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 2026
Autumn Opening: September to November 2026
The grounds, gardens, restaurant and exhibitions open from Tuesday 29 September 2026 through Sunday 1 November 2026, with extended opening continuing into December. Opening hours are 10am–4pm on open days.
The castle operates on a varied schedule during this period. From late September through October and into November, the estate is typically open for several days at a time, with regular closed days (usually weekends). Please check the detailed calendar below for specific open and closed dates.
Extended Winter Opening: November to December 2026
Opening continues beyond 1 November through 23 December 2026, with hours remaining 10am–4pm on most open days. Christmas Eve (24 December) offers a shorter opening of 10am–2pm. The estate closes from 25 December 2026 through 19 January 2027.
Detailed Opening Calendar
- September 2026: 29–30 open
- October 2026: 1–3 open; 4–5 closed; 6–10 open; 11–12 closed; 13–17 open; 18–19 closed; 20–31 open
- November 2026: 1 open; 2–3 closed; 4–8 open; 9–10 closed; 11–15 open; 16–17 closed; 18–22 open; 23–24 closed; 25–29 open; 30 closed
- December 2026: 1 closed; 2–6 open; 7–8 closed; 9–13 open; 14–15 closed; 16–23 open; 24 open (10am–2pm only); 25–31 closed
- January 2027: 1–19 closed
Attractions and Activities
Castle Ballroom and Exhibitions are open during the autumn opening season from 29 September 2026. These close during the winter opening period.
Castle Interior Guided Tours are available on selected dates during the autumn opening times. Tickets can be purchased online from early September 2026. Tours will continue in 2027; sign up to the mailing list to be notified of available dates.
Audio Guide Tours are available during the visiting season.
Expedition Tours led by Land Rover or Ranger are available during the autumn opening season.
Golf (nine-hole and eighteen-tee courses) is available during the autumn opening.
Estate Walks including the Cairns Walk and Prince Albert's Pyramid Walk are available during estate opening times.
General Information
Access to the castle may be restricted during the Royal Family's annual visit. For the most up-to-date information and to book tickets, please visit the official website or contact the estate directly.
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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