Access guide

• Guided Tours 
• Crown gift shop

In line with best practice in the visitor attractions industry and as advised by Capability Scotland, visitors with disabilities are treated on an equal basis with all other visitors and entry is charged at the appropriate admission category rate - Adult/Concession/Child. Proof of disability is not required.

We recognise that some disabled visitors may need help to visit our sites and we offer free entry for accompanying carers, these can be added when making your booking. Please note this is limited to two carers per transaction.

There are a small number of parking spaces available for ticket holders with Blue Badges on the Castle Esplanade. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Castle Terrace NCP is the nearest car park.

Johnston Terrace road closure

From Monday 29 May (for 3 weeks), Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.

There will be an emergency road closure for essential maintenance on Johnston Terrace. This will be for vehicles and pedestrians from the top of Granny Green Steps to the bottom of Johnston Terrace.

Please be aware that there may be restricted access for coaches during this time. A traffic management system will be in place for the above times.

The castle is reached across the esplanade – a wide area of smooth tarmac, with an uphill gradient of 5 degrees. The esplanade is 110m long.

For reasons of ease of movement, visitor safety and general security, suitcases and large rucksacks are not permitted in the castle.

We are unable to store luggage, prams, pushchairs or other personal items for visitors.

Only assistance dogs are permitted, including within roofed areas. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and not left unattended at any time in the castle or vehicles. Owners must pick up after dogs.

Visitors' dogs are not permitted at the castle.

Use this guide to help you plan your visit to the castle. Through pictures of staff, the castle spaces and facilities, it will make sure you know what to expect when you visit.

Visual story for adults

Visual story for children

A limited number of adult and children’s ear defenders are available at this site. Please ask a member of staff when your ticket is scanned if you want to borrow them.

1. Visitors access the castle over a wooden-slatted bridge.
   
   A mobility vehicle to Crown Square is available on request, and can be arranged by staff at the castle entrance. The car has been adapted to allow physical distancing. It can accommodate most wheelchairs, motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters, but this is dependent on their dimensions. A maximum of three passengers plus one passenger that uses a wheelchair may use the car at once.
   
   Please be aware the service cannot run between 12.45pm and 1.15pm due to the firing of the One o'Clock Gun and there may be longer wait times for visitors entering the castle on the 12.30pm and 1pm timeslots.
   
   Two manual wheelchairs are available for use on a first-come, first-served basis. 
   
   
2. Upon entering the castle, there is a set of adapted toilets to your left, and the ticket office to your right – both reached over an uneven cobbled surface. 
   
   
3. You enter the castle from a steep curved route. It is 15 degrees at its steepest point, the average is five degrees and it is approximately 350m from entering the castle to the top level at Crown Square. It is surfaced with cobbles, which can be uneven.
   
   The Portcullis Gift Shop has step-free access but is accessed from the steep, cobbled hill.
   
   An audio guide is available to hire from the audio booth just after the portcullis gate (where your entrance tickets are scanned). It is free to blind and partially sighted visitors, or can be downloaded and played on your own device. The handsets operate by a push button system. Audio guides are available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Polish, Portugese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian. Large Print also available. 
   
   
4. The One o’Clock Gun is on the level but cobbled area, next to the Redcoat Café. The gun makes a loud and sudden noise when it is fired. It is fired Monday to Saturday. 
   
   The Redcoat Café has step-free access. 
   
   
5. Hospital Square is reached down a cobbled ramp of 12 degrees. 
   
   
6. The route continues up the cobbled incline through Foog’s Gate. This is the steepest part of the castle route.
   
   From here visitors can enter the Prisons of War vaults. The vaults are accessed via numerous short flights of steps, with handrails on both sides. 
   
   
7. Visitors will then enter Crown Square – a large, level, paved area.
   
   The Great Hall and National War Memorial both have ramped access.

   In the Palace Apartments, there is a short flight of stone steps with a handrail at both entry and exit (The Birthing Room remains closed).
   
   Honours Conservation Project
   From the end of March 2023 until October 2023, we will be undertaking conservation work on the Honours of Scotland at the castle. The Honours will be removed from display one at a time to ensure visitor access to the collection is maintained throughout the project. Find out more.
   
   Adapted toilets are available in Crown Square – please ask a member of staff for assistance.

8. The surface around St Margaret's Chapel and Mons Meg is cobbled. The Chapel has a small ramp up to a door 810mm wide.
   
   The Whisky and Finest Food Shop is next to St Margaret’s Chapel and has a small threshold.
   
   
9. Visitors then exit the castle via 70 stone steps with a handrail. Staff will be available to guide you back down through the castle if this exit is unsuitable for you.