Frequently Asked Questions
Tickets | Print At Home Tickets | Ticket Machine Pick Up
Tickets
Can I book via other means than online (eg via telephone)?
We realise that it may not always be convenient to book online. You can also buy tickets in person at our ticket office inside Edinburgh Castle (during opening hours of the castle).
For group bookings of 11 persons or more, please call +44 (0) 131 668 8831 to book. Email:hs.explorer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Where is the ticket office in Edinburgh Castle?
The ticket office is located inside Edinburgh Castle. When you arrive at the castle from the Royal Mile, walk over the drawbridge and the ticketing area is on your right, here you'll find:
- Ticket sales
- Priority window for Members of Historic Scotland, Groups, Travel Trade and disabled guests.
Visitor Information is also located here to assist you with any queries.
What payment do you accept at the ticket office?
We accept debit and credit cards, cash (Euro & Sterling) and cheques.
Print At Home Tickets
How do I use the Print At Home ticket option from the website?
Add tickets and/or souvenir/audio guide(s) to your shopping basket then click on Checkout. You will be asked to choose a delivery method for your tickets – choose Print At Home and proceed to payment.
Once payment has been confirmed, you will receive an email confirmation with your Print At Home ticket(s) attached as an Adobe PDF. If you have purchased a souvenir or audio guide using the Print At Home option, then your order acknowledgement will also come attached as an Adobe PDF.
To view the PDF, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer (Get Adobe Reader). You can print your tickets on any printer.
How do I know that my booking has been confirmed?
If you choose Print At Home then you will receive an immediate email confirmation with your tickets attached as a Adobe PDF.
Can I choose the Print At Home option when buying a souvenir or audio guide?
Yes. Your email confirmation will come with an Adobe PDF attachment which is your order acknowledgement for redeeming your souvenir and/or audio guide at the castle.
What do I do with Print At Home tickets when I arrive at Edinburgh Castle?
You must print the Print At Home tickets and bring them on your visit. The General Admission ticket gives entry into Edinburgh Castle. Redeem your Print At Home ticket for a souvenir guide at Visitor Information and audio guide from the Audio Guide Pick Up located just past the Portcullis Gate.
If you forget your Print At Home ticket or have problems collecting tickets from our ticket kiosks, you must bring along proof of identity to allow Visitor Information to trace your order.
What happens if I print my tickets more than once?
You can print your tickets out as many times as you like but only one person will be accepted into Edinburgh Castle using a single ticket. The barcode on your Print At Home ticket can only be scanned once so you will not be able to reuse copies of the same ticket. Our scanners will reject barcodes already scanned.
What happens if I can’t print my tickets?
When your order is complete, you will receive an email confirmation with the Print At Home ticket attached. If on the day of your visit you are unable to print your ticket, write down your confirmation number (from the email confirmation) and bring it with you to Visitor Information in Edinburgh Castle. Our staff will be able to assist you.
Can I access or print my tickets at a later date?
Yes, as long as you have kept the original email with the attached Print At Home PDF.
I've made a mistake with my order and want to cancel, what do I do?
If you have not yet completed your booking (i.e. you have not yet been emailed a confirmation number) you can just close your browser window and start again.
However, if you have been given the confirmation number, your credit/debit card will have already been processed. You should contact Online Ticketing Services below.
Who do I contact if I have problems printing my ticket?
You can contact either Online Ticketing Services or Visitor Information at Edinburgh Castle.
Online Ticketing Services
Tel: 0131 668 8956
Email: hs.ticketing@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
08:30am to 5:00pm GMT (Monday to Friday). Closed during UK public holidays and weekends
Visitor Information at Edinburgh Castle
Walk over the drawbridge and turn right towards the ticket office. Visitor Information will be clearly signposted. Alternatively ask our staff at the castle for assistance.
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Ticket Machine Pick Up
How do I use the Ticket Machine Pick Up option from the website?
Add tickets and/or souvenir/audio guide(s) to your shopping basket then click on Checkout. You will be asked to choose a delivery method for your tickets – choose ticket machine pick up and proceed to payment.
Once payment has been confirmed, you will receive an email confirmation with your confirmation number. Please print this and bring it with you as you will need this confirmation number when collecting your tickets from our ticket machines.*
Our ticket machines are located inside Edinburgh Castle – walk over the drawbridge and they are on the left.
* Note: all ticket pick ups are collected from our ticket machines only. They cannot be collected from our ticket office unless there is a problem.
How do I know that my booking has been confirmed?
If you choose Ticket Machine Pick Up then you will receive an immediate email with a confirmation number.
Can I choose the Ticket Machine Pick Up option when buying a souvenir or audio guide?
Yes. Once payment has been confirmed, you will receive an email confirmation with your confirmation number. Please print this and bring it with you as you will need this confirmation number when collecting a proof of purchase ticket from our ticket machines.
Once you have collected your proof of purchase ticket from our ticket machines - take this ticket and exchange at Visitor Information (for souvenir guides) and the Audio Guide Pick Up (for an audio guide).
The Audio Guide Pick Up is located just after the Portcullis Gate inside Edinburgh Castle. For Visitor Information, see below.
I've made a mistake with my order and want to cancel, what do I do?
If you have not yet completed your booking (i.e. you have not yet been emailed a confirmation number) you can just close your browser window and start again.
However, if you have been given the confirmation number, your credit/debit card will have already been processed. You should contact Online Ticketing Services on 0131 668 8956 or email hs.ticketing@scotland.gsi.gov.uk (08:30am to 5:00pm GMT, (Monday to Friday. Closed during UK public holidays and weekends.)
Can I choose a souvenir guide and audio tour in another language?
Yes, you can choose your preferred language when you pick up at the castle.
Souvenir Guide – available in English, French and Japanese.
Audio tours – available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Mandarin.
Who do I contact if I have trouble collecting my tickets from the ticket machines?
Contact Visitor Information at Edinburgh Castle. Walk over the drawbridge and turn right towards the ticket office. Visitor information will be clearly signposted. Alternatively ask our staff at the castle for assistance.
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Book online tickets
Click on the Book Online button to access The official Edinburgh Castle webstore.
Exemptions
For group bookings of 11 persons or more, please call +44 (0) 131 668 8831 to book. Email:hs.explorer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
The Members of Historic Scotland’s 20% discount does not apply to any purchases made on the Edinburgh Castle webstore.
Prices may vary for special events.
