Tips for visiting Edinburgh Castle 2025
If you are visiting Edinburgh for the first time, I highly recommend a visit to the world famous Edinburgh Castle.
Outside of London, the castle is the most visited attraction in all of the UK and is very popular.
I've written a few tips below so that you can make the most out of your visit.
Here is all the information you need to know before you go...
Cost of Entrance 2025
General admission (April 1st-31st March 2025)
£19.50 online price
£22.00 walk up price
The new price will rise from 1st April 2025
£21.50 online price
£24.00 walk up price
Opening Times
In the winter months the opening times are:
October - March: 09:30am to 17:00
April - September: 09:30 to 18:00
Unless the weather conditions permit closure the Castle is open every day except Christmas day and Boxing day.
Pre-Book Your Tickets
Edinburgh castle is exceptionally popular all year round, especially in the high season months of July and August.
To avoid disappointment, I recommend you pre-book your timed slot tickets online via their official website. It is also a fraction cheaper to purchase online, prior on the door.
Types of Ticket Available
• Standard Admission
Standard Admission tickets are the most popular, you choose your particular date and time slot.
They offer concession tickets and a family tickets (2 adults, two children). Carers and children under the age of 7 are free.
•Flexi Ticket
The Edinburgh Castle Flexi ticket is valid for one entry to Edinburgh Castle over a 7-day period, arriving any day and any timeslot throughout the validity period.
•Royal Edinburgh Ticket
In collaboration with City Tours (the hop-on-hop-off bus) They have a multi venue ticket that gives you entry into Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and The Royal Yacht Brittania. If you are a royal history fan, this would be what I would recommend if you have intentions of booking all three.
•Young Scot Card Holders
If you have a valid Young Scot card, you will also get a generous discount (you must show your pass at the entrance).
•Historic Scotland Pass Holders
If you are a Historic Scotland paid member, the ticket cost is included in your membership. You will still need to pre-book your time slot online however. If you are visiting many historic sites in Scotland, it might be worthwhile looking into a Historic Scotland pass.
English Heritage, Manx and Cadw members get half-price entry in your first year and free entry for renewal and life members. Please make an online booking to guarantee entry.
Personally, I'd avoid (if you can) buying entrance tickets through a third parties such as Viator & Get Your Guide.
You will still need to collect them at the venue and it can be a lengthy process if it's busy.
If you want to avoid the crowds
Generally, I would advise that you visit the castle mid week and avoid weekends and Mondays - if you do plan to visit during these times, I would get there early before 11am.
Low season in Scotland runs between late October and late March. However, during December it can be busy during Hogmanay (New Years Eve).
High season coincides with the cruise ship season which runs from late may through to September. On cruise ships days quite often the castle will be sold out.
Unless you want to see the One O' Clock gun, then plan your visit for opening time at 09:30.
What to see inside the Castle
I would advise you need around two hours to visit the Castle, there is a lot to see and you don't want to miss anything.
Firstly, as you enter through the first archway after ticket check you will see the restrooms on your right, if you need I would visit them there. These are the easiest ones to access.
One thing to know is there are no luggage storage or cloakroom, so if you are planning on visiting with a small suitcase etc you may not be allowed entry. (remember the castle is still of military importance in the UK).
What you must see:
• The Great Hall
• Mons Meg Cannon
• St Margaret's Chapel
• The Honours of Scotland and Crown Jewels
• The Prison
• The Dog Cemetery
• Mary Queen of Scot's bedchamber and birthing room
• One o' Clock Gun
• The Royal Apartments
My personal advice is to begin your visit to the castle with seeing the Crown Jewels first. They are located inside and it is a one way system in to see them. They are one of the highlights and become very crowded.
In my view once you have been in and seen the crown jewels you can take the rest of tour at a more relaxed pace. It is also worth noting that the Stone of Destiny is no longer at Edinburgh castle and can be found in the Perth museum.
The room with the crown jewels is located at the highest point, so in theory everything you see from then onwards will be downhill.
After visiting the Honours of Scotland and the Royal jewels I would head into the well lit Great Hall next door, the vivid red walls and wooden roof dates back to 1511. If you are a Harry Potter fan, the hall was used for the 6th Harry Potter Book launch event of the Half Blood Prince.
The Royal Apartments are also in this area, although Mary Queen of Scots did not live in the castle (she resided at nearby Holyrood Palace) you can see where she gave birth to her only son, King James 6th of Scotland. You can also see her collection of beautiful embroidery and needle works which are displayed in the ante-chamber.
Whilst you are in the top area of the castle head into see the peaceful St. Margaret's Chapel, it is the oldest surviving building in all of Edinburgh. In this area, I would also look over the wall to peer down at the Dog Cemetery, it is the burial place for the soldiers' loyal companions.
