Visitor FAQs

Are there certain times to visit?

Site opening hours can be found on our individual site listings. Entry to our sites is controlled through a timed ticketing system with strict capacity limits applied to each timeslot.  

We strongly recommend booking your ticket online in advance to guarantee entry at your preferred time. 

How long can I stay? 

In some cases, we may need to limit the time you can spend in our car parks to ensure as many visitors as possible have the chance to enjoy our sites. 

Some of our sites operate access by guided tours, or may involve additional travel, such as boat journeys that run on fixed schedules. 

Some of our sites may close over the lunchtime period. 

For full details, please check our individual site listings before your visit. 

Are cafés and shops available at all sites? 

Cafés are available at a number of our larger sites, including at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Urquhart Castle, Fort George and Skara Brae (summer only). Many of our sites without a café have coffee machines and snacks available to purchase from the shop. 

Some sites operate on specific payment policies, however, both cash and card payments are accepted at Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle. 

For full details, please check our individual site listings before your visit. 

Can I bring my dog? 

Please check our individual site listings to see whether your furry friend can join you on your visit. 

Is photography and videography allowed at sites? 

Photography and videography for personal use is welcome at our sites with some exceptions, please ask a member of staff for advice.  

Photographs or footage captured on the estate may not be sold or used for any commercial, promotional or revenue generating purpose, including YouTube or social media channels without prior notice to our media team.  

Photography and videography of children and young people is prohibited without consent of the accompanying adult. This includes, but is not limited to, school groups and/or those attending family events. 

For professional film, photography or commercial advertising enquiries, visit our dedicated filming location page.

Are there toilets? 

We have toilets available at some of our sites, please check our individual site listing before your visit. 

Will there be parking available at sites? 

Some of our sites do have parking however each site is different, so you may need to book a car space when booking your ticket.  Please check our individual site listings before your visit. 

We can accommodate coaches at some of our sites, please check our individual site listings before your visit. 

Will there be Blue Badge Parking? 

We do have blue badge spaces at some of our sites. Please check our individual site listings before your visit. 

Are there any facilities for cyclists? 

Please check our individual site listings before your visit. 

What online payment methods are accepted? 

We accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Diners, Discover and American Express. 

I can’t book my tickets online; can I book over the phone? 

We strongly recommend booking online in advance to guarantee entry. We do not have the facilities to process payments over the phone. 

If you experience issues booking online, please contact the ticketing team. 

Can I pay by cash? 

Cashless payment is preferred. 

For operational reasons some sites may not accept cash.

Do I have to book in advance? 

We strongly recommend booking online in advance to guarantee entry.  

Can I buy tickets on site? 

You may be able to purchase a ticket on arrival, but availability is not guaranteed. When tickets are sold out online there will be no further walk-up tickets available on sites. We strongly recommend booking online in advance to avoid disappointment. 

Is there a group discount? 

We do not offer group discounts.  

When booking a group over 50 people, the booking must be split over two or more transactions as our current ticket limit per transaction is 50. 

I require a helper/carer, are they free of charge, do they need a ticket? 

In line with best practice in the visitor attractions industry, visitors with disabilities are treated on an equal basis with all other visitors and entry is charged at the appropriate admission category rate - Adult/Concession/Child. Proof of disability is not required. 

We recognise that some disabled visitors may need help to visit our sites and we offer free entry for accompanying carers, these can be added when making your booking. Please note this is limited to two carers per transaction.  

How will I receive my tickets? 

You will receive an email confirmation with your e-tickets. Show your tickets on your mobile device or you can add tickets to your Apple Wallet or print them in advance. 

What ticket categories are available? 

The following ticket categories are available for purchase: 

• Adult (16-64yrs) 

• Concession (65yrs+ and unemployed) 

• Child (7-15yrs) 

• Family (1 adult, 2 children) 

• Family (2 adults, 2 children) 

• Family (2 adults, 3 children) 

Any children under 7 are free of charge but should also be added into your booking regardless of ticket type purchased. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Concession tickets require proof of age or unemployment. Please note this does not apply to students.  

I have not received an email confirmation, is this normal? 

No, your email confirmation email should arrive shortly after booking. Please check your junk folder in the first instance. If you have not received this, please contact the ticketing team with details of your booking (name on booking, and email address used) 

I am on the ticket page but can’t see the ticket options, what do I do? 

If the web page is not displaying correctly, we advise you to clear the cache/cookies on your browser then close the browser and reopen it. The ticketing page should now load correctly. If this doesn’t work the date/time slot you wish may be sold out – please check for an alternative date/time. 

I have deleted my email confirmation in error, can I get it resent? 

If you cannot find your email confirmation, please contact the ticketing team with your booking details (name on booking and email address used). 

What is a concession? 

All visitors aged 65 and over and UK visitors who are unemployed are eligible for Concession tickets. You will be asked to show proof of eligibility on arrival. 

Is there a student or Young Scot discount? 

We do not currently offer student discount. 

Young Scot cardholders aged between 11 and 25 currently receive £1 entry to our sites. Tickets must be bought online in advance and applies to the cardholder only. You will need to show a valid Young Scot card on arrival at the site. 

I am a member of the armed forces – do I get a discount? 

Current members of the British Armed Forces receive free entry to Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Fort George. Please make an online booking using HM Forces from the list of ticket types. You will need to bring a valid MOD 90 card when you arrive on site. Please note free entry only applies to the serving member. 

What does my ticket time mean? 

The time on your ticket is when you should arrive on site for your visit. Please check our individual site listings for further information. 

Do I need to arrive at the start of my time slot? 

For most of our sites, you can arrive at any time within your chosen time slot. However, there are some exceptions. Please check our individual site listings or your email confirmation for specific details. 

