Linlithgow Palace, Scottish Castle, Architect, West Lothian History, People, Kings, Ruin

Linlithgow Palace Building

Historic Building in West Lothian, Scotland: Architecture

post updated 10 December 2023

Edinburgh & Lothian

Location / Directions: off the M9, West Lothian, Scotland

History

The ruin of a great Royal Palace set in its own park beside Linlithgow Loch. Linlithgow Palace is the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.

Nitin Pai, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Linlithgow Palace Scotland

All the Stewart kings lived at Linlithgow Palace, from James I (1406-37); later the Palace housed Cromwell, Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Duke of Cumberland.

The palace was one of the principal residences of the monarchs of Scotland in the 15th and 16th centuries. Although maintained after Scotland’s monarchs left for England in 1603, the palace was little used, and was burned out in 1746. It is now a visitor attraction in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. The ruins are situated 15 miles (24 km) west of Edinburgh.

Opening Times

1st Apr to 30th Sep
Mon – Sun 9.30 to last entry 6pm (closes 6.30pm)

1st Oct to 31st Mar
Mon – Sat 9.30am to last entry 4pm (closes 4.30pm)
Sun 2pm to 4.30pm

Please check with Linlithgow Palace for details such as access & charge

Contact

+44 (0)1506 842896

Contact the owners of this historic West Lothian property by e-mail: hs.explorer(at)scotland.gsi.gov.uk

The palace has been actively conserved since the early 19th century and is today managed and maintained by Historic Environment Scotland. The site is open to visitors all year round, usually subject to an entrance fee for non-members, but on occasion the entry fee is waived during the organisation’s “Doors open days”.

In summer the adjacent 15th-century parish church of St Michael is open for visitors, allowing a combined visit to two of Scotland’s finest surviving medieval buildings.