No Oscar for Holyrood

Advantages: An important symbol.
Disadvantages: A bit of a mishmash really...

...by the Queen in October 2004, Holyrood was visited by 250,000 people in its first 6 months, which to some was a vindication. However, as Margo MacDonald (independent MSP) pointed out, did it mean they all liked it? My husband and I were among these early visitors and our feelings were very mixed. We had been in Edinburgh when the work was being done, and had not been overly impressed with what little we saw behind the security barriers. But then again, a building site is never pretty so we put those very early impressions out of our minds. We really wanted to like the new building, not only because it had cost each of us about £85 (as it did everyone else in Scotland) but because it is an important symbol for the Scottish people. Personally, I felt the whole argument about cost had arisen mainly because the original quote was far...

weetoon 27.10.2006 · Read review
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Review of The Scottish Parliament Building

Arthur must have been a BIG guy

Advantages: It's a park
Disadvantages: None

...The usual cliched urban skyline of tall skyscrapers and the inevitable revolving restaurant tower are not to be seen in Edinburgh. Not for us the shining obelisks of modernity - no, we have to make do with a vista of seven green hills, 4 of which lie in the suburbs and are the site of parks and golf courses (one of them is the home of the city zoo), while 3 are in the city centre; CALTON HILL- with it's unfinished replica of the Parthenon and CASTLE ROCK- with a medieval castle perched atop a rocky crag. These are dwarfed to the east by the largest hill, which resembles a crouching lion, ARTHUR'S SEAT(251m). Situated within HOLYROOD PARK, Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano - the largest of a number which gave this region its shape. Holyrood Park, extending to about 650 acres, must be the largest area of unmanicured wild parkland...

proxam 23.08.2002 · Read review
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Review of Holyrood Park

Royally Disappointing

Advantages: Fascinating history, Clear and interesting interpretation
Disadvantages: Expensive, Gardens closed in winter, Poor signposting

...’s houses, especially when those houses are cram packed with history and hung with impressive works of art. However, unlike the majority of such buildings I have had the pleasure of touring, this one stands out as being both a working residence and a building that has a close connection with the sort of historical figures and events that were of national importance and lasting notoriety. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence in Scotland of the monarch – in other words, it is where the Queen stays when she visits Edinburgh. The palace is situated in the Holyrood area of the city, the historic royal quarter that also includes Holyrood Park, a large area of semi-wild parkland, and Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano that rises above the city to give Edinburgh one of its most visible landmarks...

Collingwood21 25.01.2004 · Read review
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Review of Palace of Holyrood, Edinburgh

The Queens Scottish Residence.

Advantages: Great historical interest
Disadvantages: none

...Everything you need to know about visiting The Palace of Holyroodhouse. How do I get there? By train the Palace is roughly fifteen minutes walk from Waverly Station. Many buses from the centre of Edinburgh pass by. The open top bus tour stops there How much does it cost? Adults £6.50 Over 60’s £5 Under 17 £3.30 Under 5 Free Family £16.30 When is it open? 1 April to 31 October 09.30 to 1800 (last admission 17.15) 1 November to 31 March 09.30 16.30 (last admission 15.45) Is it ever closed? Yes it is closed on 13th April 15th to 26th of May 4th to 8th and 27th to 30th June 1st to 10th July 25th and 26th of December. What is the Palace of Holyrood? It is the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen in Scotland. The royal apartments are used regularly by The Queen for official entertaining...

elspeth334 14.09.2001 · Read review
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Review of Palace of Holyrood, Edinburgh

DaVinci Divine, Tour guide terrible

Advantages: Davinci collection in the the Queen's gallery
Disadvantages: Our tour guide

...Visitor attractions are my business. I'm studying for a Masters in Heritage Studies at Salford University so I have to be critical about them. So you will be getting loads of heritage related reviews from now on. Anyway I was in Edinburgh in March on a field trip with my university class. I visited the Palace of Holyrood and the Queen's Gallery. I'm a Scot with a degree in History (mostly Scottish History) so I was looking forward to seeing somewhere that has been mentioned in my studies. The Palace of Holyrood has been the main royal residence in Edinburgh since the time of the Stewart Kings. It was built by James V of Scotland and Mary Queen of Scots often used the palace. Prices The cost of the ticket was quite expensive. It was £7 for a student. The other prices are: Joint ticket Palace and Gallery Adult £9...

