Hopetoun House
The great house on the banks of the Firth of Forth.
South Queensferry, West Lothian, EH30 9SL
Facilities
-
Accessible loos
-
Accessible parking
-
Cafe / restaurant
-
Free parking
Hopetoun House is a unique gem of Europe’s architectural heritage and undoubtedly ‘Scotland’s Finest Stately Home’.
Situated on the shores of the Firth of Forth, it is one of the most splendid examples of the work of Scottish architects Sir William Bruce and William Adam.
The interior of the house, with opulent gilding and classical motifs, reflects the aristocratic grandeur of the early 18th century, whilst its magnificent parkland has fine views across the Forth to the hills of Fife.
Hopetoun is really two houses in one, the oldest part of the house was designed by Sir William Bruce and built between 1699 and 1707. It shows some of the finest examples in Scotland of carving, wainscotting and ceiling painting. In 1721 William Adam started enlarging the house by adding the magnificent faade, colonnades and grand State apartments which were the focus for social life and entertainment in the 18th century.
The house is set in 100 acres of rolling parkland including fine woodland walks, the red deer park, the Spring garden with a profusion of wild flowers, and numerous picturesque picnic spots.
Hopetoun has been home of the Earls of Hopetoun, later created Marquesses of Linlithgow, since it was built in 1699 and in 1974 a charitable trust was created to preserve the house with its historic contents and surrounding landscape for the benefit of the public for all time.
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.
Hopetoun House & Grounds – 2026 Opening Times
Season: Friday 3rd April – Sunday 27th September 2026
Regular Opening Hours: Thursday to Monday, 11am to 5pm. The House closes at 4pm for last entry. The site is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Important Closure: The entire month of July 2026 is closed to the public due to an exclusive use booking and associated site preparations.
Additional Full Site Closures: Friday 14th August, Saturday 15th August, Saturday 5th September, and Saturday 12th September 2026.
Guided Tours
Outlander Guided Tours are available every Friday at 11:30 AM, lasting approximately 90 minutes. These run throughout the open season from Easter weekend until the end of September.
Group Visits
Groups can visit during the 2026 season (Friday 3rd April – Sunday 27th September) Thursday to Monday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last entrance at 4:00 PM. Both free-flow visits and guided tours are available. Off-season and out-of-hours visits may also be arranged subject to staff availability and the absence of private events.
Activities & Facilities
During the open season (Easter to late September, Thursday–Monday), visitors can enjoy:
- Nature Trails and Activity Sheets for Children, with trail guides available from the Kiosk or Ranger Centre during opening hours
- The Orienteering Course, with meets run throughout the year by Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club
- Geocaching – The Hopetoun Hop
- The Ranger Centre (11am–5pm)
Ranger and Education School Visits are available throughout the year.
Photography: Photography in the House and Grounds is permitted within opening hours (Thursday–Monday, 11am–5pm, during the open season 3 April – 27 September 2026).
Midhope Castle (Lallybroch) – 2026 Opening Times
Opening: Friday 27th February 2026 onwards, 9am to 5pm (last admission at 4:30pm), open 7 days a week.
Access Restrictions: Restrictions can apply at any time throughout the year without a fixed schedule. Visitors are urged to check before visiting.
House & Grounds
Adult – £15.00
Children – £7.00
Pensioner/Student – £13.50
Family (2 + 2) -£40.00
Disabled – £7.00
Young Scot Card Holder – £1.00
Historic Houses members gain free entry, members can book online in advance via our website or simply show their membership cards on arrival.
We are delighted to welcome group visits and coach tours to Hopetoun House.
During our Open Season* we offer special prices for group bookings of 20+ guests as follows:
£13.50 per person for a free-flow visit – the guests will be given an introduction and welcome to Hopetoun House by our guides and then will be free to explore the House at their own pace, or with your own guide. We recommend that you allow at least 1 hour to go around the house. There are interpretation sheets in all of the rooms and guides are available to answer questions. Translation sheets are available in French, German, Spanish and Italian.
£15.00 per person for a guided tour – the guests will be given an introduction and welcome to Hopetoun House by our guides in the front hall and then will be led around the house on a guided tour. All tours are given in English and last for approximately 1 and a half hours. If the group have any specific interests, such as art, architecture or Outlander, please let us know in advance and our guide will tailor the tour accordingly.
Both options include access to our extensive grounds and there is no charge for the driver or for any guides or tour leaders accompanying the group. Our prices include VAT and assume that the final confirmed number in the group will be +20 people.
*Open Season is Friday 3rd April until Sunday 27th September 2026, Open 5 days per week (Thursday to Monday), 11am – 5pm (last admission at 4pm). We are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
It is possible to book private tours out with the times and dates above and we are also pleased to discuss smaller group bookings for a more exclusive experience, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help. Email [email protected] for more information.
Getting here
South Queensferry, West Lothian, EH30 9SL
Hopetoun is clearly sign posted from Glasgow and Edinburgh, it’s best to head for South Queensferry and follow the brown tourist signs. Alternatively, for Sat Nav please use post code EH30 9RW which will take you into South Queensferry to Farquhar Terrace, it is a straight road from this point of about 1.5 miles. Please note that there is no access to Hopetoun House from the Bo’ness road A904 (even though your Sat Nav might tell you otherwise).
Become a Historic Houses member
Explore the nation’s heritage from just £71 per year.
Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.
Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.
