Buying Castle Tickets: Online Discounts, Passes, and Best Value

Caleb Drummond Dec 7 1

Walking through the stone halls of Edinburgh Castle or standing on the cliffs of Dunnottar, you feel history in your bones. But that moment? It doesn’t come cheap. Castle tickets in Scotland can add up fast-especially if you’re visiting more than one. The good news? There are smarter, cheaper ways to buy them. You don’t need to pay full price at the gate. With the right passes, online deals, and timing, you can slash your castle costs by half or more.

Why Buying Castle Tickets Online Matters

Buying tickets at the door isn’t just more expensive-it’s riskier. Popular castles like Stirling, Urquhart, and Eilean Donan often sell out on busy weekends or holidays. You could drive two hours only to be turned away. Online booking locks in your spot and usually saves you 10% to 20% right off the top.

Most major castle operators-Historic Environment Scotland (HES), National Trust for Scotland (NTS), and private owners like the Duke of Roxburghe-offer discounted online rates. HES, for example, gives a 15% discount when you book through their website instead of paying at the ticket desk. That’s £5 off a £35 ticket. Multiply that by three castles, and you’ve saved £15 before you even step inside.

Plus, online tickets often come with timed entry slots. That means less waiting in line. You show up at 10:15 a.m., walk right in, and spend more time exploring and less time standing in the cold.

The Best Castle Passes for Scotland

If you’re planning to hit more than two castles, a pass is your best friend. Two major passes cover most of Scotland’s top historic sites:

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) Explorer Pass: Covers over 70 sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Urquhart Castle, and Doune Castle. Available in 1-day, 2-day, and 7-day options. The 7-day pass costs £59 for adults and lets you visit as many sites as you want within that window.
National Trust for Scotland (NTS) Heritage Pass: Covers 130+ properties, including Culloden Battlefield, Craigievar Castle, and Brodie Castle. The 14-day pass is £55 for adults. It doesn’t include Edinburgh Castle (that’s HES), but it adds more remote, less crowded gems.

Here’s the trick: If you’re doing a castle-heavy itinerary, buy both passes together. HES and NTS offer a combined discount if you buy them as a bundle through their websites. The 7-day HES Explorer + 14-day NTS Heritage combo costs £99-saving you over £30 compared to buying them separately.

These passes also include free parking at most sites and free entry to gardens and visitor centers. At places like Glamis Castle, that means you get the castle, the gardens, and the tea room-all covered.

When to Buy for the Best Deals

Timing your purchase matters more than you think. Castle ticket prices don’t change daily, but seasonal discounts do.

**Early Spring (March-April)**: This is the sweet spot. Winter crowds are gone, summer prices haven’t kicked in yet. HES runs a “Spring into History” promotion every year, offering 20% off online tickets for HES sites. In 2024, that meant Edinburgh Castle dropped from £19 to £15.20. The deal usually runs through April.

**Late Autumn (October-November)**: Fewer tourists, same access. Many castles offer 10% to 15% off during this quiet window. Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, for example, drops its adult ticket from £18 to £15.30 in November. You’ll have the ruins mostly to yourself.

**Avoid peak summer**: June through August is the worst time to buy individual tickets. Prices are locked at full rate, and you’ll pay extra for parking. If you must visit then, book your pass in January. Early bird discounts on HES Explorer Passes start in December and end in February.

Contrast between crowded ticket line and smooth digital entry at Urquhart Castle.

Free Entry Days and Hidden Discounts

You don’t always need to pay. Some castles offer free entry on specific days.

Free Entry Days: HES offers free admission to all its sites on March 1 (Scotland’s National Day) and December 31. NTS does the same on January 1 and August 1. These aren’t just token days-lines are long, but if you’re flexible, you can save big.
Senior and Student Discounts: Most sites offer 10% off with valid ID. Some, like Dunvegan Castle, give 20% off for students. Always ask at the ticket desk-even if you booked online.
Family Tickets: A family ticket (2 adults + 2 kids) at HES sites costs £46. That’s £11.50 per person. Buy individual tickets? It’s £19 x 4 = £76. The family deal saves you £30.
Scottish Residents: If you live in Scotland, HES offers a £10 annual pass for unlimited entry to all their sites. That’s less than £1 per visit if you go 10 times. You need proof of address, but it’s worth it if you’re local.

What Passes Don’t Cover (And How to Avoid Surprises)

Not every castle is included in the big passes. Some are privately owned and priced separately.

