GLAMIS CASTLE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
About
Found in the very heart of Angus in Scotland, Glamis Castle has been the ancestral seat to the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne since 1372. Once the inspiration for William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Glamis is renowned for its rich history and famous visitors, from Mary, Queen of Scots to James V. Glamis Castle was the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Her younger daughter, HRH Princess Margaret, was born here and was also frequent visitor during her childhood. Throughout our open season expert guides will help visitors on their self-guided tour. Visit our gardens and grounds flourish in the Summer months, visit our Gift Shop for some inspirational gift ideas and be served scrumptious delights from the Victorian Kitchen Restaurant.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Glamis Castle and nearby attractions

See what travellers are saying
  • Fifer99
    Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom65 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely site rich in history
    Well organised tour of castle and lovely grounds . Well worth going on a castle tour and a walk around the grounds . Staff pleasant and knowledgeable. Good paeking . Wear warm clothes if chilly as not much heating inside .
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 25 April 2023
  • BRENDA K
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Majestic
    We had an amazing time at Glamis Castle, full of brilliant staff from lovely Jim on entry point to tour guides Anne and Lynne, both of who were so well informed, entertaining and knowledgable about the history of the castle. Staff in the cafe were great too, as was our delicious haggis, neeps and tatties lunch. Felt honoured to stand by the beautiful piano the late Queen Mum had sat at and played and touched to see her private rooms. The beautiful, little wooden bed that our late Queen Elizabethh had slept in as a young girl brought a lump to my throat. The grounds are stunning, particularly the Walled Garden, Italian Garden and majestic pine tree, all so well kept and manicured. The connection with Shakespeare and Macbeth was facinating to listen to. Would love to visit again and cannot recomend it highly enough.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 28 April 2023
  • laura n
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Delight of a day out
    visited yesterday with my 6 year old and almost 3 year old we had a fantastic tour from Margaret who I must commend for engaging the children so well, they were genuinely interested in her tour. The gardens are a delight and the addition of the children's play park makes for a great afternoon out. We had a lovely time and would definitely visit again if in the area. Well worth the money
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 7 May 2023
  • craigallens
    Melbourne, Florida42 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    History, beauty, and great tea
    What a beautiful castle and so historic! A must see if your into the history of the monarchy! We had tea in the kitchen and I swear they tried to over stuff us with sandwiches and sweets! The grounds and gardens were beautiful for this time of year and you have to go see the two hairy coo in the back of the garden ( highland cows)
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 May 2023
  • lynn h
    Congleton, United Kingdom32 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful an absolute must visit
    Fabulous castle tour, lovely grounds and tasty food. Imagine a stunning castle and this is it!. Large parts of the castle included in tour with great guides. Lovely grounds to walk around and the original large kitchen serving tasty freshly made food. Very highly recommend half a day at Glamis.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 May 2023
  • Emma R
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful
    Absolutely beautiful grounds - my partner and I didn't go into the castle, only the grounds but were very impressed and next time will definitely go inside. There's so much to see, and the staff we met were friendly and very helpful. Highly recommend for a lovely day out.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 May 2023
  • FIONA E
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful day out
    The included guided tour was excellent. Our guide Lynne had a real passion for the Castle and its history, so made the tour very informative. The grounds are very extensive, the cafe inviting and not too expensive and the gift shop had plenty of souvenirs and special gifts. All in all a wonderful day out and we'll worth the money.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 26 May 2023
  • Rachael Z
    East End, Grand Cayman15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Still one of my favourite castles! Definitely visit!
    This was my second visit to Glamis and safe to say it is still one of my favourite castles in the United Kingdom! The tour of the rooms is wonderful, giving such an extensive understanding of the castle’s and families’ history. The grounds are beautifully kept and a joy to explore. The gift shop and cafe are particularly nice as well. I would highly recommend!
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 28 May 2023
  • Roy K
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exceeded expectations
    Highlight of our holiday. Excellent parking facilities as we have a campervan. Greeting on arrival was friendly and explained where we had to go. We had booked on line which made things easier. Excellent room guide who took us round the house pointing out items of interest. Great if you are a monarchist as you see things and go in to areas where the late Queen and her family lived. The property is exceptional as are the grounds. Well maintained and picturesque. Lovely on site Cafe with facilities to eat inside our outside.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 May 2023
  • Sharon B
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best Gift shop in Scotland
    My favorite part of my visit was the gift shop! My husband loved the Castle which is unique in the way you can walk around most rooms freely and enjoy the items close up. I also enjoyed the lovely furnishings and architecture. We enjoyed lunch in the restaurant, good food and atmosphere. It felt like a castle yet a home. But the gift shop is the best in Scotland! Fully stocked with items you don't find anywhere else plus a quaint little antique shop up stairs with affordable items, it's so unique. The best! The ladies were very nice and helpful on both my visits. Since we seen the castle last year we made a special trip just to shop there this year! And when I come back to my favorite country, I'll stop by my favorite gift shop again!
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 June 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,986 reviews
Excellent
1,342
Very good
457
Average
109
Poor
42
Terrible
36

OBIDOCRL
Chattanooga, TN251 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Friends
Glamis Castle is one of the best preserved and maintained castles in Scotland. It also where Queen Elizabeth's (II) mother grew up (a.k.a. the Queen Mother) so it has modern royal ties. The history of the castle goes back over 1000 years.

