Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow Palace is famous for being the birth place for Mary Queen of Scots. The Palace ruins are located between the edge of the Linlithgow Loch and the town high street. The site is managed by Historic Scotland.
Whilst the palace is a ruin and does not have a roof, visitors can explore the open areas and various levels.
Once you walk up from the main road you will enter the palace and purchase your ticket at the ticket office and gift shop. Then you walk into the courtyard complete with restored fountain. Being in the centre of the palace then allows you to explore the 4 sections, and different levels,
Linlithgow Palace Ticket Prices
Opening Hours
In the summer (Apr-Sep) the palace is open 9.30 to 17.30. In the winter (Oct-Mar) this is shortened to 10.00 to 16.00. Last entry to the palace is 45 mins before closing time.
How to get there
Linlithgow Palace is in the small town of Linlithgow in West Lothian. This is approximately 20 miles from Edinburgh. It is very easy to get to by Car from Edinburgh by following the M9 motorway to junction 3. From Stirling this would be the M9 and exiting at junction 4.
By train, the Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen street train leaves Edinburgh Waverley & Haymarket station and stops at Linlithgow and then its a short walk from the station. Trains are very frequent and can be as often as every 20 mins. The journey time is 20 mins from Edinburgh and 40 mins from Glasgow. There are 2 trains an hour that also go to Stirling.
By Bus, there is the first bus number 38 from Stirling to Edinburgh.
Linlithgow Loch Circular walk
If you have time and the weather is nice, there is an option to walk around Linlithgow Loch. The Path is 2.3m long and will allow you to walk round the Loch with views of the palace. The path is paved nearby the palace, however this does become a dirt path part of the way. Our top tip is to walk clock wise round the loch (i.e have the water to your right). This means if you start from close to the palace that you only have to walk a small distance before you can capture some stunning photos of Linlithgow palace. Also the path deviates for a small section away from the Loch whereby you need to walk through part of the town. Therefore it is much easier to navigate by going clockwise rather than picking up the trail going the other way.
Events at Linlithgow Palace
Each year in August a music festival is held across the Loch with views of the palace. This is called Party at the Palace. The 2 day event sees many music acts, street food, market area and funfair. The line up for 2020 was scheduled to be the Manic Street Preachers, Becky Hill, OMD, Toploader, The Snuts, The Brand new heavies and Peat & Diesel.
Another notable event held in December 2012 saw the fashion brand Chanel hold its annual fashion show organised by Karl Lagerfeld at the palace.
Other Attractions Nearby
Linlithgow Palace is a great place to visit. It can easily form part of your itinerary, either as a day trip or en-route to the highlands. A day trip from Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth or Glasgow could easily take in Callender House, The Kelpies, The National Wallace monument, Stirling Castle, Blackness Castle or more. Likewise If travelling from Edinburgh this could be a stop on the way to Stirling before the highlands.
