The Best Royal Experiences in Scotland: A Journey Through Royal History

Scotland’s relationship with royalty runs deeper than most realize. This is not just about pageantry and palaces. It is about ancient coronation sites, private Highland retreats where monarchs still spend their summers, and a maritime legacy that tells the story of Britain’s modern royal family.

For luxury travellers seeking genuine royal connections rather than tourist theater, Scotland offers experiences that range from standing where medieval kings were crowned to sleeping aboard a floating hotel that once carried the Queen.

Balmoral Castle opens to visitors from October 1, 2025, offering something unprecedented: access to the interior of what has been the British royal family’s most private Highland retreat since Prince Albert purchased it for Queen Victoria in 1852. The 50,000-acre Balmoral Estate has been one of the private residences of the British royal family since 1852, and Queen Elizabeth II died here in September 2022, making it perhaps the most emotionally significant royal site in Scotland.

The exclusive interior tours of the castle include a welcome glass of champagne at the restaurant, followed by a piper-led procession. These tours are highly sought after and require booking well in advance. Interior tour tickets are offered on select dates and sell out fast, with groups limited to a maximum of 10.

The highlight of a visit to Balmoral is the Ballroom, the largest room in the castle, with displays of artworks by Landseer and Haag, silver statues by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, Minton China, and artifacts from within the castle. For the ultimate Balmoral experience, you can add afternoon tea or a seven-course dinner.

The Balmoral Expedition Tour is a two-hour Land Rover experience on the estate, covering a maximum of six people, allowing you to explore the dramatic Highland landscape that captivated Victoria and has drawn every British monarch since. The estate’s restaurant uses produce from the gardens, and the gift shop offers exclusive items unavailable elsewhere.

Stay nearby at Banchory Lodge Hotel or venture to the luxurious Gleneagles, about 90 minutes south, where you can combine your Balmoral visit with golf, spa treatments, and Michelin-level dining at Andrew Fairlie.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse stands at the end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and is the official residence in Scotland of His Majesty the King. Unlike Balmoral’s seasonal opening, Holyroodhouse welcomes visitors year-round, offering a glimpse into how monarchy functions in modern Scotland.

The State Apartments have played host to many significant occasions, including the magnificent Great Gallery where Bonnie Prince Charlie partied, and the remarkable Throne Room where George IV famously wore Highland dress. Queen Elizabeth II used the lavish Royal Dining Room when she stayed at the palace, and these rooms remain in active use during Royal Week each summer when the monarch conducts official Scottish business.

Private tours of the State Apartments are available, with small groups of up to 25 people enjoying unique access on days when the palace is closed to other visitors. In winter, exclusive after-hours private tours showcase the palace adorned with magnificent festive decorations.

The palace’s connection to Mary, Queen of Scots adds dramatic intrigue. Her chambers are open to visitors, complete with the spectacular heart-shaped locket made from blue glass, rubies, and an emerald that was created for her mother-in-law, Lady Margaret Douglas.

Base yourself at The Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street, a five-star landmark with exceptional service, a Michelin-starred restaurant (Number One), and SCOTCH, a whisky bar housing over 500 varieties served by kilted ambassadors. The hotel’s location makes accessing both Holyroodhouse and the city’s other royal sites effortless.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith, just two miles from Edinburgh’s city center, and played host to some of the world’s most famous people while serving as home for the British royal family for over 40 years.

The Queen felt at home when she traveled on the vessel, and photos of her children and grandchildren still hang on the walls, along with personal items and gifts given to the family on their travels.

A private tour on board Britannia is an exclusive experience, giving you access to all five decks and unique insight into the history of the Royal Yacht. The public tours include an excellent audio guide available in over 30 languages, taking you through the State Apartments, the surprisingly modest Royal Quarters, the Crew’s Quarters, and the gleaming Engine Room.

Queen Elizabeth II hosted many business events on board during Britannia’s 44 years at sea, with everything replicated to the same high standards as when the yacht was in royal service. The Royal Deck Tearoom offers seasonal, homemade dishes with stunning waterfront views.

For the ultimate royal maritime experience, Fingal Hotel, Britannia’s sister ship, is a five-star floating hotel awarded Tripadvisor’s No. 1 in the UK for “One of a Kind” hotels. The 22 luxurious cabins are inspired by its rich maritime heritage as a former Northern Lighthouse Board tender.

Staying aboard Fingal puts you steps from Britannia while offering an unforgettable accommodation experience that rivals Scotland’s finest country house hotels.

