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So, what is the difference between 鈥渨hisky鈥� and 鈥渨hiskey鈥�? If that little 鈥渆鈥� is driving you to drink, head straight to The Scotch Whisky Experience, where answers鈥攁nd drams鈥攁wait. This is Scotland鈥檚 answer to Disneyland, but with fewer cartoon mice and significantly more peat smoke.

Indeed, this interactive museum doesn鈥檛 just cater to connoisseurs and curious adults. Even the wee (the Scottish word for 鈥渓ittle鈥� ones) get a slice of the fun, thanks to 鈥淧eat the Cat鈥濃�攖heir feline guide through a world of whisky facts and playful games. Meanwhile, the grown-ups hop aboard a moving barrel (yes, you heard that right) for a slow cruise through a mechanical distillery, narrated by none other than the ethereal 鈥淲hisky Ghost.鈥� He knows his mash from his malt, and he鈥檚 not afraid to share鈥攚ithin reason, of course...

Next stop: the MacIntyre Whisky Gallery, where you'll learn how different flavours are crafted. Well, some of the flavours (trade secrets are revealed only partially...). Then it鈥檚 on to the Sense of Scotland room, where your nose gets a full workout sniffing everything from smoky campfires to sweet toffee notes鈥攂asically a perfume department for whisky fans.

Your grand finale is the tasting room. Here, you鈥檒l find your whisky鈥攜es, even you who swore you didn鈥檛 like the stuff. But do yourself a favour: don鈥檛 ask for ice or soda. You鈥檒l get looks colder than the Highlands in January.

Before you stumble out, swing by the gift shop. With over 300 malts and miniatures on offer, it鈥檚 practically a whisky library. Tour guests even get a discount鈥攂ecause education should come with perks...

So, in case you're still wondering why go?鈥擧ere's the answer: Because where else can you ogle 3,400 unopened bottles of whisky worth a fortune, sip your way through centuries of liquid history, and pair it all with cheese and chocolate that鈥檇 make a Highlander weep?

Top Tip:
Spring for the 鈥淕old Tour鈥� if you鈥檙e in it for the full whisky safari. And if you're not all that keen on whisky but prefer to look, sniff, and learn without the burn鈥擳he 鈥淪ilver Tour鈥� has your name on it. Sl脿inte!

Back in 1835, an entrepreneurial firecracker named Maria Theresa Short decided that Edinburgh needed more science and spectacle. So, she launched what would become the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, a place where city views met mind-bending visuals long before Instagram filters were a thing.

Short's first venture, called 鈥淪hort鈥檚 Popular Observatory,鈥� was a quirky little spot built from wood, stone, and pure determination up on Calton Hill, near the National Monument. Sadly, the authorities weren鈥檛 fans鈥攕o, in 1851, they dismantled it. Undeterred, Short relocated to Castlehill, bought the townhouse of the Laird of Cockpen (indeed, this was his name), and stacked two extra floors on top. By 1853, she had rebranded the place as Short鈥檚 Observatory, Museum of Science and Art鈥攁 title almost as long as the staircase...

In 1892, the venue came under the management of Patrick Geddes, a forward-thinking Scottish urban planner, sociologist, and ecologist, who gave the building a brainy makeover. He renamed it the Outlook Tower and transformed it into a museum and urban study center. In essence, Geddes filled it with a clever vertical geography lesson: the world at the bottom, Europe and English-speaking countries in the middle, and Edinburgh at the top. Crowning it all, in the topmost room, was a Camera Obscura鈥攂ecause, even in the Victorian era, they already wanted something similar to Google Earth!

The museum ceased operations following Geddes' passing in 1932. In 1966, the University of Edinburgh acquired the site with the intention of establishing the Patrick Geddes Centre and archive. However, in 1982, the building changed ownership to private hands, with a one-room tribute to Geddes remaining on the fourth floor. But that's when the real magic was just getting started.

Today, this tower is Edinburgh鈥檚 oldest visitor attraction and still the most delightfully dizzying. It features more than 100 interactive exhibits spread across six floors of illusions, holograms, mirror mazes, vortex tunnels, and hands-on wonders. The rooftop terrace is a camera-ready dream with telescopes and skyline views. The original top-floor Camera Obscura is a 19th-century tech marvel that still gives a live, real-time tour of the city below. It's equally educational, entertaining, and just a little surreal鈥攖he kind of place where science meets showbiz and your eyeballs never quite know what hit them.

