The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse

Over het museum

The King's Gallery stands at the entrance to the Palace of Holyroodhouse on the Royal Mile. It was built in the shell of the former Holyrood Free Church and the Duchess of Gordon's School, buildings that were put up in the 1840s with money from the Duchess of Gordon and fell out of use in the late nineteenth century.

Plans for the new gallery began in October 1999. The architects, Benjamin Tindall Architects, designed it to complement the original nineteenth-century buildings. A new stone arched entrance was created opposite the Scottish Parliament building, with a courtyard beyond in the traditional Scottish manner. The large stone lettering above the entrance is cut from single pieces of stone and sits below Scotland's heraldic lion, and the oak doors have gilded bronze hinges decorated with the Scottish lion and unicorn and with golden boughs of native trees.

The gallery was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 29 November 2002 as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations, and it was then known as The Queen's Gallery. After the accession of King Charles III it became The King's Gallery in 2024. It shows a changing programme of exhibitions of works of art from the Royal Collection, one of the largest and most important art collections in the world, including old master paintings, rare furniture, decorative arts and photographs. Because it is part of a working royal palace, opening arrangements can change at short notice.

Hoogtepunten

• Changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection
• Old master paintings, rare furniture and decorative arts
• Historic photographs from the Royal Collection
• Free multimedia guide included with the ticket
• Entrance arch opposite the Scottish Parliament building

Opgericht

2002

Beheerder

Royal Collection Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices shown are for the current exhibition, which runs until 6 December 2026, and may change for the next one. Tickets can be converted into a 1-Year Pass for unlimited re-admission, with a £2 transaction fee for pre-booked return visits. £1 tickets are available for people on Universal Credit and other named UK benefits. A free multimedia guide is included.

Toegankelijkheid

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

There are 22 steps up to the main exhibition level, and a lift also serves it; the rest of the gallery has level access. Manual wheelchairs and rollators can be borrowed free of charge, and mobility scooters are allowed if they fit the lift (137 cm deep, 106 cm wide, 630 kg limit). There is one bench on the exhibition level and more seating in the Café at the Palace. Accessible toilets are in the gallery and in the cafe. The nearest disabled parking bays are on Horse Wynd, just outside the palace. Registered assistance dogs are welcome, and some wardens are Dementia Friends. Guides for visitors who are d/Deaf, blind or partially sighted or on the autism spectrum and a photo journey help with planning.

Kinderen & gezin

• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte

Pushchairs can be taken into the gallery except during busy periods, when a drop-off area is provided. Baby carriers and hip seats can be borrowed on request. Toilets and baby-care facilities are in the Café at the Palace, and breastfeeding is welcome throughout the palace and the gallery. Children aged 5 to 17 pay a reduced price and under-5s are free.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The gallery is at the entrance to the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Canongate, opposite the Scottish Parliament building.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe

The Café at the Palace and the Palace Shop are next to the gallery entrance. A free cloakroom is available for coats and bags; backpacks may not be worn inside the exhibition. Eating and drinking are not allowed inside the gallery, and charging devices is not permitted.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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