Edinburgh · Castlehill · top of the Royal Mile
Edinburgh Castle: tickets, tours and opening times
A fortress on an extinct volcano, the oldest crown jewels in Britain and a gun that fires at one o'clock. Pick your tour and plan the day.
Today
Opening hours for every month are on the Opening hours page.
Checked against the official website on 31 October 2026 · Official source
In short
- Every Edinburgh Castle ticket on this site comes with a guide or a tour. You choose how to see the castle: a guided tour of about 1 hour 30 minutes, a walking tour of the Royal Mile with castle entry, or a longer tour that adds the city.
- The castle opens at 9:30. From April to September last entry is 17:00 and it closes at 18:00. From October to March last entry is 16:00 and it closes at 17:00. It is closed on 25 and 26 December.
- The One O'Clock Gun fires at 13:00 every day except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day.
- Castle tickets often sell out far in advance, especially in summer, so book early. Plan on at least two hours inside.
The Honours of Scotland: Britain's oldest crown jewels
In the Crown Room you see the Crown, the Sceptre and the Sword of State. The Crown was made in 1540 for James V, and it carries 94 pearls and 43 gems. The Sword of State was a gift from Pope Julius II to James IV in 1507.
The Crown Room was refurbished earlier in 2026 and is open to visitors again.
Mons Meg: a medieval giant
Mons Meg is a huge siege gun built in Flanders in 1449 and given to James II in 1457. It weighs about six tonnes. It fired to mark the wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1558, and its barrel burst in 1681.
St Margaret's Chapel: the oldest building in Edinburgh
This small stone chapel was built around 1130 by David I in honour of his mother, Margaret. It is still used for small weddings.
The One O'Clock Gun: set your watch
Every day at 13:00, except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day, a gun fires from the Mills Mount Battery. The noise is loud and sudden, so warn children before they hear it.