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Heritage for all

We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection.

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Spectacular jousting

Our champions are returning to the arena at Linlithgow Palace! Experience the thundering hooves and exhilarating drama of Spectacular Jousting.

Book your tickets now
Two knights on horseback charge at each other with lances in hand, in front of a crowd of people. Linlithgow palace sits in the background.

Find inspiring places to visit this summer

Explore castles, abbeys, parks, mills and more in the sunshine.

Visit
A narrow and winding grassy path leads across a hillside to a ruined castele
New Abbey Corn Mill building seen through green tree branches, with a bright blue sky overhead.

Jobs and volunteering

Explore our current vacancies and volunteering opportunities, or discover the career paths you can follow in the heritage sector.

Get involved
Two people wearing purple jackets stand beside a stone wall in front of a thatched-roof building, smiling at the camera.
Conservation scientist using XRF device in a lab
A staff member in a bright red coat welcomes visitors at the entrance to Edinburgh Castle.

Upcoming events

Discover more

Stirling Castle Archaeology and Empire

This exhibition brings together archival material, commissioned artworks, and community perspectives to ask questions about how we remember Scotland's past.

On until Monday 20 July 2026

Holyrood Park Arthur's Amble

Join a ranger on a free, gentle guided walk to learn about Holyrood Park's geology, wildlife and its rich archaeology and history.

Selected dates until Sunday 27 September 2026

Stanley Mills Traces of Empire

Working with community groups, this exhibition explores their experiences of the legacies of empire in Scotland, looking for ways forward and finding space to tell their stories.

Selected dates until Sunday 28 June 2026

Multiple venues Marking Time

Explore the history of mark making in Scotland, from the present day to some of the oldest markings to be found in Scotland.

Selected dates until Monday 28 September 2026

Leith Library Inspiring the Nation: 300 years of Libraries in Scotland

Celebrating 100 years since the 1925 National Library of Scotland Act, this exhibition explores the history of libraries in Scotland.

Selected dates until Tuesday 7 July 2026

Holyrood Park Trees in Summer

Join a Ranger to discover some of the Park's wonderful trees and learn about their ecology and folklore

Selected dates until Thursday 9 July 2026

Ready for an adventure?

Use a Membership or Explorer Pass to discover centuries of Scottish history and heritage, all while saving money and supporting our work.

Membership

Ideal for regular visitors and heritage supporters

Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events

Two adults, holding hands with two young children, walk through a graveyard, with historical stone ruins in the background. It is a sunny day.
  • Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events
  • Discount in our shops and cafés (on site and online)
  • Historic Scotland magazine delivered to your door
  • Free or discounted entry to sites in England, Wales and the Isle of Man

Explorer Pass

Perfect for short-term trips and sightseeing

Valid for 14 consecutive days

A family walking across a grassy lawn with the New Abbey Corn Mill building in the background.
  • Valid for 14 consecutive days
  • Entry to all ticketed sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle
  • 20% discount on audio guides at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Glasgow Cathedral
  • Guaranteed entry when you pre-book online