Let's go to a Garden Party
- Next event: 15 Jun 2026
5 upcoming events - Early Level
- Expressive Arts, Social Studies
As the weather gets warmer, everyone at the Palace of Holyroodhouse is excitedly preparing for The King’s Garden Party!
During this session pupils will learn about the different people who are involved, from the soldiers and archers who guard The King, the gardeners who keep the garden looking beautiful and the chefs who prepare thousands of sandwiches and cakes!
Pupils will experience what it might be like to go to the garden party. On the day they will receive an invitation, get dressed up, play music and have a dance before finding out what food would be eaten!
This special session is suitable for pupils at Early Level. It is available to one class of a maximum size of 33 on the dates and at the start times below.
Monday 15 June: 10:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 14:00
Tuesday 16 June: 10:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 14:00
Wednesday 17 June: 10:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 14:00
Thursday 18 June: 10:00 and 11:00
Friday 19 June: 10:00 and 11:00
Visit includes access to: The Palace of Holyroodhouse Gardens and Abbey Strand Learning Centre.
Session lasts 1 hour
Curriculum for Excellence Experience and Outcomes
Early Level
I can make a personal link to the past by exploring items or images connected with important individuals or special events in my life. SOC 0-02a
I use drama to explore real and imaginary situations, helping me to understand my world. EXA 0-14a
- Canongate, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH8 8DX
By train
The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley. The Palace is a 15 minute walk from the station.
Visit National Rail Enquiries for times and fares.
By coach/bus
Bus number 35 stops near the Palace. Open-top tour buses stop nearby.
Limited free coach parking is available adjacent to the Palace. Alternative pay-and-display coach parking is available on nearby Regent Road.
By tram
The nearest tram stop is Picardy Place. The Palace is a 20 minute walk from the stop.
Visit Edinburgh Trams for times and fares.
By bike
A free-to-use public bicycle rack is located opposite the Scottish Parliament.
By car
There is a public car park adjacent to the Palace at Broad Pavement. Please visit the Historic Environment Scotland website for more details.
Accessible parking spaces are located on Horse Wynd, just outside the Palace, on a first-come first-serve basis.
Our learning programmes are designed to be accessible to all pupils. Most of our sessions can be adapted to meet any educational or access needs your group may have. Please see our resource Visiting the Palace with Pupils with ASN for further information or speak to a member of the Learning Bookings Team.
A lunch room is available for booked groups in the Learning Rooms.
To find out more or to make a booking contact the Learning Bookings team.
Please have to hand:
- Preferred date and possible alternatives, plus time of arrival
- Numbers of children and supervising adults
- The taught programme you would like
- Details of any special educational or access needs
Please use the downloadable Bookings Forms to send your details to the Learning Bookings Team.
You will then be sent a reservation letter, together with your teachers’ resource pack, giving a date by which full payment must be received to secure the booking.
Please note: you may be asked to cover the cost of the session if you cancel within short notice of your visit. Non-booked schools will be charged at standard group admission rates. Please see our Terms of Application for Learning Group Admissions.
Contact us
Learning Bookings Team
Ticket Sales and Information Office
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AAT. (+44) (0)303 123 7323
F. (+44) (0)20 7930 9625
[email protected]Sharing Learning Objectives
You will find our learning objectives for each taught session on the relevant programme information page. Sending us your learning objectives prior to your visit will help us tailor the session to your group’s requirements.
Planning Visits
Once you have made your booking, we offer two complimentary tickets for you and a colleague to conduct a planning visit. If you would like to meet a member of the Learning team during this visit, please let us know at the time of booking.
Reduced-rate admission for school groups
Most of our Palace schools sessions are £3 per pupil. Children in P1 and below are FREE. Please see individual sessions for details.
Accompanying adults
One teacher or adult helper is admitted free of charge at the following ratios:
Under 5s - P1 - 1 adult: 3 pupils
P2 – P4 - 1 adult: 6 pupils
P5 and above - 1 adult: 10 pupilsPlease ask for details of rates for additional adults when booking.
All online workshops: £35 per class attending a booked session.
Financial support for travel and access
We have two schemes in place to support schools with travel costs:
- The Travel Subsidy Scheme can cover up to £175 of travel costs if a UK State School.
- The Sustainable Travel Subsidy Scheme can cover up to £200 of funding, either in addition to the above scheme or separate to, if a UK Independent School.
We also have the Schools Access Scheme which gives successful applicants a free facilitated visit for 2 classes.
Further information on these schemes can be found on our Teacher Information Page.
Following your booking a confirmation letter, with an agreed arrival time, will be sent to you; your letter serves as a ticket for your group. The group leader must have a copy of the confirmation letter to present on arrival.
The Royal Collection Trust Learning section asks that teachers undertake the following guidelines to make entry to Royal Collection Trust sites as smooth and quick as possible:
- Please arrive at the Royal Collection Trust site at least 5 minutes before the scheduled time for the booked workshop
- Teachers and children should not bring the following: scissors, compasses, metal cutlery, sharp metallic implements
- Only bring what you need! The Royal Collection Trust Learning section will provide all necessary equipment such as clipboards, pencils and drawing materials (groups can bring their own sketchbooks if they prefer to use these)
