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.
General Opening Times
Hopetoun House & Grounds is open to the public from Friday 3rd April to Sunday 27th September 2026. The house opens Thursday to Monday inclusive, 11am to 5pm. The house is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please note that last entrance into the house is at 4pm.
Guided Tours
Outlander Guided Tours are available every Friday at 11:30 AM, lasting approximately 90 minutes. These tours run throughout the visitor season from Easter weekend until the end of September.
Group Visits
Group visits are available during the 2026 season (Friday 3rd April – Sunday 27th September). Groups can choose between two options:
- Free-Flow visits: Thursday – Monday, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entrance at 4:00 PM). A recommended visit time of at least 1 hour is suggested.
- Guided Tours: Thursday – Monday, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entrance at 4:00 PM). Tours last approximately 1.5 hours.
Special Events
Hopetoun House hosts a variety of special events throughout the season:
- Two Houses and a Castle Guided Walk – June 27 at 10:00 AM
- Deer Bambinos at Hopetoun – June 28 at 12:00 PM. Deer calves are visible from June each year, displaying white spots for the first couple of months.
- Victorian Day at Hopetoun – August 23 at 12:00 PM
- Family Discovery Days at Hopetoun – Announced for the upcoming season (specific dates to be confirmed)
- Hopetoun Hounds Photography Competition – Monthly from April to September, with winners selected each month
Outdoor Activities
Several outdoor activities are available during standard opening hours (Thursday – Monday, 11am – 5pm, 3 April – 27 September 2026):
- Outlander Self-Guided Filming Locations – Explore filming locations at your own pace
- Orienteering Course – A permanent course is available. The Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club runs meets at Hopetoun and other locations throughout the year.
- Geocaching – Hopetoun Hop Trail – Available during visitor opening hours
- Photography in the House and Grounds – Photography is permitted during any standard visit
Facilities
The Ranger Centre is available during visitor opening hours (Thursday – Monday, 11am – 5pm, 3 April – 27 September 2026).
Seasonal Wildlife
Visitors can enjoy seasonal wildlife throughout their visit. Deer calves are visible from June each year, and swallows can be observed hunting over the West lawn between May and September.
Nearby Attraction
Midhope Castle (Outlander's Lallybroch) is located nearby and opens from Friday 27th February 2026, operating 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm (last admission at 4:30pm).
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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