duskmaiden 01.05.2003 (16.09.2003) · Read review
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Review of Palace of Holyrood, Edinburgh

A hidden treasure

Advantages: Plenty of space with a fab view
Disadvantages: Not so easy to find

...It may be a hidden treasure but when you find it, it is well worth it!!!! HOLYROOD apartHOTEL overlooks Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh and is very close to the new Scottish Parliment making it only a few minutes in a taxi from Princes Street. So the location is excellent, especially with so many pubs and entertainment only a few minutes away. You could easily drive past the HOLYROOD apartHOTEL but a call to reception soon pointed us in the right direction and straight into the hotel car park. The car park is £5.00 per night but it very secure. Check in was no problem, reception were very helpful and then guided us to our room on the 5th floor. The apartment was lovely - very spacious and very clean. It consisted of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and open plan living room, dining area and kitchen. The apartment was full of all the mod...

suzoneil 18.04.2005 · Read review
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Review of Holyrood ApartHotel, Edinburgh

Countryside in the City

Advantages: Fabulous views, fresh air
Disadvantages: Windswept normally

...After ?doing? the Castle, the shopping on Princes Street, the Royal Mile (don?t miss the Museum of Childhood), Holyrood Palace and the Dynamic Earth, stretch your legs and venture into Holyrood Park and up Arthur?s Seat, the volcanic plug towering over the scene of the new Scottish Parliament building (site!). From here you can see the tops of the Forth Road and Rail Bridges to the west, the whole of the Forth Estuary including the Bass Rock to the east, the Pentland Hills to the south and the whole panorama of Scotland?s world-class capital. Once the vista has been enjoyed, if you have any strength left, make your way to the Commonwealth Pool for a swim, workout or ride down the flumes; it?s right next to the hill. If exhaustion has set in then a wander past the bird sanctuary at Duddingston Loch to the ancient Sheep?s Heid pub in...

stufree 14.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Holyrood Park

An unique park

Advantages: unique park
Disadvantages: windy, unlpleasant in winter

...Holyrood park streches itself around the edge of Edinburgh's Salisbury Crag and Arthur's Seat to the east of the centre of the city. Edinburgh is a notoriously hilly town, built and rebult over a very long time and Holyrood park is a part of that process and of the city as important as any of the buildings. The 'crags' dominate the skyline of this architecturally rich and bewildiering city snaking up and under steep hills. The park itself stretches little beyond the crags at many points until it opens up arounf Holyrood Park palace. As a city park that part of it is unexceptional yet still rewarding. Less crowded than The Meadows in the heart of the city that part of the park is mostly simple mown lawns running up to the Palace behind the redeveloped Holyrood road which now has the Scottish parliament, Dynamic Earth Exhibit and other...

Hicks 23.06.2000 · Read review
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Review of Holyrood Park

Only if you have the time and money

Advantages: Very historical, some interesting artifacts
Disadvantages: Lack of description, relatively high cost

...First and foremost, Holyrood Palace is still a Royal residence. You can feel it from the moment you step inside, there is very much a feel of a grand house whose owner has merely stepped out for a while. Not that I am saying the place feels homely or personal, just that you feel something of an intruder as not much effort is made to make you feel welcome. For your entrance fee (of the order of £5), you get to view a selection of rooms. For the most part, these are very decorative and, no doubt, very interesting, though it is difficult to tell. There are no signs or plaques to tell you about the rooms, all you can do is ask one of the guides and hope they are feeling chatty. Somewhat more informative are the rooms associated with Mary, Queen of Scots and the ill-fated Rizzio. Here there are exhibits and an attempt has been made to...

caileag 20.11.2000 · Read review
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Review of Palace of Holyrood, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile

Advantages: Exciting, stunning, historic
Disadvantages: Steep hill

...Edinburgh is one of Europe's great capital cities. With its famous castle perched on a plug of volcanic rock, and the refined architecture of the eighteenth century New Town it uniquely combines rugged grandeur with genteel elegance. The arts Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of global visitors each July and August while its theatres, museums and galleries offer cultural riches throughout the year. This charismatic yet compact City offers an infinite range of attractions and everyone will have their own favourites. If you could only visit one place in Edinburgh to capture its charms then I would have to recommend the Castle and the Royal Mile. This ancient cobbled street, located in the Old Town, begins with the fortress sited at the top on Castle Rock and sweeps downwards to finish at Holyrood Palace. Most of the castle...

snowbird123 16.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh