Historic Sundays – Free Entry to Scotland's Castles & Abbeys (First Sunday Monthly)

Overview

Historic Environment Scotland looks after more than 300 historic properties across Scotland, from Edinburgh and Stirling castles to Skara Brae on Orkney. Under its Historic Sundays scheme, anyone living in Scotland can get free entry to participating sites on the first Sunday of each month, as long as tickets are booked online in advance.

How to Claim

1. Click the link on this page to open the Historic Sundays page and check which sites still have tickets for the next date.
2. Pick a site and book your free tickets online for that Sunday. Popular sites book up quickly once tickets go live.
3. Take your booking confirmation with you. Bring proof of your Scottish address too, as staff may ask for it on arrival.

Remaining 2026/27 dates

• Sunday 1 November 2026
• Sunday 6 December 2026
• Sunday 10 January 2027 (moved from the first Sunday)
• Sunday 7 February 2027
• Sunday 7 March 2027

Requirements

• You must live in Scotland (Scottish postcode holders only). Proof of address may be checked at the site.
• Tickets must be booked online in advance. There are no free walk-up tickets.
• Children aged 15 and under must be with an adult aged 16 or over.

Important Terms

• Each site has a set number of free tickets for each date, and capacity varies by site. When they're gone, the site shows as fully booked. There's no waiting list.
• Tickets are released in monthly batches ahead of each Historic Sunday.
• Tickets are only valid for the date and site printed on them.
• Participating sites can change from month to month. The October 2026 list included Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Urquhart Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Doune Castle, St Andrews Castle, Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Fort George, Melrose, Jedburgh and Dryburgh abbeys, and more.
• Ticketing is covered by Historic Environment Scotland's consumer terms (section 20).

Tips

• Big names like Edinburgh and Stirling castles were fully booked for the first date, so check the page as soon as each month's tickets are released.
• Edinburgh Castle normally costs more than £20 per adult, so a family visit there saves the most.
• If your first-choice site is full, smaller sites nearby often still have space. Many abbeys and castles are just as good for a day out.