Scottish Parliament Building

Practical Tourist Information

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Address, Contact information

Visitor Services
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Tel: +44 0131 348 5200
Official website: Visiting Holyrood

Opening times

Tuesday-Thursday: 9.00am-7.00pm
Weekends: 10.00am-16.00
Mondays, Fridays and every weekday when Parliament is in recess:
April - October: 10.00am-6.00pm
November - March: 10.00am-4.00pm

It is possible that on occasions the Parliament may be closed to visitors due to security reasons.

Tickets, entrance fees

Visiting the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood is free but you can choose to take a guided tour:
Adults: £3.50
Concessions: £1.75
Children under 5: Free

Getting to Holyrood

The information on this page was last checked for accuracy in October 2009. Please check the official Scottish Parliament website for up to date information.

>> Back to Scottish Parliament guide index

More Scottish Parliament information:

Photos of the Scottish Parliament building Pictures of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

Attraction details - Parliament at Holyrood Scottish Parliament building tourist information including opening times, contact details, etc.

Scottish Parliament on the web Links to other web pages related to the Parliament.

>> Back to Royal Mile guide index

All Edinburgh Royal Mile articles:

Edinburgh Old Town An introduction to historic Edinburgh.

Highlights of the Royal Mile Overview of the most important visitor attractions on the Royal Mile.

Other tourist attractions on the Royal Mile Brief description of other places and things of interest on the Royal Mile.

Wynds and closes of the Royal Mile Description of the most picturesque narrow streets off the Royal Mile.

Royal Mile during Edinburgh Festival Information on the Royal Mile during August's Fringe Festival.

Royal Mile shops and pubs Some particularly attractive shops and pubs on Edinburgh's historic street.

St Giles Cathedral Picture and information on the High Kirk of Edinburgh.

Mary Kings Close The allegedly haunted street beneath the Royal Mile.

Scottish Parliament Pictures and information on the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood.

Photos of the Royal Mile Pictures taken along the Royal Mile.

Attraction Details - Royal Mile, Edinburgh Old Town Practical information on the Old Town and the Royal Mile including the Hub and Tourist Information Centre.

Royal Mile and Old Town on the web Web links and information on the Old Town and its attractions.

Also see:

Holyrood Palace Tourist information and pictures of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Ghost walks in the Old Town Tourist information on day and evening ghost tours in Edinburgh's Old Town

Edinburgh attractions and sightseeing All of the best attractions in Edinburgh plus pictures and sightseeing tips.

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Edinburgh Travel Essentials

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Origin of 'Edinburgh'

Tourists have problems with the name of Edinburgh. There are hundreds of ways people write it and the most common writings include 'edinburg', 'edinborough', 'edimburgh', 'edinbourgh', 'ediburgh', 'edinbugh', 'edinboro', 'edingburgh', 'edinbrugh', 'edimburg', 'edinburugh', 'edingurgh', 'edinbrough', etc.

According to the Scottish Place Names dictionary, the name Edinburgh means 'Fort of the Rock Face'. The 'edin' part comes from Scottish Gaelic and means 'rock face', while 'burgh' comes from Old English meaning stronghold.

Some more obscure (and quite funny) ways of writing Edinburgh include: edinburough, edingburg, edinbourg, edinburh, edinurgh, edenburg, edinbough, edinbourough, edinbrgh, edingborough, edenburgh, edinberg, edinborgh, edinborugh, edinburge, edinburhg, edingbourgh, etc.

Edinburgh is spelt Edimburgo in Spanish and Italian and Édimbourg in French.

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