Linlithgow Palace was a huge hit with the girls. It’s just a short train ride out of Edinburgh (so short that we didn’t bother searching for seats) and makes for a lovely day. We went on a Sunday so a lot of shops in town were closed, but that only makes me want to go back all the sooner because there were craft shops I *need* to see inside. You can see the palace from the train station and walking there only takes about ten minutes if you aren’t window-gazing. We made use of our Historic Scotland memberships once again to spend A Day at Linlithgow Palace.
Linlithgow Palace is the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and was used as a retreat for royals as they were traveling between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle (which seems crazy today as they’re so near each other!). Local high school students dress up and lead tours around the palace. It’s a lot of fun to see teens taking pride in their local historical landmark and they were full of information.
The palace is large enough for the kids to really feel like they’re exploring, but has plenty of nooks and crannies to crawl inside.
My biggest problem was just keeping up with them! They very quickly shed their jackets so I was left stumbling along behind with a gaggle of Gould Girl garments while they ran up stairwells and down corridors.
Linlithgow Palace has so many view spots and the grounds are certainly worth taking in. They’re incredibly well-maintained and another fun place to run or relax.
You can make your way to the top of the palace for even more spectacular views. Chasing after kids might even help you forget that you’re climbing steps over five stories of emptiness.
My favorite spot was this view. I loved the moss covered stone on the wall full of openings into nothing.
Some bars are for safety and some make for a chance to have some fun.
When everyone finally settles down for a rest, attempts at 90s emo band pictures are a must.
We had a lot of fun exploring the palace and as much as I joke, it was great to see the girls fearlessly forging ahead to see what was around the next corner or up the stairs. They would make a goal to find something and explore around until they got there. We let the girls lead and their energy brought a whole other level of enjoyment. I highly recommend spending A Day at Linlithgow Palace with your kids.
Kathi says
March 17, 2018 at 2:33 pmI’m heading to Linlithgow for the first time this summer, for the music festival in August – but I definitely want to check out the Palace while we’re there! It looks like a great activity and obvs. nice for photography!! Thanks for sharing!
Kate says
March 22, 2018 at 7:23 pmI love Linlithgow Palace, you can spend ages rummaging around all the different levels, and the walk around the loch is beautiful.
Skye Class says
March 22, 2018 at 10:37 pmI took a friend there once who was afraid of heights, and managed to get them confused enough that they didn’t realize they were so high up until we actually emerged onto the roof. It worked, and I actually managed to cure their fear! Also, I think I remember a story about how the fountain was once filled with wine, but maybe that was somewhere else, and Linlithgow just has one of the oldest fountains in the UK. I really do love the castle though, and I should probably visit again someday.