The Scottish Parliament

Horse Wynd
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Scotland

Website

www.scottish.parliament.uk/

E-mail

sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Telephone

0131 348 5000

0800 092 7500

All information is drawn or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
The Main Hall of the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament is the law-making body in Scotland for devolved matters (such as health and education). It also scrutinises the work of the Scottish Government. It is made up of 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).

You can visit the Scottish Parliament Holyrood building at the foot of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

Venue Type:

Gallery, Heritage site

 Opening hours

The Scottish Parliament is open to visitors Monday to Saturday.

Opening hours are subject to alteration according to the demands of parliamentary business and events.

Recess dates as agreed by the Parliament are as follows:
22 December 2012 - 6 January 2013
9 - 17 February 2013
30 March - 14 April 2013
29 June - 1 September 2013
12 - 27 October 2013
21 December 2013 – 5 January 2014
(All dates are inclusive. Recess is a period when the Parliament doesn't normally meet.)

Christmas
The parliament building will be closed to the public from 23 December 2012 to 2 January 2013 (inclusive.)

Monday, Friday, Saturday and public holidays
10.00 to 17.00 (last entry 16.30)

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
09.00 to 18.30 (last entry 18.00) during business periods
10.00 to 17.00 (last entry 16.30) during recess periods

Sunday
Closed

 Admission charges

The Scottish Parliament is free of charge to visit. You are welcome to enter the building without the need to book in advance and explore the public areas at your leisure. This includes the Debating Chamber (free ticket required when the Parliament is in session), the shop, café and exhibition. There are maps and information leaflets available to assist with your visit. Please note that all visiting arrangements are subject to change due to parliamentary business and events.

Free guided tours provide a greater insight into the workings of the Parliament. To experience the work of Parliament you can arrange free tickets for a seat to attend committee meetings or debates in the Debating Chamber.

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.
Image by Paul Hansen . Winner of the 2013 World Press Photo of the year

2013 World Press Photo Exhibition

30 July — 25 August 2013

The exhibition will include the 2013 World Press Photo of the year by photographer Paul Hansen. The winning image, Gaza Burial, shows a group of men carrying the bodies of two dead children through a street in Gaza City. They are being taken to a mosque for the burial ceremony while their father’s body is carried behind on a stretcher. Two-year-old Suhaib Hijazi and her three-year-old brother Muhammad were killed when their house was destroyed by an Israeli missile strike. The picture was taken on 20 November 2012 in Gaza City, Palestinian Territories.

Please note that some visitors may find some images distressing.

Suitable for

  • Any age
Andy Warhol's John F. Kennedy

Andy Warhol: Pop, Power and Politics

4 October — 3 November 2013

The Andy Warhol exhibition will include Andy Warhol's 'Flash - November 22, 1963' screen prints about the assassination of John F. Kennedy and his portrait of Scots-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Not only will this exhibition be a first for any Parliament, it will also include many works that are being shown in Scotland for the first time.

This exhibition will run to coincide with the Andrew Carnegie International Legacy: Shaping the Future exhibition and activities also taking place at the Scottish Parliament.

Suitable for

  • Any age
Image of the Scottish Parliament Main Hall

Andrew Carnegie: The legacy that changed the world

15 October 2013 — 25 January 2014

In partnership with the Scottish Parliament, the Carnegie Trusts of the UK will offer a programme of events, exhibitions, seminars and activities taking place at Holyrood from October 2013 to January 2014. These activities will showcase the intellectual and social impact of work made possible by Scots-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s endowments and provide an opportunity to discuss the emerging challenges of the 21st century and the role of philanthropy.

Suitable for

  • Any age
Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.
 Resources

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