Scottish Parliament Building
Address: Holyrood, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP
The iconic Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood is home to the Parliament of Scotland. The building opened in 2004 to mixed reactions, due to its high cost and modern architectural design. Politicians make many of Scotland’s important decisions here. It is also open to the public as a visitor attraction. This purpose-built parliament building accommodates over a thousand MSPs, staff and civil servants. Its design reflects the landscape, people and culture of Scotland and is constructed from steel, oak and granite.
The Scottish Parliament is open free to visitors Monday to Saturday. There is no need to book in advance to explore the public areas, but booking is recommended for the free guided tours. If you wish to attend a debate or committee meeting (only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) you must request free tickets online.
5 things to do at the Scottish Parliament Building
- Visit the public areas of the Scottish Parliament building, which are open Monday to Saturday, excluding recess dates. There is no entry charge and areas available to the public include the Debating Chamber, Parliament Exhibition, shop and café. You don’t need to book in advance to enter the public areas.
- Go on the free guided tour. You can pre-book online for a guaranteed place. The guided tours last for approximately one hour and provide information on the architecture, history and the current work of the Scottish Parliament. The live tours are in English only, but handsets are available in various languages. Art and Literature Tours are also on offer.
- Explore the Parliament Exhibition for an overview of how the Scottish Parliament works including its role within Scotland, the UK and Europe, its devolved powers and how it passes laws.
- When Parliament is in session, visitors may take a seat in the public gallery of the Debating Chamber or attend a Committee Meeting. Tickets are required for these events, but they are free and available to request online.
- Other services onsite include a souvenir shop, café for refreshments, and a free creche available for children under 5.
