Christmas arrives at Edinburgh’s royal residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse
Release date: Thursday, 20 November 2025
From today, Thursday, 20 November, visitors to the Palace of Holyroodhouse will see the State Apartments decked with glistening Christmas trees, garlands, and a magnificent table display to celebrate the festive season.
This year marks 100 years since King George V first opened the grand State Apartments to the public, providing the opportunity for visitors to explore the suite of 17th-century rooms in the monarch’s official residence in Scotland.
This festive period, visitors will see two majestic 12-foot-high Christmas trees decorating the atmospheric wood-panelled Throne Room, their branches adorned with sparkling ornaments and twinkling lights, alongside dramatic mantle garlands above the fireplace.
In the Great Gallery, the longest room in the Palace where grand balls were once held, a 15-foot-high Nordmann fir tree features glass ornaments echoing the room’s glittering chandeliers. This Christmas, visitors can take photographs in front of the tree as a special memento of their visit – usually photography inside the Palace is not permitted.
In the Royal Dining Room, first used as a dining room by Queen Victoria, the table is laid with a silver service, sugared fruits and seasonal foliage.
Further highlights include garlands decorating the stone arches in the Quadrangle and adorning the Great Stair.
As part of Royal Collection Trust’s charitable aim to ensure that as many people as possible can access and enjoy the royal residences, £1 tickets are available for visitors receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits. Further concessions, including discounted Young Person tickets for 18–24-year-olds, are also available.
The income from visitor admissions and purchases contributes to the care and conservation of the Royal Collection and helps Royal Collection Trust to share it with everyone, wherever they are.
Other special events taking place in the run-up to Christmas are Winter Exclusive Guided Tours, small group guided tours of the State Apartments when closed to other visitors, Carols at the Palace, two festive evenings of carols sung in the Great Gallery on 9 and 10 December, and a Christmas Activity Day on 13 December of arts and crafts activities and festive music.
