Hopetoun House
The great house on the banks of the Firth of Forth.
South Queensferry, West Lothian, EH30 9SL
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Cafe / restaurant
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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 Opening Times
2027 Visitor Season
Specific opening dates for the 2027 season will be announced soon. When open, Hopetoun House and Grounds operate Thursday to Monday inclusive, 11am–5pm, with last entry into the House at 4pm. Please note that the House will be closed on Saturday 22nd May, Saturday 29th May, Saturday 5th June, and Saturday 3rd July 2027.
Regular Visitor Access
During the visitor season (Easter to late September), the grounds are open for self-guided exploration. Visitors can enjoy nature trails and grounds walks, with seasonal highlights including spring flowers and birdlife, summer wildlife such as house martins and swallows, autumn fungi and changing foliage, and winter wildlife viewing (though the House itself closes in winter).
Activities & Facilities
Several activities are available during the visitor season:
- Orienteering Course – A permanent course is available for use. The Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club runs meets at Hopetoun and other locations throughout the year.
- Geocaching – The Hopetoun Hop geocaching activity is available during the visitor season.
- Ranger Centre – Open during the visitor season (Easter to late September).
- Group Visits – Free-flow group visits are available during the season, with the same opening hours as regular visitors.
Midhope Castle
Access to Midhope Castle is variable and may be prohibited at any time due to filming, farming operations, estate activities, or large public events. No fixed opening times are available.
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).
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