Smack in the middle of the Royal Mile, St Giles鈥� Cathedral鈥攐therwise known as the High Kirk (or High Church) of Edinburgh鈥攊sn't one to be missed. The original building went up in the 12th century but didn鈥檛 survive a nasty fire鈥攐nly the central pillars lived to tell the tale. The replacement was built in 1385. Over the years, it had numerous chapels added鈥攌nown as aisles鈥攔esulting in a kind of charming architectural chaos. At one point, the church had over 50 side altars, like a medieval supermarket of holiness...

In 1466, St Giles鈥� became a collegiate church, which, in 1490, saw the now-iconic, crown-shaped lantern tower completed. During the Reformation, in 1560, things got a bit dramatic. Most of the church鈥檚 treasures vanished鈥攕tolen, sold, or just spirited away鈥攊ncluding its star relic: Saint Giles鈥� withered arm and hand, complete with a diamond ring on one skeletal finger (macabre bling at its finest...). In addition to that, the church was partitioned by walls into multiple preaching zones鈥攁 kind of Protestant 鈥渇eng shui,鈥� if you will...

Despite being called a cathedral, it only technically wore that title twice, briefly, during the 17th-century Bishop Wars. The statute of 鈥淗igh Kirk鈥� remains its real claim to fame. A 19th-century restoration gave the church a glow-up鈥攑artitions were removed and several chapels pulled down. Among the surviving chapels, perhaps the most beautiful is the Thistle Chapel from 1911: a jaw-dropping High Gothic gem dripping in wood and stone carvings, fluttering heraldic banners, and a breathtaking, delicately carved vaulted ceiling.

Once here, look out for a bronze plaque to Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island, in the Moray Aisle, a marble tribute to the dashing but doomed 1st Marquis of Montrose, in the Chapman Aisle, and another to his bitter rival, Archibald Campbell, the 1st Marquis of Argyll, in the Saint Eloi Aisle. Fun fact: these two, once the main signatories of the National Covenant in 1638 (the document signed to oppose attempts to impose Anglican religious practices on the Church of Scotland), became sworn enemies towards the end of their lives. Edinburgh drama, anyone?

Aside from all that, the place is absolutely gorgeous, packed to the rim with stained glass beauty. You鈥檒l walk out with neck cramp from all the ceiling admiration鈥攁nd it鈥檒l be worth it.

Pro tips:
Entry is free or by donation, but if you鈥檙e planning a photo shoot, prepare to fork over 拢2 for a "permit".
Best to get onto a tour, as there's much you could miss just wandering on your own. Also, if you're feeling adventurous, take the rooftop tour (worth 拢6).
And yes鈥攄on't miss a cozy caf茅 downstairs that serves tasty bites. Praise be!

What to buy here: Malt Scotch whisky.

There's hardly any better location for a shop to sell whisky in Edinburgh than the Royal Mile. And if you look for a bottle of whisky as a gift for family or friends, then the malt Scotch whisky is exactly what you need. The Single Malt Scotch Whisky, made exclusively from malted barley, is Scotland's biggest export, and Edinburgh is the home of the Malt Whisky Society, stocking the world's largest whisky collection.

Established in 1991, Royal Mile Whiskies is one of the most respected whisky merchants in the world, having won Whisky Magazine鈥檚 Retailer of the Year Award numerous times.

An important part of its success is the fantastic team of staff with decades experience in whisky retailing and tasting, fit to ensure that everyone, from the novice whisky drinker to the connoisseur, feels welcome. These people are true whisky enthusiasts who share a passion for all things whisky 鈥� especially Scottish Single Malt Whisky 鈥� and love nothing better than chatting about and tasting the product!

Since the outset, the shop has steadily grown in range and reputation. Today, you will find here the finest whisky selection from Scotland's best distilleries with a quality that speaks for itself. Capturing rarity and exclusiveness in a glass, this Scottish alcoholic drink captivates curious and discerning whisky lovers from all corners of the globe.

Prices vary between $30+ and $1,500+ per bottle.

While exploring the Royal Mile, you might see some of the locals partake in a rather bizarre, if not disgusting, ritual when passing a spot near the west door of Saint Giles Cathedral. As you draw closer, be careful to keep out of range, as you will see them spit on the Heart of Midlothian.

