Palace of Holyroodhouse

Holyroodhouse is a smaller royal palace but that makes it manageable. By the time you feel like your brain can't take anymore history, you're in the gardens and almost done your visit. There's no photos allowed in the state apartments, but you can photograph the outside. Here's the main entrance.

There's also a lovely fountain in the forecourt.

My favourite part of the whole palace is this very small hill in the back garden. There are lots of rumours about what it could be- ancient burial, cache of treasures, etc.

The truth? It was created by the request of Prince Albert. He wanted the children to have a mini-hill to play on instead of the large hills in the park (you can see them in the background). It has been kept because it is used during the Queen's garden parties in the summer. A man stands on the little hill so he can see the back steps from the palace and cue the band when the Queen starts her descent down them. Love it.  

I'm finding that I don't have a lot to say, so I'll simply say that if you're in Edinburgh you should visit Holyrood.