Edinburgh Castle
The fortress on Castle Rock is the most visited sight in Scotland. With the Royal Edinburgh Ticket your time slot is reserved when you redeem your voucher.
from £81
Get the Royal Edinburgh Ticket- Time slot reserved at redemption
- Also Holyroodhouse, Britannia and 48h bus
Table of Contents
Why the Castle is the reason to book the ticket
Edinburgh Castle sells timed tickets, and in summer the online quota regularly sells out days in advance. Historic Environment Scotland, which runs the Castle, says it plainly: once the online tickets are gone, no further tickets are sold at the Castle. Turning up without a ticket in July or August often means turning back.
The Royal Edinburgh Ticket takes that risk away. You buy the voucher online, exchange it at Stop GG on George Street, and the Edinburgh Bus Tours staff reserve your Castle time slot on the spot. That is the practical difference to every other bundle: the slot is part of the deal, not something you chase yourself.
What you see inside
The Castle sits on the plug of an extinct volcano and has been a royal residence, a fortress and a prison of war. Inside the walls you find the Honours of Scotland - the oldest crown jewels in Britain - together with the Stone of Destiny, the tiny St Margaret's Chapel from the twelfth century, the Great Hall, the National War Museum and the Mons Meg cannon. Every day except Sunday the One o'Clock Gun is fired from the ramparts at 13:00; the views over the New Town and the Firth of Forth are worth the climb alone. Allow one and a half to two hours.
Getting there with the ticket
Hop off at Lawnmarket on the City Sightseeing or Edinburgh Tour route and walk up the Royal Mile to the Esplanade, or start on foot from Stop GG on George Street - it is about fifteen minutes through the Old Town. The Castle opens daily from 9:30. In summer the morning slots are the quietest, so redeem your voucher first thing and take the Castle before the Palace.
Single ticket or Royal Edinburgh Ticket?
A single online ticket costs £ 23.50 for adults, £ 14 for children aged 7 to 15 and £ 19 for visitors aged 65 and over; at the gate it is £ 26, £ 15.50 and £ 21. Children under 7 enter free. The Royal Edinburgh Ticket adds the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Royal Yacht Britannia and 48 hours on three bus routes for £ 81, £ 43 and £ 76. If the Castle is your only stop, the single ticket is cheaper; from two of the three attractions the bundle wins. The full calculation is on the page Is it worth it?.
Continue with the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the other end of the Royal Mile, or read how the three bus routes link the sights.
Questions about Edinburgh Castle
The most important points before your visit. All answers are on the FAQ page.
Do I need to book a Castle time slot myself? +
No. When you exchange your voucher at Stop GG on George Street, the Edinburgh Bus Tours staff reserve your time slot for Edinburgh Castle. You cannot choose the slot online in advance - come early on the day you want to visit the Castle.
Which bus stop is closest to the Castle? +
Lawnmarket on the Royal Mile, served by the City Sightseeing and Edinburgh Tour routes. From there it is a short walk up to the Esplanade and the gate.
What does a single Castle ticket cost? +
Online £ 23.50 for adults, £ 14 for children aged 7 to 15 and £ 19 for visitors aged 65 and over; at the gate £ 26, £ 15.50 and £ 21 - if any tickets are left. Under 7s enter free. With the Royal Edinburgh Ticket the Castle is included.
Castle slot reserved, Palace and Britannia included
Get the Royal Edinburgh Ticket and see the Castle, Holyroodhouse and the Royal Yacht Britannia with one voucher and 48 hours of bus travel.