This heart-shaped mosaic, set in the cobbled-stone pavement, marks the entrance to the building that was demolished in 1817, but still stays in the memories of the people who grew up in the area. They spit here for good luck.

The building was the Old Tolbooth, a medieval customs house, which was also used for meetings by the Estates of Scotland for a short period. In 1640 it housed the Court of Session, the principal jail of the burgh, where prisoners were often tortured prior to being taken out for public execution in front of the entrance.

According to legend, Edinburgh鈥檚 petty thieves and not-so-petty criminals spat on the door, as they passed, to bring them luck against the day when they found themselves being taken through it.

Two centuries on, with the building gone, the heart in the cobble stones still reminds of the misery and torture carried out behind its walls.

If ghost stories give you chills in a good way, then Real Mary King鈥檚 Close might just be your perfect haunt in Edinburgh. Tucked beneath the Royal Exchange, this underground maze of shadowy alleyways and crumbling tenement rooms has a reputation for being one of the most haunted corners of the city鈥攁nd in Edinburgh, that鈥檚 saying something...

Originally a bustling neighborhood, the close was sealed off after the Great Plague of 1645 rolled into town, carried by flea-infested rats from merchant ships. With zero plumbing and not a bar of soap in sight, these cramped quarters became ground zero for infection. In a desperate attempt to contain the spread, entire blocks鈥攑redominantly the poorer areas, including Mary King鈥檚 Close鈥攚ere bricked in as urgent quarantine measures. Legend has it, some unlucky souls were trapped inside at the mercy of plague or starvation... and they never left. At least, not in spirit.

One ghost in particular likes to make her presence known: Annie, a small girl, who is said to have lost her doll鈥攁nd possibly much more鈥攚hen the plague swept through. Visitors claim to feel her presence, and many bring her gifts: toys, trinkets, or coins, all of which are passed on to children鈥檚 hospitals and local charities. So, even the ghostly get a little goodwill...

The area was uncovered during renovations to the Royal Exchange and was opened to the public in 2003 as a tourist attraction. Since then, costumed guides have been leading brave guests through these 17th-century underground time capsules, sharing tales of the little Annie and Mary King鈥攁 respected businesswoman and seamstress after whom it is named鈥攁s well as the dark chapters etched into every cobbled corner.

So, if you鈥檙e in the mood for a little historical horror with a charitable twist, Mary King鈥檚 Close is calling. Just... don鈥檛 forget Annie鈥檚 doll.

What to buy here: Scottish crest badge.

If you spot an abundant display of textiles on mannequins, including dogs, creating a colorful scene outside a store on the Royal Mile, rest assured that you've reached the Crest of Edinburgh. This small souvenir shop sells Scottish and tartan clothing in its variety, plus a wide range of clan-crested Scottish items, such as cufflinks, sporrans, sgian dubhs, badges and many other kilt accessories. Among them, particularly noteworthy are Scottish crest badges.

This heraldic badge, representing a crest embodied with a motto and most often worn by representatives of Scottish clans, can make a great gift for your family or friends.

Crest badges are made of silver or white metal and constitute an important accessory of the Scottish traditional dress. Women tend to wear it as a brooch, usually on the left side. Even though clan crests are often bought and sold, the heraldic crest and slogan correspond only to the chief and never to the individual clan member. Prices vary from $20 to $150 apiece.

While in Edinburgh, surely taking a walk along the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and the Holyrood Abbey, you will see on the one side of this famous street the Tron Kirk Church.

This once beautiful church was built in the 17th century on the orders of King Charles I. Its Palladian and Gothic design had a Dutch influence, inspired by architect John Mylne, who had been impressed by the 鈥淎rchitectura moderna鈥� churches designed by Hendrick de Keyser.

The original building was T-shaped, conforming to the then modern 17th century religious practices, but was re-designed in 1787, when the South Bridge was built. In 1820, the wooden spire was destroyed in a fire and the stone spire, seen today, was installed in 1828.

The building was de-consecrated in 1952 and has been used for various purposes ever since, including a tourist information centre and Black Heart Entertainment who organised ghost tours around the city.

In the 1970s, excavations carried out in the crypt discovered remains of Marlin鈥檚 Ward, including the cellars of an ancient building, a part of a paved street. These can now be viewed when the building is open to the public.

