Linlithgow Palace is a 15th century palace in Scotland that is the birthplace of a number of Scottish monarchs, including Mary, Queen of Scots. Now a dramatic ruin, its royal connection and picturesque setting makes it an enduring tourist attraction.

Linlithgow Palace history

The present day palace was built in 1424 by James I of Scotland, following a devastating fire that burnt down the previous residence. With its location between Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle, it soon became a popular ‘pleasure palace’ for royals to visit on journeys between the two, with many of the Stewarts – or Stuarts – residing there throughout its history.

The Stewart queens enjoyed the peace and fresh air, and Linlithgow would serve as a nursery for many of the family’s royal infants, including James V who was born there in 1512, and Mary, Queen of Scots in 1542.

From 1603 Linlithgow Palace’s era as a royal pit stop began to deteriorate however, as the royal court moved to London under James VI when he left to claim the English throne as James I. The palace’s decline was only furthered when it was destroyed by a fire in 1745.

Linlithgow Palace today

Today Linlithgow is managed by Historic Scotland and is open to visitors. Highlights indicate the palace’s many royal residents who each made their own additions – the Great Hall built for James I, royal apartments added by James IV, the three-tiered courtyard fountain added by James V, and the north quarter rebuilt for James VI.

The palace’s tall towers also allow visitors to gaze out over Linlithgow Loch and the surrounding greenery, with views extending all the way to the Forth bridges! Though today just an atmospheric shell, a visit to Linlithgow Palace allows visitors to explore one of Scottish history’s most important royal residences, and walk in the footsteps of some of its most famous figures.

Getting to Linlithgow Palace

Linlithgow Palace is located in West Lothian in Scotland, 15 miles west of Edinburgh, and can be reached via the M9. Linlithgow train station is a 5-minute walk away, while a number of bus services stop at Cross bus and coach station, a 3-minute walk away.

History

Once a majestic royal residence of the Stewarts, Linlithgow Palace today lies roofless and ruined. Yet entering the palace gates still inspires awe in visitors.

James I ordered work on a palace to begin in 1424, following a fire that severely damaged the earlier residence. The elegant, new ‘pleasure palace’ became a welcome rest stop for royals on the busy road between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle.

The Stewart queens especially liked the peace and fresh air, and Linlithgow Palace served as the royal nursery for:

• James V – born 1512
• Mary Queen of Scots – born 1542
• Princess Elizabeth – born 1596

But the palace fell quickly into decline when James VI moved the royal court to London in 1603, following his coronation as James I of England.

The palace’s north quarter, which probably housed the queen’s apartment where Mary was born, fell to the ground in 1607. It was rebuilt around 1620, on the orders of James VI. The end came in 1746, when a great fire swept through the palace.

An ancient site

Linlithgow Palace stands on a low hill above a small inland loch. The name Linlithgow means ‘the loch in the damp hollow’.

The site was first occupied as far back as Roman times 2,000 years ago. There has been a royal residence here since at least the reign of David I (1124–53). He also founded the town that grew up around the royal residence.

Peace in Linlithgow was shattered in 1296, when Edward I of England invaded Scotland. The ‘Hammer of the Scots’ had a formidable defence built around the royal residence in 1302. He called it his ‘pele’ (from the Old French ‘pel’, meaning ‘stake’).

No visible features of the original Linlithgow Peel survive. The name is now used for the attractive parkland that surrounds the remains of the later Stewart palace.

A longstanding Stewart project

James I had begun work on the new palace shortly after his return from captivity in England. Over the course of the next century and more, his heirs completed the great task.

Palace highlights include the:

• Great Hall built for James I
• royal apartments added by James IV (1488–1513)
• three-tiered courtyard fountain added by James V in 1538
• north quarter rebuilt for James VI (1567–1625)

The end result was a hugely impressive quadrangular palace, its four ranges grouped around a central courtyard.

Castles & Palaces Connected to Mary Queen of Scots

Mary Queen of Scots, born Mary Stuart, was the daughter of King James V and his French wife, Mary. Born on 7th December 1542, she was the sole surviving heir to the Scottish throne. She also holds the title of being the first woman to rule Scotland on her own. Even if it didn’t last for very long! During her brief reign, Mary found comfort in a number of Scottish castles and palaces. Each one marked a significant milestone in her life, which today can still be echoed when you visit. The castles and palaces listed hold a wealth of history, especially when connected to public figures, such as Mary Queen of Scots. Her end was just the beginning, but her tale lives on and ignites the imagination for all those who are intrigued.

Sadly, we’ll never fully understand the story of this fascinating woman. But we can get an insight into her life when we follow in her footsteps.

We’ve prepared a guide to the seven most important historical castles and palaces connected to the iconic Queen of Scots. So, embark on her trail and explore the places which mark the turning points in Mary Stuart’s life in Scotland.

7 Castles & Palaces You Can Visit Which Are Connected to Mary Queen of Scots

Mary Queen of Scots is an icon figure in history, whose tales are still being told to this day. You can learn snippets of her life by visiting the following locations on select tours of Scotland. Each one is led by our knowledgeable driver-guides who are sure to feed you extra information you may not learn from the books.

1. Linlithgow Palace

These spectacular ruins of what used to be a grand palace for Scottish royalty was the birthplace of Mary Stuart. And still to this day, Linlithgow Palace is most famously recognised for this royal birth. Although, visitors can also appreciate the rich history and atmosphere created from the many rebuilds of the structure. Located in almost equal distance from Edinburgh and Glasgow, reaching Mary Queen of Scots birthplace is simple. Accessible both by public transport and driving, we recommend making this a stop while in Scotland.

