The King's Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse Tickets

The King's Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse Tickets

The King's Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse gives you exceptional access to rotating exhibitions from the Royal Collection at the foot of Edinburgh's Royal Mile. This purpose-built gallery space showcases royal treasures, artwork, and historical artefacts in climate-controlled rooms designed specifically to protect delicate items from the Royal Collection.

Your tickets include the current Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography exhibition, running until 7 September 2025. You'll see over 90 royal portraits spanning 100 years of royal photography, including works by Cecil Beaton, Annie Leibovitz, and Madame Yevonde. Her 1935 portrait of Princess Margaret represents the earliest surviving royal colour photograph. The exhibition displays rare archival materials, annotated proofs, and handwritten correspondence from the Royal Archives, many shown publicly for the first time.

Every ticket includes a complimentary multimedia audio guide in English that provides detailed commentary about the exhibitions and historical context. While you're exploring royal Edinburgh, you might also consider visiting Edinburgh Castle tickets for Scotland's most famous fortress, or discover the darker side of the city's history with Edinburgh Dungeons tickets.

Highlights

• Royal Portraits exhibition featuring over 90 photographs from 100 years of royal photography
• Earliest surviving royal colour photograph by Madame Yevonde from 1935
• Works by celebrated photographers including Cecil Beaton and Annie Leibovitz
• Rare archival materials and handwritten correspondence from the Royal Archives
• Climate-controlled gallery spaces designed specifically for Royal Collection pieces
• Complimentary multimedia audio guide providing expert commentary

Plan Your Visit to The King's Gallery

Allow 1-2 hours for your visit to fully explore the current exhibitions using the audio guide. The gallery operates year-round with rotating exhibitions, so each visit offers something new from the Royal Collection.

Weekday mornings and early afternoons provide the quietest viewing conditions. The gallery tends to be less crowded than the main palace, giving you a more intimate experience with the royal artworks and historical documents.

The King's Gallery offers full wheelchair accessibility with lifts and barrier-free access throughout. Free companion tickets are available for visitors requiring assistance. Photography and filming are prohibited inside all exhibition areas to protect the delicate artworks.

Your King's Gallery tickets provide access only to the gallery exhibitions. If you want to explore the State Apartments and ruins of Holyrood Abbey, you'll need separate tickets for the main palace. For a complete royal experience in Edinburgh, consider combining your gallery visit with Palace of Holyroodhouse tickets to see the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.