CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EVENT

Step Inside Abbey Strand

This St Andrew’s Day, step inside the beautifully conserved Abbey Strand Centre for special tours exploring five centuries of history.

Step Inside Abbey Strand

About Step Inside Abbey Strand

During your guided tour, discover how the building was used as a weapons store for James V; as courtiers’ lodgings for Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI and I; and as a sanctuary for 6,000 people in debt; a site of taverns and tearooms.

Tours will last approximately 45 minutes and will be allocated on a first come first served basis, with names taken on the day. There is a capacity of 20 people per tour. Please meet at the meeting point sign in the Physic Garden.

Sponsored Links

MNB
Local Motive Markets
Wonder & Co
WST
Escape The Past
Kevin Quantum
Hilton Glasgow

Other Events at The Palace of Holyroodhouse

Guided Looking: An Artwork Audio Described

Selected dates between 20th February 2025 - 18th December 2025

Join Fiona Johnston, audio describer, as she describes various artwork and objects from the Royal Collection at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

READ MORE

Palace Page Turners

Selected dates between 7th March 2025 - 5th December 2025

Many authors have been inspired to pick up their pen to write about the Palace of Holyroodhouse. These sessions will explore these literary works followed by a hearty discussion!

READ MORE

Royal Rhyme Time

Selected dates between 1st September 2025 - 8th December 2025

Join us in the historic Abbey Strand Centre for our special Royal Rhyme Time sessions for toddlers.

READ MORE

Drawing the Italian Renaissance

17th October 2025 - 1st March 2026

This exhibition at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, brings together a wide range of drawings from this revolutionary artistic period, including 45 drawings never exhibited in Scotland before.

READ MORE

Beneath the Surface: King’s Gallery Short Talks

Selected dates between 23rd October 2025 - 26th February 2026

Join our team at the Palace of Holyroodhouse for weekly gallery talks as part of the exhibition Drawing the Italian Renaissance!

READ MORE

Family Drawing Workshop

Selected dates between 29th November 2025 - 20th February 2026

Take inspiration from drawings in our latest exhibition Drawing the Italian Renaissance and join us for a special family drawing workshop.

READ MORE

Drawing The Italian Renaissance: A Gallery Late - CANCELLED

5th December 2025

Step into the world of Renaissance artistry for a special evening event at our exhibition Drawing the Italian Renaissance.

READ MORE

Drawing the Italian Renaissance: Curator’s Introduction

Selected dates between 5th December 2025 - 29th January 2026

Join exhibition curator Lauren Porter at The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse as she discusses works from Drawing the Italian Renaissance!

READ MORE

Carols at the Palace

9th December 2025

Enjoy seeing the beautifully decorated State Apartments of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, as you make your way to the Great Gallery to hear a wonderful concert of Christmas music.

READ MORE

Descriptive tour: A Royal Christmas

13th December 2025

Join us for a special descriptive Christmas Tour at the Palace of Holyroodhouse designed for visually impaired visitors.

READ MORE

BSL Interpreted Tour: Royal Christmas Traditions

13th December 2025

In this BSL guided festive tour, explore Royal Christmas traditions in the beautiful surroundings of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

READ MORE

Christmas Activity Day

13th December 2025

Join us at The Palace of Holyroodhouse on 13th December for a fun festive activity for the whole family to enjoy!

READ MORE

Recitals for Wrigglers

16th December 2025

This Christmas, join Recitals for Wrigglers in the Great Gallery of the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a festive concert specially created for babies and toddlers.

READ MORE

Drawing the Italian Renaissance: BSL Tour

31st January 2026

Join our British Sign Language tour of the Drawing the Italian Renaissance exhibition at The King's Gallery, Edinburgh.

READ MORE

Conservator Talk: Conserving the Campi Cartoon

6th February 2026

Victoria Button, Royal Collection Trust’s Head of Paper Conservation, discusses her work in preparing drawings for presentation in Drawing The Italian Renaissance, on display at The King's Gallery.

READ MORE

Family Yoga: Early Years

13th February 2026

Taking inspiration from Drawing the Italian Renaissance join us for a fun family yoga session full of movement, music, songs and stories. Suitable for children 16 months to 4 years old.