Mary Queen of Scots’ care-free ‘childhood’ lasted only six days. When her father James died, Mary became queen. The infant ruler was also the great-niece of Henry VIII of England. This gave her a claim to the English throne and inevitably put her on a political roller-coaster.

You can visit this peaceful palace on our Outlander Adventure one day tour. And when you come here, make sure to pop into St Michael’s Parish Church where Mary Queen of Scots was baptised.

2. Blackness Castle

When Mary Queen of Scots was born in 1542, there was a plan put in place for her to be kept at Blackness Castle, under guard. This was for her own protection during a war with the English now known as ‘the Rough Wooing’. But this plan never saw the light of day. Instead the castle, which sits on the Firth of Forth, became an artillery fortress. For this reason, Mary Queen of Scots never visited Blackness Castle in person. Nevertheless, the fortress remained loyal to her in the civil war against the leading Protestant nobles of Scotland.

More recently, Blackness Castle has formed new ties to Mary Queen of Scots. The location was used as the Palace of Holyroodhouse for the 2018 film Mary Queen of Scots starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie.

3. Stirling Castle

A palace as much as a fortress, Stirling Castle was one of the most used Scottish royal residences.

Mary was crowned Queen of Scotland in the Chapel Royal, aged only nine months. It’s said that she howled non-stop throughout the ceremony.

The little Queen of Scots and her mother spent almost five peaceful years in the safety of the Royal Palace. But things quickly changed.

Mary’s guardians opposed the previously arranged agreement of betrothing her to Henry VIII’s son. Edward, Prince of Wales was raised as a Protestant, Mary was a Catholic. This just wouldn’t work out for Catholic Scotland.

So, a new marriage was arranged for her, and Mary Queen of Scots sailed to France to marry the Dauphin François.

Explore the splendidly decorated and furnished Stirling Castle for yourself. You can bask in the history when you book our Loch Lomond National Park, Kelpies & Stirling Castle one day tour.

4. Palace of Holyrood

After Mary Queen of Scots lost François and became a widow at the age of 18, she decided to take her rightful place on the throne of Scotland. The charismatic ruler chose the Palace of Holyrood for her home and enjoyed its lavish interiors and remarkable gardens. But her life in this residence wasn’t like a fairy tale.

The Queen of Scots got married to her cousin Lord Darnley in the palace’s private chapel. Darnley was a drunk, and an unfaithful gambler.

He became jealous of Mary’s Italian secretary, Rizzio, and along with some Protestant conspirators, Darnley murdered the Italian. And it happened in front of the Queen, who was six months pregnant at the time.

You can still see Mary Queen of Scots chambers in the Palace of Holyrood. And if you look closely, you can spot the marks on the floor which are said to be Rizzio’s blood.

5. Falkland Palace

The Palace in Edinburgh wasn’t the only royal residence of the Stuarts. At the beginning of her reign, Mary Queen of Scots would often escape to her beloved Falkland Palace. It embodied the grandeur of the mediaeval Scottish court and gave her access to the beautiful countryside. Close to nature and far from politics. Here, the young Queen could let her hair down and show a bit of her lively spirit.

In Falkland, Mary would indulge in her passion for the outdoors, falconry and hunting. And she would scandalise her courtiers while playing tennis in men’s breeches. Shocking!

6. Edinburgh Castle

For a couple of months after Rizzio’s death, Mary Queen of Scots was afraid of a coup against her. That’s why she chose the mighty Edinburgh Castle as a safe place to await the arrival of her child.

The Queen gave birth to a healthy boy she called James. They say the city celebrated this news by setting 500 bonfires.

Mary Queen of Scots secured her succession and strengthened the Stuart dynasty. Things were looking up. Most importantly, little James VI would achieve what his mother never could – unite the Scottish and English crowns.

Make sure to visit the tiny room where James VI was born when you explore Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh is a magical place full of history and character. Our tours from Edinburgh combine the bustle of the city with the hidden Highland gems. Discover on your next chosen tour.

7. Craigmillar Castle

Located just three miles outside of Edinburgh’s city centre, the beautiful ruins of Craigmillar Castle provide a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city.

It was also a happy retreat for Mary Queen of Scots. She stayed in the castle to recover from the birth of her son and to get a break from Darnley. Their marriage was on the rocks at this stage, probably not in the least because he stabbed her friend to death.

Supposedly, it was here the lords suggested to get rid of the troublesome husband. The scheming began, and they say the lords signed a pact called the ‘Craigmillar Bond’ with a plan to kill Darnley.

The whole plot is still a bit of a mystery. There’s no surviving copy of this document and we don’t know if Mary Queen of Scots secretly knew about it. But we know it showed Mary in a really bad light when Darnley was found smothered in his garden and the Queen re-married only three months later.

Craigmillar Castle is famous not only for the connections to Mary Queen of Scots. The castle has become a bit of a star, appearing in the Outlaw King and Outlander. When joining one of our Outlander tours, you can discover the wonders for yourself. We may be biassed, but we think these landscapes are more incredible in person than on the small screen.

Walk in Mary Queen of Scots Footsteps on a Scottish Tour

So there you have it. A seven-stop trail which will help you discover more about one of our favourite icons; Mary, Queen of Scots. Each castle and palace has its own sentimental connection to the Queen. When you visit you can absorb the rich history and culture they hold. Discover more about Scottish castles you can visit with our helpful guide.