For several years the church has been the subject of a lively debate. Some want to knock it down, while others want it restored. In the meantime, it gets a little more dilapidated while people fight over its fine architecture and it would be a shame if this well-known landmark disappeared.

If your kids are a bit fed up with visiting ancient monuments and galleries, it鈥檚 time to take them to the Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile.

Back in the early 1950s, Patrick Murray, a member of the Edinburgh Council, realized that a lot of children weren鈥檛 so keen on the museums their parents took them to on cold, wet days. So he began to think about a museum dedicated to children and everything that centers around kids 鈥� their education, health and, of course, their toys and games. In this way, he hoped to amuse and educate both children and adults. In 1955 he founded the Museum of Childhood.

It is really a great place for everyone; the exhibits are spread out in five galleries over five floors and deal, as Mr. Murray had hoped, with every aspect of childhood. In the Education section, your children can learn about how schools were run between 1950 and the present day, and see photos of classic classrooms. Different uniforms are on display, as well as the famous 鈥渂irch rod鈥�, used to discipline unruly pupils.

There are wonderful hands-on activities with a dressing-up room and a puppet theatre. And of course, there are toys all over the place! The children will see and learn about the toys and games that kept you and your parents happy long before video games were ever thought of. They can play with dolls and teddy bears, tin soldiers with cannons that fire match-sticks, numerous board games, train sets and other toys from around the world.

The museum has a wonderful toy shop, where your kids will quickly find a special toy to take home 鈥� and where you can perhaps buy a replacement for that favourite teddy of yours that you cuddled up with back in your childhood.

Why You Should Visit:
To step back in time 鈥� this place is not just for families. There are all sort of interesting toys & games on display, some dating back centuries, others from recent past decades.

Tip:
Free entry, but there are donation boxes, as well as funny things and souvenirs you can buy on the ground floor.

What to buy here: Kilt | Tartan Scarf.

If you're keen on kilts and Scottish attire in general, a trip to Geoffrey Tailor Kiltmakers 鈥� one of the most acclaimed businesses on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, if not entire Scotland, when it comes to traditional made-to-measure kilts, Highland dress and accessories for gents, ladies and kids 鈥� is bound to prove a really captivating experience for you. Started by Geoffrey, the Master Tailor, and his wife Lorna in 1971, this family affair has carved out a strong niche as one of the country鈥檚 leading makers of 鈥渢he national dress of Scotland鈥�.

The company even has the expertise and real-life high speed powerlooms in action to design, create and register your own tartan. They have designed tartans for Hard Rock Caf茅, Harley Davidson, Edinburgh Castle, and Holyrood Palace.

The place is really smashing, and those who run it are all about quality and with lots of knowledge. It might not be the cheapest store, since they offer the real thing 鈥� no imitations or hard sell here. Prices for kilts vary, based on size and texture, between $40 and $450, or more.

Another key garment that will definitely add a splash to any outfit you wear, whether for style or warmth, is the tartan scarf 鈥� a great accessory for both, men and women. These scarves come in a variety of options, including wool, silk and cashmere, and are often used as a sash for children. They feel soft and fuzzy, serving as a great highlight to your overall look. Their length allows you to wrap them in a variety of ways. An ideal gift for someone special or yourself! Prices vary, based on length and texture, between $10 and $200, or more.

If you鈥檝e ever wanted to nose around someone else鈥檚 house without feeling guilty, house museums are your perfect excuse. Not only do you get a peek at old furniture trends and fancy ceilings, but you also get a dose of juicy historical gossip. And when it comes to John Knox House on the Royal Mile, the stories are just as layered as the timber beams.

Dating back to around 1490, this charming survivor is the oldest house on the Royal Mile鈥攁nd it鈥檚 not shy about showing off. We鈥檙e talking hand-painted ceilings, oak beams that have seen things, and a wooden gallery or two that creak with character. Now owned by the Church of Scotland, it was once home to James Mossman, a royal goldsmith. Given that he fashioned not just one but two crowns鈥攐ne for Mary, Queen of Scots, and another for her son, King James VI鈥攊t鈥檚 safe to say that this house has seen some sparkle.

Now, here鈥檚 the twist: whether John Knox, the renowned 16th-century Protestant Reformer, himself actually lived here is contested鈥攁 kind of Medieval real estate marketing... In the 1700s, the place was severely dilapidated and was saved from demolition by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, who casually floated the rumour that this had been Knox鈥檚 humble abode. Voil脿鈥攊nstant historical landmark!

