Mary, Queen of Scots: power, palace and plots

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is currently closed. To explore the stories of the Palace of Holyroodhouse through tours, trails and activities please visit our Discover pages.

This interactive session has been redesigned to make the most of both indoor and outside spaces, ensure social distancing and provides multiple hand washing opportunities. We are delighted to talk to you about any specific requirements for your school.

Step back to the glittering – and sometimes grisly – court of Mary, Queen of Scots, as pupils explore the rooms she used in the Palace and discover the dramatic events that unfolded there.

Get up close to replica costumes and objects, stand in the spots where history was made, and use investigatory skills to uncover the stories of power, plots and daily life in the 16th century.

Visit includes access to: Mary, Queen of Scots’ private apartments, the Great Gallery, Holyrood Abbey, and Abbey Strand.

Learning Outcomes

• Use the historic rooms and objects in the Palace to investigate major events in Mary’s life including: her debates with Protestant reformer John Knox, her marriages to Darnley and Bothwell, the murder of David Rizzio and her downfall.
• Discuss the challenges Mary faced as a female ruler and because of her religion.
• Discover what daily life was like for the people at Mary’s court and for the Queen herself. Compare and contrast 16th-century Edinburgh with today.

A lunch room is available for booked groups in the Learning Rooms.  

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 ask for details when booking.

You may find the information for visitors on the Autism spectrum helpful when planning your visit to The Palace of Holyroodhouse.

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

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 1AA

T. (+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.

Teachers' Packs for each site can be downloaded here.

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 - 1 adult: 3 pupils
P1 – P4 - 1 adult: 6 pupils
P5 and above - 1 adult: 10 pupils

Please ask for details of rates for additional adults when booking.