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Linlithgow Palace is 19 miles west of
Edinburgh, 33 miles east of Glasgow, in the
centre of Linlithgow Town, built between 1424
and 1530 for Scottish Kings.
Open - 1 Apr - 30 Sept: 9.30am to 5.30pm. 1
Oct - 31 Mar: 10am to 4pm with an entrance fee.
You can view the exterior free any time.
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Camping & Touring Parks in
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This was the largest Palace of the Scottish
Royals in the 1400s and 1500s. The Palaces at
Stirling Castle and Edinburgh
Castle were much smaller, having to be
built inside Castle walls.
After James VI Stuart became King of England
and Scotland in 1603, the Royals mainly lived
in England. Linlithgow Palace was little used
after 1603, falling into ruin. The remains are
now maintained to serve as a top Tourist
Attraction. Regular Trains run between
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Linlithgow.
The image top is of Kirkgate leading from
Linlithgow Centre to St Michael's Church, with
the Spire, and Linlithgow Palace.
The Blue Plaques on Kirkgate are for each
Royal that stayed at the Palace.
The second image is of Linlithgow Palace
south side with St Michael's Church on the
right, one of the largest and most impressive
Churches in Scotland.
The third image is of the south and west
sides.
The fourth image is of the main east side
entrance today. The original larger main
entrance is on the north side, that carriages
could enter.
The Fountain is in the centre of the Palace,
with the Viewing Tower in the southwest corner,
accessed via the Royal Apartments.
The Tower gives great views over Linlithgow
Loch and Town.
Linlithgow Palace History
1100s - there is a Royal Manor on this site
built for King David I.
1242 - the Church of St Michael is completed
for King David I.
1300s - the English forces of Edward I take
control of the area and build a Fort around the
Royal Manor. The Fort was used as a Military
Base between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling
Castle by the English during the First War of
Scottish Independence.
Scotland had no King at that time, with the
English trying to gain control.
Robert the Bruce and his followers forced
the English out of Scotland, with Bruce
becoming King of Scots, with his descendants
being the Stuart / Stewart Kings. Stewart is
the French way of spelling the name.
1424 - many buildings in Linlithgow were
destroyed by a vast Fire with St Michael's
Church partially ruined.
1424 - King James I Stuart begins the
building of Linlithgow Palace as the largest
Royal Palace in Scotland. Work to restore St
Michael's Church begins in the same year.
1453 - King James II took Blackness
Castle from the Crichton's. This Castle is
4 miles north of Linlithgow Palace, with a
harbour on the Firth of Forth.
1501 - James IV transformed Falkland Castle
into a Palace, 37 miles northeast of
Linlithgow, giving the Royals two Palaces that
were not inside Castles. Falkland
Palace was mainly used for hunting and
sport.
1530s - Linlithgow Palace is completed after
many Royals added to the original
structure.
The Palaces at Edinburgh and Stirling
Castles were much smaller, as they were
contained inside the Castle walls. They were
still used, especially during conflicts.
1540 - restoration of the Church of St
Michael was complete.
1542 - Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots is born
in Linlithgow Palace. She was baptized in St
Michael's Church.
1603 - King James VI, son of Mary Queen of
Scots, becomes king of England and Scotland,
leading to the Royals mainly living in England
from that time.
1607 - the north range of the Palace
collapses.
1618 to 1622 - restoration work is carried
out for King James VI.
1633 - King Charles I Stuart stays one night
at the Palace, the last reigning Monarch to do
so.
1640s - the Palace fell into disrepair with
only parts being inhabited by the Earl of
Linlithgow.
1678 - Holyrood Palace is completed in
Edinburgh, about 1 mile north of Edinburgh
Castle, becoming the main Royal residence in
Scotland.
1714 - Queen Anne Stuart dies without
leaving an heir. Her German cousin George I
Hanover became King of Great Britain, leading
to uprisings.
1745 - Bonnie Prince Charlie Stuart visited
Linlithgow Palace during the Jacobite
Wars to have the Stuart's returned to the
throne, but never stayed at the Palace.
1746 January - the Palace was left as a ruin
by the army of George II Hanover, as they set
about ending the Jacobite rising.
1746 April - Hanover troops defeat the
Jacobite's at the Battle of
Culloden, end of the wars in Britain.
The Hanoverian's went on to rule Britain
until the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. Her
successor was her son Edward VII of the House
of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, from his fathers
side. Saxe-Coburg and Gotha has been known as
the House of
Windsor since World War One.
Linlithgow Palace has remained an impressive
ruin since 1746.
Today - Linlithgow Palace is maintained and
run as a visitor attraction by Historic
Environment Scotland.
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