READ MORE

Storytelling: Inspired by drawings

17th February 2026

Join storyteller Claire McNicol as she explores tales inspired by drawings of the Italian Renaissance in an exciting interactive storytelling session.

READ MORE

Curatorial Talk: The Patrons of the Renaissance

27th February 2026

Join Martin Clayton, Head of Prints and Drawings at Royal Collection Trust, for this lunchtime lecture as he discusses the vital role of patrons in the creation of Italian Renaissance art.

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

Open Pass Scotland
The Chocolatarium
Children's Classic Concerts
Fayre Play
Hostelworld
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon

Similar events you might like...

Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation

Dr Arnott’s Sampling Sensation

Selected dates between 1st March 2025 - 28th December 2025

Uncover the secrets of 17th-century medicine with a hands-on workshop led by an expert from his time: Dr Arnott, who examined his patients’ health by analysing urine’s colour, smell & TASTE!

READ MORE
Haunted Newhailes

Haunted Newhailes

Selected dates between 10th October 2025 - 19th December 2025

Do you dare join us for a spine-chilling tour of Newhailes House? It's earned a reputation for being haunted!

READ MORE
Weekly Tours at St Cecilia’s Hall

Weekly Tours at St Cecilia’s Hall

Selected dates between 28th November 2025 - 17th December 2025

Join our team of volunteers at St Cecilia's Hall for a FREE weekly tour of the collection!

READ MORE
Underground Unlocked at The Real Mary King’s Close

Underground Unlocked at The Real Mary King’s Close

Selected dates between 4th December 2025 - 11th December 2025

For two unforgettable nights, experience The Real Mary King’s Close as it once was, bustling, full of life and echoing with the voices of those who lived and worked beneath the Royal Mile.

READ MORE
Post-Apocalyptic Christmas Party

Post-Apocalyptic Christmas Party

5th December 2025

Join the International Ghost Society for a Christmas party like no other in a real, restored nuclear bunker on the edge of Edinburgh.

READ MORE
Edinburgh Christmas Lights Bus Tour

Edinburgh Christmas Lights Bus Tour

Selected dates between 5th December 2025 - 28th December 2025
Various Locations Edinburgh

Hop aboard for a truly unforgettable ride on our Vintage Christmas Lights Bus Tour of Edinburgh this December!

READ MORE
A Victorian Christmas

A Victorian Christmas

Selected dates between 6th December 2025 - 28th December 2025

Step back in time for a festive experience like no other. Journey beneath the streets of Edinburgh and discover how the city’s Victorian residents celebrated the season.

READ MORE
Salamiland Festive Pop-Up at East Coast Cured

Salamiland Festive Pop-Up at East Coast Cured

7th December 2025

Come & explore Salamiland! Tours, tastings & charcuterie shopping at our Leith curing rooms on Sunday 7th December!

READ MORE
Reindeer Trail

Reindeer Trail

7th December 2025

Santa is on his way and 10 of his reindeer have been spotted in the local area. Can you help us find them all before Mr Claus arrives?

READ MORE

Find other events in Edinburgh

Sponsored Links

MNB
Local Motive Markets
Wonder & Co
WST
Escape The Past
Kevin Quantum
Hilton Glasgow
Open Pass Scotland
The Chocolatarium
Children's Classic Concerts
Fayre Play
Hostelworld
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon

Popular Events

Edinburgh’s Christmas: The Polar Ice Bar
Take some time to ‘chill’ at the Polar Ice Bar, the coolest bar in the city, where your table, chairs and glasses are sculpted entirely from ice.
Castle Of Light
Make Castle of Light: Fire and Ice part of your festive plans and enjoy the largest annual projection show in the UK when it returns for its sixth year!
Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk
Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young for the GIANT of a pantomime we've all BEAN waiting for!
Christmas at Jupiter
Christmas at Jupiter Artland brings together art, landscape and festive tradition across 9 consecutive days from 6th - 14th December, transforming the park into a Festive Village!
Fin Taylor: The Pre-emptive Comeback Special
Fin Taylor brings his sharp, direct, and fearless stand-up to Edinburgh's Queen's Hall on Saturday 31st October as part of his Pre-emptive Comeback Special tour!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall