Plan your visit

When the Parliament is in session, you are welcome to visit us during these times:

Monday, Friday and Saturday (including public holidays) –

• 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday –

• 9am to 6.30pm (last entry 6pm) 

During recess, opening hours change to:

Monday to Saturday –

• 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)

The next recess will be 1-16 April 2023.

The Scottish Parliament building is located in the Holyrood area of central Edinburgh at the foot of the Royal Mile, on Horse Wynd, opposite the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Getting to Holyrood by cycle

The nearest public cycle racks are located next to the Holyrood Lodge house building on Horse Wynd.

Getting to Holyrood by bus

Visitors can use the Lothian Buses service number 35. The nearest stop is outside our building, called Scottish Parliament, and is located on the Royal Mile in the Canongate.

There are also several open top tour buses which make regular stops at the Parliament.

There are a number of other bus routes a short walking distance away. You can find details of all local bus services from Traveline Scotland.

Getting to Holyrood by train

The Parliament building is a 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride from Edinburgh Waverley train station. Information about train services to and from Edinburgh is available from National Rail.

Getting to Holyrood by road

Our postcode is EH99 1SP.

The nearest car parks are St John’s Hill or adjacent to Waverley Station, via New Street.

Disabled person's parking

A small number of public parking spaces are reserved for disabled people on Horse Wynd. These parking bays are for visitors to the Holyrood area in general, not just for visitors to the Parliament. These parking bays are owned and managed by the City of Edinburgh Council and can be used by all blue badge holders. There is, therefore, no guarantee that a space will be available. You may wish to contact the City of Edinburgh Council for further information about these spaces.

Parking for people with a disabled person’s parking permit is permitted on single yellow lines and these are available near to the Parliament building.

Pick up and drop off points for visitors with mobility access needs

If you require to be dropped off or collected when visiting the Scottish Parliament you can use the turning circle at Dynamic Earth. It may be possible to use the parking bays on Horse Wynd as a drop off and pick up point, but waiting in the bays is not permitted and the usage of the bays for this purpose is subject to their availability. Please contact the City of Edinburgh Council for further information about these spaces.

Coach drop off and pick ups

Coach drivers must use the turning circle in front of Dynamic Earth on Holyrood Road for drop off and pick up of passengers. Coaches may stop here for up to 15 minutes. This is the only facility for coaches to drop off and pick up passengers.

Coach parking is available at Regent Road. It is a short walk to the Parliament's public entrance from Dynamic Earth. Visitors should turn right as they come out of the turning circle and use the walkway through the landscaped area to reach the public entrance on Horse Wynd.

As we are a working Parliament, it is necessary to pass through security to enter the building. Usually, this should only take a few minutes (we recommend arriving 20 minutes before the event time).

This short video explains what you can expect on arrival.

(Watch this video with BSL)

Please note that opening hours, guided tours, exhibitions and access to parts of the building may be changed at short notice due to Parliamentary business.

There are lockers and a baggage storage facility if you would like to leave bags and coats whilst you visit the Parliament.

Accessibility guide

The Scottish Parliament is an accessible building. We offer services and facilities to assist you with your visit. Please see our guide for more details.

Read our accessibility guide here

Keep Safe initiative

Keep Safe is a national network of places where people can go if they feel lost, scared or vulnerable when out in the community. All Keep Safe places have been checked and approved by Police Scotland and staff have received Keep Safe awareness training. Free Keep Safe cards are available to anyone who would like one. These cards hold information about your health, communication requirements and emergency contacts. If you are needing support, you can hand your Keep Safe card to an emergency services worker or staff within a Keep Safe place.

The Scottish Parliament is one of over 900 Keep Safe places across Scotland.

The Parliament Café is open to all visitors.

Find out more about the café here.

Opening hours

Monday, Friday and Saturday, including public holidays –

• 10am to 5pm (last orders 4.45pm)

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, when parliament is sitting –

• 9am to 6pm (last orders 5.45pm)

The shop has a range of Parliament-branded gifts and souvenirs for all ages.

Find out more about the shop here. 

Opening hours

Monday, Friday and Saturday, including public holidays –

• 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, when parliament is sitting –

• 9am to 6pm (last entry 5.30pm) 

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0131 348 6350

Our creche is currently closed while we tender for a new provider. The new service is expected to open in spring 2023. We’ll announce more information nearer the time.

If you are visiting the Parliament, there is a code of behaviour that you need to follow.

For all visits, please:

• remember that this is a working Parliamentary building
• obey all instructions from Parliamentary officials
• keep all bags with you or place them in the baggage store or public lockers
• do not smoke in the building
• do not eat or drink, except in the restaurants
• return your “Visitor” lanyard and pass, when leaving
• collect any items retained by Security as you go out
• note that the display of banners, flags or political slogans, including on clothing and accessories, is forbidden

For visits to see parliamentary business, please:

• enter, sit in and leave the galleries quietly
• switch any mobile devices to silent
• do not cause a distraction or disrupt parliamentary business – for example, telephone calls must not be taken or made
• do not applaud or shout out during meetings
• do not take photos, videos or make any form of recording during parliamentary business
• obtain prior permission to paint, sketch or draw
• remain seated throughout the whole 45-minute session, if your ticket is for First Minister’s Question Time
• only use social media discreetly and in complete silence

Face Coverings

The wearing of face coverings is no longer a law in most indoor public settings. But, the Scottish Government continues to recommend them where there's a higher transmission risk. For example, in crowded, busy, congested spaces and areas with poor ventilation.

Thus, we encourage everyone at Holyrood to wear a face covering when moving around indoors. We encourage this in busy and congested areas especially.

This is a personal decision, but it's recommended for the safety of the whole parliamentary community and beyond. Signage in the building reflects the government guidance.

Physical Distancing

Changes in the law around face coverings have also affected physical distancing rules. Physical distancing is no longer a law, but rather, encouraged. Please maintain at least 1 metre physical distancing where possible.

It's especially important to consider physical distancing:

• in congested areas like entrances and exits
• where people queue, like catering outlets and the shop

Distance aware

We recognise and support the distance aware scheme.

If you want more information about visiting us, feel free to get in touch.

• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 0131 348 5000
• Freephone: 0800 092 7600