How far in advance are tickets available?

We release tickets a few months in advance, please check our website periodically for future dates. 

Can I leave and come back with the same ticket? 

No, tickets are valid for a single entry only. 

Can I show my email confirmation/tickets on my phone? 

Yes, your e-tickets can be shown on a mobile device.  

How will visitors have to show their booking? 

Visitors arriving at our sites will have their tickets scanned for entry by staff. 

Can I arrive earlier than the time shown on my ticket? 

No, the time shown is the earliest you can arrive, and you can arrive at any point within your chosen time slot. 

What if I miss my time slot? 

We’ll do our best to fit you in if we can, but if we’ve reached capacity for the time slot when you arrive, you will have to wait until the next available time slot. 

What will happen if the weather is bad? 

In the event of severe weather, such as strong winds or snow, we may need to close our sites at short notice. The sites will close if the weather presents a hazard and a risk to visitors.  

We recommend that you check our website  closures page on the day you are going to visit, especially if severe weather is forecast, as a closure notice will be posted here first. 

Customers who have pre-booked will be contacted via text or email with details on how to rebook or claim a refund. If you have not been contacted within 48 hours of the closure please contact the ticketing team. 

If I am unable to attend, can I get a refund? 

All tickets purchased are non-refundable as per our terms and conditions however if tickets are available for different dates then we can alter your existing booking. Please fill out our refund request form.

I have booked for the wrong day - can I transfer to another date? 

If we have availability then yes, we can alter the date of your tickets, please fill out our ticket change request form. 

Do I need to book in advance? 

Advanced booking is available for all sites to guarantee entry, we specifically recommend it for Blackness Castle, Doune Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, Skara Brae and Urquhart Castle. 

Can I bring a guest? 

Historic Scotland Life members can take 2 adults or up to 6 accompanying children (7-15yrs) or a combination of 1 adult and up to 3 accompanying children as guests free of charge. Tickets for guests should be included in the member ticket order. 

If you are an annual member and wish to bring a non-member with you, then a paid admission ticket will need to be booked for the same time slot.

Can I become a member? 

Yes, membership can be purchased online.  If you wish to visit once you have purchased membership, you will then be able to reserve member tickets online. You must take your membership confirmation email with you as proof of membership (printed or on your phone). 

I have lost my membership card; can I still get entry? 

You can now access your membership card digitally via the Historic Scotland App. If you have lost your card you can download the app and access it there. Alternatively, you will need to contact members@hes.scot or call 0131 668 8999, and we can arrange for a replacement card and an email confirmation which can be used straightaway. Unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee entry if you do not have a valid membership card/email confirmation. 

How does the online booking system work for members? 

You should make your booking online for the number of tickets as per your membership category allowance. An email confirmation will then be sent. You must take the email confirmation with you for your visit, on your phone or printed. Your valid membership card will be required to be scanned for entry. 

I am a member but with children under 7 years of age, how do I book? 

If you have children under 7, remember to add these onto your booking. Under 7s visit free and do not affect your membership but will need to be added into your online booking. We recommend booking online in advance to guarantee entry. 

Can I book for more than one visit in the same transaction? 

No, each visit requires its own booking. 

Do I need my Membership card to visit if I’ve already booked member tickets online? 

Yes, your membership card will be required for entry as it is proof of your membership. If you have recently purchased your membership online, or at another site, take your temporary membership certificate or membership email confirmation as this is your proof of membership. 

You need proof of membership in addition to your pre-booked tickets to visit. If you do not show valid membership cards/email confirmation on the day then we cannot guarantee entry. 

I don’t have a membership card yet, as I just bought membership online, how do I get tickets? 

We strongly recommend booking your tickets online in advance to guarantee entry. If you have recently purchased your membership online, or at another site, take your temporary membership certificate or membership email confirmation with you on your visit as this is your proof of membership. You need proof of membership in addition to your pre-booked tickets to visit. 

I’ve been a member for years and never had to pre-book my tickets. Can I not just visit on the day when I want? 

For many of our sites pre-booking is not required, but to guarantee entry to our busier sites pre-booking is recommended at: Edinburgh Castle, Skara Brae, Stirling Castle, Blackness Castle, Urquhart Castle, Doune Castle, and Maeshowe Chambered Cairn. When tickets are sold out online there will be no further walk-up tickets available on site. 

How do I book car parking, particularly at Stirling and Urquhart Castles? 

Parking at Stirling Castle cannot be pre-booked as parking spaces are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Due to high demand for parking at Stirling Castle, you may wish to use city centre parking or the Castleview Park and Ride Service (get off at the Old Town Jail, a five minute walk from the castle entrance). Payment is made on arrival when a space is available. 

Parking at Urquhart Castle is free, but must be booked online in advance along with your admission tickets/time slot. 

Parking at all of our other sites is on a first come, first served basis. 

I am a member who doesn't have access to the internet, how can I book a ticket? 

For members who do not have internet access you can call to reserve tickets in advance on 0131 668 8831, 9.30am - 4.30pm.

I’m a member of English Heritage, Cadw, Manx how do I book tickets? 

Members of English Heritage, Cadw and Manx National Heritage have reciprocal arrangements for entry to our sites. 

If you are a first-year member you receive a 50% discount on the ticket price, if you are a renewal member or life member your entry is free. You must bring your valid membership card, and pre-booked tickets, with you to ensure entry. 

Please note that we do not offer reciprocal admission to National Trust properties.  

As an English Heritage, Cadw, Manx member, how many tickets can I book? 

You should only book the number of tickets that you are allowed as per your membership category up to a maximum of 6 people.

For enquiries about tickets and bookings

Contact the ticketing team