Facilities

Visitor Services

Our Visitor Services staff are available to assist with your queries during our regular opening hours. From questions on our facilities to how to make the most of your trip to Scotland, our welcoming staff are always willing to help. All our staff are in uniform and easy to spot.

Ticket Office

Admission tickets can be purchased here on the day. The ticket office is located immediately to the right once you have walked over the drawbridge.

Ticket Machine Pick Up

For customers who have purchased online and selected the Ticket Machine Pick Up option, tickets can be collected from our two ticket machines. Walk over the drawbridge and they are located on your left.

Visitor Information Area

Our newly furbished Visitor Information area is located past the ticket office on the right hand side. It will be clearly signposted. You will be able to find those essential purchases such as camera film, bottled water and an exclusive range of Edinburgh Castle gifts.

Our staff can help with any issues you may have concerning your visit including ticketing and general information.

Group Ticket Collection
If you have pre booked a group or educational visit to the castle you can collect your tickets from Visitor Information.

Cafes

Queen Anne Cafe
Located at the top of the Castle within the Crown Square, the Queen Anne café offers an elegant contemporary space to dine.

The café offers a table service lunch menu, afternoon tea, sandwiches and a wide range of cakes.

The menu features an innovative range of dishes including a Cullen Skink Tart, Aubergine and Pine Nut Fritters and of course Haggis Neaps and Tatties.

Redcoat Cafe
Named for the distinctive uniform of the castle guard, this welcoming self-service café offers a spectacular view of Edinburgh’s New Town.

The fresh and wholesome menu provides a selection of freshly made vegetarian soups, deli style sandwiches, and home made sweets. Additionally, there is a lunchtime hot selection which includes a daily roast, vegetarian pasta and a choice of traditional Scottish entrées.

Gift shops

Edinburgh Castle’s Retail Shops are stocked with an excellent range of quality products, perfect for gift giving or as a memento of your visit. Located around the castle, each of the Historic Scotland shops has its own character, history and range of speciality and exclusive products

Main gift shop
Looking for inspiration for the perfect gift? Visit the largest gift shop in the Castle. Located next to the ticket office the shop offers an extensive range of quality gifts and souvenirs for people of all ages.

You can purchase exclusive Edinburgh Castle merchandise, a wide range of Clan gifts, traditional Scottish gifts including Celtic and Thistle products. Why not treat yourself to a bottle of Whisky from our collection and try a dram or two on our “tasting” days.

You do not need an admission ticket to visit the main gift shop.

Crown gift shop
Treat yourself to an extra special memento of your visit when you shop in the Crown Gift Shop, located in Crown Square.

This shop is our “Jewel in the Crown” where you will find a wonderful range of gifts, including exclusively designed china, jewellery from leading Scottish designers and a range of merchandise inspired by the Honours of Scotland. Browse our extensive range of gifts from the tapestry collection and treat the children to something special from the Prince & Princesses range.

Edinburgh Castle Bookshop
Visit the bookshop and get the full story of Scotland’s history, heroes and legends!

Located just in front of St Margaret’s Chapel the bookshop stocks a varied range of titles including Official Souvenir Guidebooks, Scottish history books, general Scottish titles, novels, work by contemporary writers and a wide range of children’s books. Once you have chosen your book/s browse our stationery range and gift merchandise.

Each purchase made in our Retail outlets helps support Historic Scotland’s conservation role. Your support is greatly appreciated and will help conserve our properties in the future.

Families with children

The cafés at the Castle are equipped with seating facilities for babies and provide family-friendly meals. For those with babies, changing facilities are available in the toilets near the entrance of the castle and in the café toilets.

Tours

Complimentary guided tours provided by our stewards are included in the admission price. Subject to weather and availability of staff.

Audio tours* can be hired at extra cost either online or from the Audio Guide Pick Up point. The audio booth is located just after the portcullis gate inside the castle. Available in eight languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Mandarin). Costs are £3 adult  £2 concession (for the over 60 and the unemployed)  £1 child (for those aged between 5 and 15 years).

* The 20% discount for Members of Historic Scotland and Explorer Pass holders only applies to audio tours hired onsite.

Non-english speaking visitors

Audio guide tours are available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Mandarin. Souvenir guide books are also available in these languages from the Edinburgh Castle shops and online at www.historic-scotland/shop.

Free Honours of Scotland leaflets are available in the Crown Jewels room in German, Spanish, Italian Dutch and Japanese.

Braille

Braille guides are available on request from the ticket office. The Crown Jewels exhibition includes Braille interpretation on the jewels.

Audio tours

Souvenir guides

Buy the official Edinburgh Castle souvenir guide online

A fully illustrated 64 page guide - discover the fascinating story behind this majestic landmark.


Available in a number of languages.
Buy online