Inside, the museum is a magnet for anyone even mildly interested in religious history and the Reformation in particular. There are numerous manuscripts, relics, and even papers Knox himself tucked away in a time capsule. Plus, as part of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the place brings history alive with costumed guides and interactive exhibits. There鈥檚 even a special room for children where they can don a John Knox costume and solve puzzles鈥攂ecause, among many other things, family fun includes dressing up as a 16th-century firebrand...

So, go ahead, walk through the creaky floors, raise an eyebrow at the painted ceilings, and decide for yourself鈥攚as this Knox鈥檚 house, or just a really good story? Either way, it鈥檚 worth stepping inside.

What to buy here: Sporran.

A small company on a big mission 鈥� to re-energise and promote Scotland鈥檚 endangered national craft 鈥� Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers is a family-run business specialising in traditional handmade kilts and is a home to the Edinburgh Kilt Academy since 2016. It is therefore no wonder that they have an exclusive range of tartans, reputedly one of the best in Edinburgh, including: University of Edinburgh, John Muir Way, Flodden, Celtic F.C, Scotland National Team, and more. All tartans are exclusively designed, registered and woven by Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers, offering a great deal of personalisation.

Other than regular and clan tartan kilts, their shop in The Royal Mile retails a variety of Scottish Highlandwear accessories such as made-to-measure prince charlie jackets, argyll jackets, tweed jackets and waistcoats (available in Green Tweed, Blue Tweed and Brown Tweed), ghillie brogues, kilt hose, kilt pins, trews and, of course, sporrans.

This traditional item of the Scottish Highland dress constitutes a great gift for family and friends back home. It often takes the place of pockets on the pocketless Scottish kilt and serves as a convenient place to store keys, money and other personal items.

The pouch is usually made of leather or fur and comes in a wide array of designs. The ornamentation of the sporran is induced by the formality of dress worn with it. There are several types of sporrans, such as dress sporrans, day sporrans, animal mask sporrans and horsehair sporrans. The prices vary from $15 up to $650, or more.

Learning about Scotland鈥檚 royalty and nobility is all very interesting, but sometimes you may wonder 鈥� what about the commoners, how did they live? The answer can be found at the People鈥檚 Story Museum.

Housed in Canongate Tolbooth, built in 1591 and once a customs house and jail, this museum tells the history of Edinburgh, as seen through the eyes of those who lived and worked here, from the 18th century to the present.

A written and oral presentation, backed up with photographs, drawings and artefacts, will take you through the day-to-day lives of regular folk, both at work and at home. You will visit beautifully recreated replicas of a bookbinder鈥檚 shop, a pub, a prison cell, a tea-room and a war-time kitchen, all filled with copies of the original objects once used by ordinary people.

In the Edinburgh Life section you will see how communities helped each other; how they protested against injustice and the meetings and rallies they held. Working in Edinburgh showcases how books, beer and cakes were made in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Leith Collection focuses on work in the shipyards, how ships were built, repaired and unloaded in the docks. The Newhaven Collection covers working and day-to-day life in a small fishing community, while At Home in Edinburgh displays household items, such as furniture, crockery, cutlery, domestic appliances, record players and toys.

This fascinating museum is very much kids-friendly too, as it offers a glimpse into life without mobile phones or MP4 players! The museum shop sells books and gift items related to the objects on display.

If you're meandering down the Royal Mile and wondering where to get your history fix with a side of scandal, the Museum of Edinburgh is your spot. Housed in the delightfully crooked 16th-century Huntly House鈥攐nce the home of the city鈥檚 hammer-wielding Guild of Hammermen鈥攖his place is Edinburgh鈥檚 memory palace, packed with everything from Roman relics to rogue biographies.

Inside, you鈥檒l find numerous silverware that practically glows with civic pride, glassware engraved just down the road in Canongate, some pottery that鈥檚 almost too pretty to have survived Scottish winters, and a Sedan chair that reminds us how people once got carried away鈥攍iterally. There are also clocks so stately they make your smartwatch feel wildly inadequate. And don鈥檛 miss the costume corner, where you're invited to play dress-up through the ages. Georgian elegance? Victorian gloom? Just pick your century.

