Linlithgow Palace

Overview

Update - The King’s Bed Chamber and the Court Kitchen are closed at the time of writing (15 November 2024).

Linlithgow Palace, an important royal residence, is now a roofless ruin, but enough of it still stands for the visitor to be able to understand what life in such a vast palace must have been like.

Linlithgow Palace is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. As it turned out, the infant queen remained only seven months at Linlithgow before being taken by her mother to the greater security of Stirling Castle and then to France. It was another 20 years before she returned.

The Palace is built around a square central courtyard with an elaborate stone fountain. Despite being a ruin, visitors can walk through almost all of the rooms and corridors, of which there are many in this large building. There are boards explaining the function of most rooms. The size of the Great Hall and basement kitchen are impressive features of the Palace. There are also great views to be had from the top of the towers.

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