Dunrobin Castle: Run by the Duke of Sutherland. Tickets start at £22. No pass covers it. But if you buy online, you get a £3 discount and free parking.
Glamis Castle: Private, but offers a 10% discount if you book 7 days in advance.
Castle Fraser: NTS-run, so covered by the Heritage Pass. But parking is £5 extra unless you’re a pass holder.

Always check the official website before you go. Third-party sites like GetYourGuide or Viator sometimes mark up prices by 25%. They add convenience, but not savings. Stick to the official operator’s site: HistoricEnvironmentScotland.org or NTS.org.uk.

Family with pass lanyards posing happily in front of Stirling Castle in spring.

How to Stack Discounts for Maximum Savings

Want to pay as little as possible? Here’s a real example from last year:

Someone from Glasgow visited five castles in five days:

Edinburgh Castle - bought HES Explorer Pass (7-day) online: £59 (saved £10)
Stirling Castle - covered by pass
Urquhart Castle - covered by pass
Dunrobin Castle - booked online 10 days early: £19 (normally £22)
Glamis Castle - booked online: £18 (normally £20)

Total cost: £96 for five castles. Without any deals? It would’ve been £19 + £19 + £18 + £22 + £20 = £98-plus £10 in parking fees. With the pass and early bookings, they saved £32 and got free parking at four sites.

That’s the power of combining passes with early online booking.

What About Groups or School Trips?

If you’re traveling with 10 or more people, most castles offer group discounts.

HES: 15% off for groups of 10+
NTS: 10% off for groups of 15+
Private castles like Blair Castle: 20% off for groups of 20+

You need to book at least 48 hours in advance. Some require a deposit. But if you’re planning a family reunion or school trip, this is non-negotiable. One group from Dundee saved £180 on a 12-person visit to Stirling and Doune Castles by booking as a group.

Final Tip: Use Your Phone

Most passes now work as digital tickets. Download the HES or NTS app. Your pass shows up as a QR code. No printing needed. You can even use it to skip the ticket line at some sites. At Edinburgh Castle, scanning your digital pass lets you walk straight to the entrance gate.

And if you’re unsure about which pass to buy? Use the HES or NTS website’s “Which Pass is Right for Me?” tool. Just plug in the castles you want to visit, and it calculates the savings automatically. No guesswork.

Scotland’s castles aren’t just ruins-they’re stories carved in stone. Don’t let overpriced tickets keep you from hearing them. Book smart. Pass smart. Save smart. The walls have waited centuries. They’ll wait a little longer while you plan your visit right.

Are castle tickets cheaper if I buy them online?

Yes, usually. Most major castle operators like Historic Environment Scotland and National Trust for Scotland offer 10% to 20% discounts when you book online instead of at the gate. Online tickets also guarantee entry and often include timed slots to avoid long lines.

What’s the best castle pass for visiting multiple castles in Scotland?

The HES Explorer Pass (7-day, £59) covers over 70 sites including Edinburgh, Stirling, and Urquhart Castles. For more remote castles like Brodie or Craigievar, the NTS Heritage Pass (14-day, £55) adds value. If you’re visiting 4+ castles, buying both together in a bundle saves over £30.

Do I get free entry to castles on certain days?

Yes. Historic Environment Scotland offers free entry to all its sites on March 1 and December 31. National Trust for Scotland offers free entry on January 1 and August 1. These days are popular, so arrive early-but it’s a solid way to save if your schedule allows.

Are family tickets worth it for castle visits?

Absolutely. A family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) at HES sites costs £46 total-just £11.50 per person. Buying individual tickets for the same group would cost £76. That’s a £30 saving on one visit alone.

Can I use a pass for private castles like Glamis or Dunrobin?

No. Private castles like Glamis, Dunrobin, and Blair are not covered by HES or NTS passes. But you can still save by booking online directly-they often offer 10% to 15% discounts for early bookings. Always check their official websites, not third-party sellers.

Is there a discount for Scottish residents?

Yes. Historic Environment Scotland offers a £10 annual pass for Scottish residents with proof of address. That’s under £1 per visit if you go 10 times. It’s one of the best deals in Scottish tourism if you live nearby.

Do I need to print my castle ticket?

No. Most passes and tickets now work as digital QR codes through the HES or NTS apps. Just show your phone at the entrance. This saves paper and speeds up entry, especially at busy sites like Edinburgh Castle.