Palace of Holyroodhouse

Need a bit of home décor inspo? The Palace of Holyroodhouse is a real eye-opener. State Apartments with fancy four-posters and French tapestries. The Throne Room, where reigning monarchs pop the kettle on for knights and ladies. And the Great Gallery – with portraits of 95 kings and 1 queen. Get your Palace of Holyrood House tickets here to discover for yourself.

This isn’t just where King Charles III carries out his royal duties in Scotland. It’s also the heart of Scottish royalty – a line that stretches back to Fergus 1 in 330 BC. No wonder half a million people visit every year – this place has seen everything from royal romance to violent murder (not recently though, don’t worry).

The guided tours are great and designed for different types of visitors. If you’re green-fingered, the Gardens Tour has cool plants and flowers. The Mary, Queen of Scots Tour showcases this iconic royal’s favourite rooms. The Queen’s Gallery Tour is a top choice for paintings, sculptures and other awesome works of art. And the Royal Apartments Tour includes impressive areas like the Throne Room and Ball Room.

You can also take an evening tour during the summer, when (allegedly) the King holds wild, boozy barbecues. Bring a bottle of Buckfast and you might make it past security.