Among the many treasures, you鈥檒l stumble across fragments from a 1st-century Roman settlement dug up in Cramond鈥攜es, the Romans beat the tourists to this small village north-west of Edinburgh by about 2,000 years. You鈥檒l also lay eyes on the original National Covenant (that鈥檚 serious ink), James Craig鈥檚 neatly sketched vision for the New Town, and even Greyfriars Bobby鈥檚 food bowl and collar鈥攑roof that loyalty earns you legend status in this city.

There is also a 鈥渞ogues鈥� gallery鈥� of sorts, where Edinburgh鈥檚 darker side grins back at you. Meet Deacon Brodie, respectable tradesman by day, burglar by night鈥攂asically Jekyll and Hyde, with better tailoring. And don鈥檛 forget Burke and Hare, the notorious body snatchers who supplied fresh corpses to Dr. Knox of the Medicine University, no questions asked...

So, yes, the Museum of Edinburgh has all the drama, dignity, and delightful weirdness this city鈥檚 history has to offer鈥攁nd then some...

The Kirk of the Canongate Chapel is the church attended by monarchs whenever they are in residence at Holyrood Palace. Visitors are always surprised by the contrast of the chapel鈥檚 plain exterior and its beautiful interior.

The chapel was built in the late 17th century by James Smith, a master mason, and is a rectangular building with a Dutch-style end gable and a Doric columned portico. Outside the gate you will see a bronze statue of Robert Fergusson, the 18th century poet.

The chapel is the official church of the Order of the Thistle; although the chapel dedicated to the actual Order is found within Saint Giles Cathedral, investitures and ceremonies have been held at the Kirk of Canongate on even years since the reign of King James II of Scotland.

The church was remodelled in 1882, when a central pulpit and galleries were added, but these were removed and the apse re-opened during restoration work between 1946 and 1954. A new pipe organ was installed in 1988.

The interior of the chapel has a cruciform layout and is light and airy, with white walls and sky-blue pews, woodwork and fittings. The cushions on the seats in the apse are rainbow-coloured. The carpet is red and brightly coloured banners hang from the ceiling.

Shopping and sightseeing in Edinburgh鈥檚 Royal Mile can be tiring, so if you don鈥檛 feel like having lunch in a crowded pub or restaurant, take a pack lunch or pick up a sandwich and take it to Dunbar鈥檚 Close Garden near the Canongate Kirkyard.

Dunbar鈥檚 Close is one of the 80 narrow lanes left over from medieval times, and the garden there is like stepping back in time. Truly a secret garden, even a lot of locals don鈥檛 know it exists, so you will be able to enjoy your lunch in peace.

The garden is surrounded by high ancient brick walls; it is long and rather narrow, with three quarters of an acre laid out in a 17th century design and gravel paths and flowers beds neatly bordered by ting hedges. The beds are filled with herbs, flowers, shrubs and conical-shaped bushes. Mature trees, including fig and sycamore, give a welcome shade over the stone benches.

The garden was created by Sir Patrick Geddes, a biologist, who wanted to make many other gardens like it, but sadly died shortly after Dunbar鈥檚 Close Garden was completed. At the beginning of the 1970s the garden was neglected and overgrown, but luckily was then taken over by the Mushroom Trust, a charity that promotes the creation of urban gardens. They commissioned the landscape architect, Seamus Filor, to clean the garden up, and then, in 1977, the Trust gave it to the City of Edinburgh Council, who opened it to the public in 1978.

Founded in 2002 to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen鈥檚 Golden Jubilee, The Queen's Gallery is an art gallery located next to the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Park. It forms part of the Palace of Holyroodhouse complex, set within the Palace Mews, and was constructed in the shell of the former Holyrood Free Church and Duchess of Gordon鈥檚 School, which stood at the entrance of the Palace.

Previously, this Victorian building also housed Holyrood Free Church (a congregation of the Free Church of Scotland, then from 1900 United Free Church of Scotland), but was last used for worship in 1915. Prior to its conversion to the Queen's Gallery the building was used as a storeroom.

The gallery was opened by Queen Elizabeth II herself, and today exhibits works from the Royal Collection, with a rolling programme of events and exhibitions featuring works of art, jewelery, furniture, and more.

The intimate space provides a friendly and relaxed setting for visitors of all ages, including pupils. From portraiture sessions to landscape drawing in the Palace gardens, creative writing to model making, its learning programmes are designed to bring the exhibitions alive for school groups.

For visitors' convenience, there is a caf茅 bar next to the gallery where they can rest.