Venue Description

Edinburgh Castle, a mighty fortress, the defender of the nation, and home to the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.  Edinburgh Castle’s powerful stone walls have withstood many sieges and is sumptuous apartments were an important residence of Scottish Kings and Queens.  Today countless treasures are protected by the Castle Walls.  Marvel at the nation’s Crown Jewels and smell the gunpowder after the One O’Clock Gun fires. Edinburgh Castle is one of the most exciting historic sites in Western Europe, set in the heart of Scotland's dynamic capital city it is sure to capture your imagination. Please be aware that we are currently implementing some new measures with the MOD in relation to the viewing of the One O’clock Gun. As part of this, visitors are asked to please arrive at the new marked areas at least 10 minutes before, as we will limit access in the surrounding areas until after the gun has been fired.  The "Honours of the Kingdom Exhibition" is currently closed for essential maintenance works. The Crown Room and Jewels are open to visitors. Opening times: 1 October - 31 March Daily, 9.30am - 5pm 1 April - 31 September, Daily 9.30am - 6pm We recommend booking online to guarantee entry Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Accessibility

Edinburgh Castle is steep in places and cobbled. The majority of our buildings are accessible for wheelchairs. We have a lift to enable disabled visitors to view the Crown Jewels. We also have a Braille section prior to entering the Jewel Room for the Visually Impaired. On our website we have information regarding the different buildings and how accessible they are for wheelchairs. During the month of August, the mobility vehicle service will not be in operation. Ear Defenders A limited number of adult and children's ear defenders are available at this site. Please ask a member of staff when your ticket is scanned if you want to borrow them.

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/access-guide

Access Statement

Access Statement Link: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/edinburgh-castle/access/

Toilets

We have 4 disabled toilets within the Castle. The first one is in our Lower Ward just over the Drawbridge to your left handside. The next one is in our Red Coat Café, then the Queen Anne Building (entrance at north side of the building). We have one in the lift area of the Palace Block and staff are happy to give disabled people access.

Staff

Some of our Castle Guides have received training to deliver Audio Descriptive Tours for the Visually Impaired. We would recommend that you call (+44) 0131 225 9846, to check that we have a member of staff available on the day you wish to visit. All our Staff have received Customer Care Training to ensure all visitors to the Castle receive a high standard of service.