Glamis Castle has been the ancestral seat of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne since 1372 and was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon was born on August 4, 1900, and on a stormy August night at Glamis in 1930, Princess Margaret was born—the first royal baby born in Scotland since 1600.

The castle has over 1,000 years of history and covers more than 14,000 acres. You can only tour the interior with a guided tour included in the entrance fee, running every 30 minutes. The guides bring the castle to life with expert knowledge flavored with intriguing ghost stories, the castle being famously one of Scotland’s most haunted.

Inside the rooms are several photos and objects of Queen Mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Queen Elizabeth II, plus Princess Margaret, who was born here. The State Dining Room, where the 13th Earl and Countess celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1903, remains spectacular. The castle includes Duncan’s Hall, the oldest room, chosen by Shakespeare as the setting for the king’s murder in Macbeth.

On the Glamis Estate sits Glamis House, a luxury self-catering property available for hire with six bedrooms sleeping up to 12 adults, featuring large gardens and a heated therapy swimming pool. If you prefer a luxury hotel, Fonab Castle Hotel in nearby Pitlochry offers five-star Highland hospitality with loch views and fine dining.

Scone Palace has been the home of the Earls of Mansfield for over 400 years and is the Crowning Place of Scottish Kings and the original home of the Stone of Scone. It was believed that no king had a right to reign as King of Scots unless he had first been crowned at Scone upon the Stone of Scone (try saying that out loud).

Kenneth MacAlpin, Macbeth, Robert the Bruce, and Charles II number among the 42 kings of Scots inaugurated and crowned at Scone.

The Stone of Scone was seized by King Edward I of England in 1296 and moved to Westminster Abbey, where it remained until 1996, when it was returned to Scotland and is now in Edinburgh Castle.

The interior of the palace is truly sumptuous, with many rooms open to visitors, including a fantastic collection of 17th- and 18th-century ivories, paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and one of the foremost collections of porcelain in the world. Other items include Marie Antoinette’s writing desk, given to the 2nd Earl when he taught the French queen Scottish dancing.

The palace offers both self-guided and pre-booked private tours, and the Old Servants Hall Coffee Shop serves warm scones (the pun is unavoidable and entirely intentional).

The beautifully appointed Balvaird Wing in the northwest aspect of the palace provides five-star luxury accommodation for up to six guests, or you can arrange exclusive use of the entire palace for a weekend break or country sporting holiday.

The 100 acres of gardens and grounds include Moot Hill, the actual crowning place, topped with a tiny chapel containing a replica of the Stone of Scone. Stay at the nearby Dunkeld House Hotel or make the short drive to Gleneagles for world-class luxury.

Edinburgh Castle dominates the city’s skyline and houses the Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in Britain. The Imperial Crown, Scepter, and Sword of State date from the 15th and 16th centuries and were used to crown Scottish monarchs. The Stone of Scone now sits alongside them, displayed in the Crown Room when not required for coronations at Westminster.

The castle’s royal history spans centuries. Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI here in 1566 in the tiny room now preserved as the Royal Palace. The Great Hall, with its hammer-beam roof, hosted royal ceremonies and banquets. The National War Museum within the castle tells the story of Scottish military history intimately connected to the crown.

Book tickets online to skip queues, and consider timing your visit for the One O’Clock Gun, fired daily except Sundays. For deeper insights, private tours can be arranged through specialist operators.

Each August, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo transforms the castle esplanade into a spectacular arena for military pageantry, music, and performance. This is not just any show. It has been performed since 1950 and regularly features members of the royal family in attendance.

The combination of massed pipes and drums, military bands, cultural performances from around the world, and the dramatic backdrop of the floodlit castle creates one of Britain’s most memorable royal-adjacent experiences. Premium seating and hospitality packages provide the best views and include champagne and canapés.

Balmoral sits in Royal Deeside, a region shaped by centuries of royal patronage. Crathie Kirk is the charming place of worship for the royal family when in residence at Balmoral, with Queen Victoria laying the foundation stone in 1893. The tiny church displays royal connections throughout, from stained-glass windows donated by Victoria to photographs of royal family members attending services.

Braemar, famous for its Highland Games attended by the royal family each September, offers outdoor pursuits in stunning Highland scenery. The village’s royal connections date back centuries, and luxury lodges throughout the area provide bases for exploring this majestic landscape.

Let us design your royal journey through Scotland’s palaces, castles, and Highland estates, complete with private guides, exclusive access, and luxury throughout. Get in touch and we’ll start planning your royal escape.