My trip to Edinburgh in October 2016 was one of my favourite holidays I’ve been on so far. My friends Brendan, Dan and I spent a week in the Scottish capital and had so much fun looking around the city. There was plenty to do for Harry Potter fans but I also wanted to look at the Mary, Queen of Scots sites, as I’m also a huge fan of her era of history. For those of you who also are thinking of travelling to Edinburgh to see the sites of Mary, Queen of Scots, here is my round-up of places to visit.
1.
John Knox House, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh
(c) Clare Holman-Hobbs
One of Mary’s greatest rivals was Protestant minister, who famously opposed Mary’s rule in Scotland, not only because she was a Catholic but also because she was a woman. The house itself tells the story of Knox’s life as you go through the museum, and you have the added knowledge that Knox also lived there for a period of his life. The biggest highlight is the ceiling in his bedroom, which is original.
2.
Holyrood Palace, Horse Wynd, Edinburgh
(c) Dan Luxton
When Mary returned to Scotland after spending time at French court with her then-husband Francis II of France, she took to Holyrood Palace and married again, this time to her cousin, Henry, Lord Darnley, who also had a claim to the English throne. At Holyrood, you are able to see the chairs which Mary and Darnley sat, their beds and chambers. You can also see the spot where David Rizzio was murdered, which still has a shade of blood-red on the floorboards.
3.
Edinburgh Castle, Castlehill, Edinburgh
(c) Clare Holman-Hobbs
Edinburgh Castle is where Mary gave birth to her son James VI, fathered by Darnley. In the castle, you can see Mary’s apartments and the side room where she actually gave birth. You can also see the Scottish crown jewels which are held in the castle. Like most historical landmarks, the castle is open to the public and is a popular tourist attraction.
4.
Linlithgow Castle, Kirkgate, Linlithgow
(c) Clare Holman-Hobbs
Linlithgow is only half an hour from Edinburgh and was where Mary, Queen of Scots was born to James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise. At aged six days old she succeeded her father and became Queen of Scotland. Now, Linlithgow is virtually in ruins. The windows are open to the wind and when we visited the palace had extensive repairs being done to the exterior to keep it open to the public. In the grounds of the castle, there is a statue of Mary to commemorate this area in her history.
Are you fans of Mary, Queen of Scots? Do you want to visit the historical sites of Scotland? Let me know in the comments!
