Balmoral Castle
Scottish residence of His Majesty The King and all monarchs since Victoria.
The Estates Office, Balmoral Estates, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5TB
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Bike storage facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
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Shop
Accessible parking available by the Estates Office – please speak to staff on duty at the admission desk for directions.
Accessible toilets available by the restaurant and assistance dogs welcome.
Mobility scooters available for summer opening times only.
The foundation stone for Balmoral Castle was laid by Queen Victoria on 28th September 1853 and can be found at the foot of the wall adjacent to the West face of the entrance porch.
Before the foundation stone was placed in position Queen Victoria signed a parchment recording the date. This parchment, together with an example of each of the current coins of the realm, was then placed in a bottle, inserted into a cavity below the site prepared for the stone.
The Castle was completed in 1856 and the old building was then demolished. This building is commemorated by a stone which is located on the front lawn at a point opposite the tower and about 100 yards from the path. This stone marks the position of the front door to the demolished castle.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Balmoral Castle Opening Times
Summer Season 2026
The grounds, gardens, mews gift shop, restaurant and ballroom exhibition are open daily from Saturday 28th March until Sunday 9th August 2026. Opening hours are 10:00 until 17:00, with last admission recommended at 16:00.
Guided Tours and Experiences
During the summer opening season, visitors can enjoy a range of guided experiences:
- Castle Interior Guided Tours – Available throughout the spring and summer opening season
- Expedition Tours – Land Rover and Ranger-guided tours available during the summer opening season
- Audio Guide Tour – Available during the summer opening season and winter opening hours
Gardens and Walks
The Balmoral Castle Gardens are open all year round. During the formal summer season (28th March–9th August 2026), they are accessible daily from 10:00 to 17:00. The gardens are also open during winter opening hours.
Visitors can explore the Cairns Walk and Prince Albert's Pyramid Walk as part of general estate access.
Winter Opening Hours 2025
From 18th January 2025, the estate is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The ballroom exhibition and audio guide tour are available during these winter opening hours.
Additional Features
The estate also offers a golf course and the Squirrel Cam as ongoing features for visitors.
Historic House members can enjoy complimentary general admission and must provide Historic Houses Pass to staff on duty at the admissions desk on arrival.
Adults: £18.50
Children (5 to 16 years): £9.50
Family Ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children): £42
Parking costs £6.
GUIDED EXPERIENCES
Interior Castle Tours, Expedition Tours and Afternoon Teas available on specific dates.
Please visit www.balmoralcastle.com to check availability / to make a booking.
Experiences must be booked / paid in advance. Please note no discount on experiences.
Please visit www.balmoralcastle.com for details.
Accessible parking available by the Estates Office – please speak to staff on duty at the admission desk for directions.
Accessible toilets available by the restaurant and assistance dogs welcome.
Mobility scooters available for summer opening times only.
Getting here
The Estates Office, Balmoral Estates, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5TB
Balmoral is easy to find halfway between Ballater and Braemar on the A93. The nearest railway station and airport are located in Aberdeen, approximately 50 miles east of Balmoral.
To arrive by public transport please use the 201 Stagecoach service from Aberdeen.
When Queen Victoria died in 1901 Balmoral Estates passed, under the terms of her will, to King Edward VII, and from him to each of his successors. Balmoral Estates has been more than just a favourite home to successive generations of the Royal Family.
Although it remains largely the same as it was in Queen Victoria’s reign, successive Royal owners have followed the initiative of Prince Albert in making improvements to the estate. The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales take a close personal interest in running and improving the Estates.
The Queen plants a tree for the Jubilee at Balmoral
As announced by the Royal Household, Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will mark the start of the official planting season for The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) at the Balmoral Estate on Friday, 1st...
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