- Next event: 4 Jun 2026
Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (24 Apr 2026 - 4 Dec 2026) - First Level, Second Level, Third and Fourth Level, Senior Phase
- Expressive Arts
As well as our programme of facilitated sessions at The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, we offer self-guided visits to pupils from the UK. The next exhibition at The King's Gallery is The Edwardians: Age of Elegance. These visits are perfect for pupils from First Level to Senior Phase requiring a general or focused visit. During these self-guided visits pupils can collect a multimedia guide which has a tour suitable for young adults upwards.
Visit includes access to: The King's Gallery, Edinburgh
Recommended visit time: 1 hour
Please note that the exhibition will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 September to 6 December 2026.
Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes
First Level
- I have the opportunity to choose and explore a range of media and technologies to create images and objects, discovering their effects and suitability for specific tasks. EXA 1-02a
Second Level
- I have the opportunity to choose and explore an extended range of media and technologies to create images and objects, comparing and combining them for specific tasks. EXA 2-02a
Third and Fourth Level
- I have experimented with a range of media and technologies to create images and objects, using my understanding of their properties. EXA 3-02a
- I have continued to experiment with a range of media and technologies, handling them with control and assurance to create images and objects. I can apply my understanding of the properties of media and of techniques to specific tasks. EXA 4-02a
By train
Bus numbers 6 and 35 stop near the Gallery. 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 coach/bus
Bus numbers 6 and 35 stop near the Gallery. 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 King’s Gallery 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 Gallery schools sessions are £1 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.
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)
