest surviving building is St Margaret's Chapel, built by King David I in honour of his mother and the oldest building in Edinburgh. The castle was a royal residence for generations of Scottish monarchs: the Great Hall was completed in 1511 for James IV, and Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the future James VI in the Royal Palace in 1566.

Because of its strategic position the fortress was fought over many times and is often described as the most besieged place in Britain. The Scots won it back from the English in a night raid in 1314, and the defences were rebuilt again and again, notably after the Lang Siege of 1573. The great medieval gun Mons Meg was given to James II in 1457. From the seventeenth century the castle became above all a military base, with new batteries and barracks added during the Jacobite risings and the Napoleonic wars, and between 1757 and 1814 its vaults held prisoners of war.

Today the castle is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland. Visitors can see the Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in Britain, the Royal Palace, the Scottish National War Memorial and the National War Museum, and every day except Sunday the One o'Clock Gun is fired.

Hoogtepunten

• Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in Britain
• Great Hall and Royal Palace, where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI
• St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh
• Mons Meg, a giant medieval cannon
• Prisons of War vaults and the National War Museum
• One o'Clock Gun, fired every day except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day

Vaste collectie

• Honours of Scotland – The crown, sceptre and sword of state, the oldest crown jewels in Britain, created in Scotland and Italy under James IV and James V.
• National War Museum – A museum inside the castle with its own opening hours, covering Scotland’s military history.
• Prisons of War – The vaults below the Great Hall where prisoners of war were held in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Opgericht

1200

Beheerder

Historic Environment Scotland

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices shown are the lowest online prices; walk-up prices are higher (adult £26, concession £21, child £13). Members of Historic Environment Scotland and Explorer Pass holders enter free (online booking advised). English Heritage, Manx National Heritage and Cadw members pay half price in their first year and enter free on renewal or life membership. Serving members of the British Armed Forces enter free with a MOD 90 card.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The castle is reached across a 110 m esplanade with a gentle uphill slope. Inside, the route is steep and cobbled (about 350 m from the entrance to Crown Square, up to 15 degrees at its steepest) and the exit uses 70 steps; staff can guide visitors back down through the castle instead. A free mobility vehicle to Crown Square can be requested at the entrance (it does not run from 12:15 to 13:15 because of the One o'Clock Gun). Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed. Adapted toilets are at the entrance and in Crown Square near the lift. The Great Hall and the National War Memorial have ramped access; the Palace Apartments, the Prisons of War vaults and the Battlement Walk involve steps. A few parking spaces on the esplanade can be booked for visitors with access needs (limited from May to October). Only assistance dogs are allowed. Sensory backpacks, ear defenders, visual stories for autistic visitors, a BSL itinerary and Deaf-led BSL tours (on request) are available. The audio guide is free for blind and partially sighted visitors, and large print and dyslexia-friendly print versions are provided. Disabled access and parking enquiries: +44 131 310 5114.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour

A three-hour family itinerary and a children's quiz are offered. The steep cobbled paths and many steps make the castle hard going with pushchairs, which cannot be stored on site.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Bike racks are available from November to April only. Coaches use a temporary drop-off point on Castle Terrace; there is no large vehicle access to Johnstone Terrace.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe: niet aanwezig

Redcoat Café (daily 09:30–16:00) and The Tea Rooms in Crown Square (daily 10:30–16:00), both closed on 25 and 26 December; afternoon tea can be booked with admission. Three gift shops (Portcullis Shop, Crown Gift Shop, Whisky and Finest Food Shop). Luggage, prams and pushchairs cannot be stored, and suitcases and large rucksacks (30 litres or more) are not allowed; bags may be searched at the entrance.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Tot 500 personen.

Banqueting rooms such as the Queen Anne Building and the Jacobite Room, plus exclusive use of the castle (drinks reception for up to 500 guests). Weddings cannot be held from 1 June to 30 September.

Je bezoek plannen