The interior is exquisite with many beautifully decorated rooms each with its own rich history. Each room is fully furnished with historical artifacts and decor. The exterior is also very photogenic and is surrounded by several different gardens so be sure to check them out as well. To the rear of the castle next to the car park is a nice tea room and a large gift shop that are both well worth a visit.

This was my 3rd visit to the castle on this trip as I have been to Scotland several times over the last 10 or so years. This time I was leading a group of 7 other friends (with the help of some Scottish friends) on a tour of many sites in Scotland. All of my group enjoyed their visit immensely. If you are in the vicinity of Glamis and want to see a well maintained castle, I highly recommend visiting Glamis Castle.
Written 9 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

somersetroadQ
Bury, UK98 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Couples
A brilliant tour around a beautiful castle. So many rooms to see. A shame about only being able to take photos in the ballroom, which, when we visited, had a scaffolding tower in it!
I'm ashamed to say that I didn't catch our guide's name, but he's the large, jolly gentleman who has very close connections to the castle and the running of it. So knowledgeable and very amusing. He made the tour so interesting; he brought it to life. He was obviously so very proud of the castle.
Sorry we didn't see the 'White Lady' in the chapel, but I like to think that she was watching us.
I didn't even know that paintings of Jesus wearing a hat existed. Again, very interesting.
We enjoyed a lovely snack in the tearoom.
Buy something from the gift shop and help the upkeep of this beautiful castle. Lots of lovely things to choose from.
Unfortunately we didn't have time to walk around the extensive grounds. We can always do that next time!
Written 7 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

C1rn
Aberdeen15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Family
We visited Glamis Castle yesterday. It was amazing! The staff were warm and friendly and we were fortunate enough to meet Tommy, the Manager. A pleasure! The food in the restaurant was excellent. Service was fast and friendly. The tour guide was very entertaining (Euan)! This castle is a must see! Well worth the visit and we hope to return soon!
Written 3 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

belairtravellers
Adelaide, Australia120 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Couples
Glamis is a lovely stately home, with plently of royal memorabilia of the Queen and especially the Queen mother on display.

The experience commences with the driveway down to the castle - it is spectacular and highlights the castle, framed by trees, the closer you approach. The tour of the state rooms on display is wonderful, with the rooms very grand indeed. Of all those recently visited this is definitely one not to be missed. The tour guide Lynne was delightful, talking us through the history of the house, including many interesting stories of the past occupants and visitors.

A very special place to visit indeed
Written 1 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dts91
Aberdeen3 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016 • Friends
Beautiful castles and grounds with a very interesting guided tour around most of the castle. The history of the castle is very interesting and the guide was fantastic and made it very entertaining. The gardens are huge and very beautiful. The food at the cafe was also very nice, the only downside was that it was a bit pricey for what you get but thats the same for all Castles etc. so nothing unexpected.
Written 30 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TheBruceClan
Dundee, UK67 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Couples
Spent a couple of hours here on a beautiful autumn day. The drive from the gates down to the castle affords a majestical view of the castle. The staff directing traffic were well presented & courteous. Your entry into the castle takes you through a gift shop which is well stocked with a range of items covering children & adults, household & jewellry with a range of prices. The tour is guided & our guide was Greg who was immaculate, knowledgeable, dramatic, enthusiastic & entertaining. The tour lasted 50/60 minutes and is very interesting, full of historical references, anecdotes & mention is made of the close links with the Royal family . Afterwards we enjoyed fruit tea, delicious carrot & chocolate cake, good size portion & reasonably priced. We had attend Glamis Proms in July with Groupon vouchers & the tickets included the castle tour so we feel it was a very good deal
Written 29 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mimickinga
293 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Couples
The tour and stories about the Queen Mother and their families was very interesting and enjoyable. The pictures and painting were looked at closely to see some more current history.
Written 28 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bcraig2016
Cowes, UK7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Family
A very interesting place to visit, lots of history very well presented. Wonderful cafe with great food at reasonable prices. The staff are wonderful, my wife was taken ill on our visit and the staff were a great help and very considerate even gave us voucher for a free meal as my wife was unable to eat hers. We will certainly return when we are in the area again. A big thank you to the staff for your assistance at a difficult time.
Written 28 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mearnsman
Isle of Arran, UK78 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Couples
Thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Excellent tour with Carla, good humoured, patient and knowledgeable. Unfortunately no photos allowed inside ;0(
But, don't miss the Italian Gardens which are open to visitors. Easy to overlook as they're way round the back and reached through a short forest walk.
Written 27 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

James L Brereton
Toronto, Canada100 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Family
There's a lot to see and do at Glamis Castle. Our tour guide of the castle (whose name I'm unfortunately blanking on) was super energetic and had both entertaining tales about the castle and lots of interesting facts. If you have to kill time before or after your tour you can either grab lunch from the dining hall or walk around the beautiful castle grounds. It was a little disappointing that you can't take pictures of inside the castle, but I still had a great time.
Written 25 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 881-890 of 1,577
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

GLAMIS CASTLE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

All things to do in Glamis
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire
© 2024 Tripadvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Singapore. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.