I would then take a look at the Mons Meg Cannon (it is next to St Margaret's chapel) the six tonne gun could blast a gun stone of 150kg and was given to King James 2nd in 1457.
The cannon was later blasted in 1558 to celebrate the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to French dauphin, Francis.
After exploring the upper section I would have a refreshment break.
Once you are ready to set off again, I would now explore the lower levels. They do have three regimental military history museums, a national war museum and the Argyle Battery which is home to six guns (cannons) built in the 1730's.
I will say if you are interested in Scottish and British military history then you will be in your element here as there is lots of material to digest. However if you only want a small sample, visit one of the museums and then head down to explore the Prisons of War exhibition.
Underneath the Great Hall, there is a network of vaults that held prisoners and pirates throughout the 1700/1800's. As you walk around you can see the conditions they were kept in. If you look closely on the wooden door (it's behind glass now) you can see the "stars and stripes" etched into the wood by some of the prisoners who were fighting in the War of Independence.
The One O' Clock Gun
Depending on the time you visit, I would then head to see the One O' clock gun fire which can be found just outside the Redcoat Cafe. I would get there at 12:45 to ensure you can see the exhibition.
Everyday from this location, with the exception of Sunday's, Christmas day and Good Friday. The gun will fire out towards the Firth of Forth water, it was used as a time signal to the ships and sailors out at sea. The weather in Edinburgh can be very foggy and an auditory signal was needed so that the sailors could set their chronometers to the correct time. The gun has been fired in this way since 1861 and locals who live in Edinburgh are so used to hearing the blast that it is just a part of Edinburgh life.
Eating at the Castle
The Castle does have a tea room, located on Crown Square (essentially the heart of the fort).
The tea room does offer a luxury afternoon tea. The afternoon tea comes with an amuse-bouche soup, freshly made sandwiches, cakes, tarts and buttermilk fruit scones.
It is available daily and prices start from £54 per person. You can add on an additional glass of Prosecco or Edinburgh Castle gin.
Audio Tour
At the main entrance this is also a good time to collect their very informative audio guide. The narration is done by a selection of very well known voices including Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan and Outlander star Andrew Gower. The audio guides are available in several languages and you can listen to them on your own mobile with your own headphones if you so wish.
Cost of audio tour: £3.50 each
Visiting with Children
If you are visiting the castle with children, then there are some fun family events and activities to keep them entertained. Edinburgh Castle itself have created a Explorers Quiz, with fun fact finding missions and clues are you wander through the grounds. I will link the page below to print off prior to your visit.
How to get to Edinburgh Castle
Quite simply there is only one way in and one way out.
The Castle is strategically placed at the top of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, it dominates the skyline around. To enter the castle on foot, walk uphill on Castlehill. The cobble stoned street will guide you past the Witchery boutique hotel and the Tartan Weaving Mill shop on your right. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might see the Royal Military Tattoo stands blocking the initial view. They start constructing the stands in May onwards through to early September.
In my opinion it is best to walk there on foot, nowadays the Old Town has limited parking.
Arriving by train
If you are visiting Edinburgh by rail and arrive at the main station of Waverly, then you will need to begin the walk uphill. The most leisurely route would be leaving the station on the Market Street side (next to Edinburgh dungeons) and walk up Cockburn street, this is the more gentle incline that will take you on the Royal Mile.
The alternative route and more steep is to walk up Market Street and onto the Mound. Once you see the Edinburgh University New College building this is when you will begin the steep walk uphill. The steep hill is called Ramsay Lane and is the second steepest hill in all of Scotland but it is the quickest route up to Edinburgh Castle.
Hop-on-Hop-Off Bus
There are a few guided bus tours that make a stop close to Edinburgh Castle. The stop is either on the Lawnmarket region of the Royal Mile, or on Johnston Terrace which is the street below the castle.
Car Parking near Edinburgh Castle
The nearest car park to Edinburgh castle is on Castle Terrace. The NCP secure parking unit. They have 750 spaces and 5 disabled bays.
You can pre book your car parking spot below
The alternative suggestion would be to look at the Just Park app, they have multiple locations throughout the city and they do need to be pre booked on the app prior to arrival.
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (1st-23rd August)
The annual military performance in front of Edinburgh Castle on the esplanade is not something to miss.
In 2025 the Military Tattoo is in its 75th year and this milestone show is sure to be incredible. Their show brings together British military and international performances that has cutting edge lighting, sound and of course military precision.
I have to say I am biased when it comes to the REMT as I used to work for them but it is absolutely wort seeing at least once.
Thanks for reading,
Kat
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