Balmoral Castle

The gardens are truly atmospheric, with dark purples and shadowy foliage contrasting beautifully against vibrant greens and the towering presence of massive surrounding trees. The sculpted topiary yews were especially striking, elegant, and meticulously shaped. They added a sense of timeless artistry to the landscape. The fairy-tale castle, with its turrets rising above the treetops, enhanced the dreamlike backdrop. While the tea experience was underwhelming and felt geared toward casual tourists, the beauty of the grounds more than compensated for that disappointment.

I have a special attachment to this castle since my grandmother and grandfather worked and met. I brought my grandson here to show him. The grounds are large, and the gardens are well maintained. We were only allowed into the ballroom, but that was impressive. There is a restaurant where you can have tea or lunch. I was surprised on how good the food was and how reasonable the price was.

I enjoyed my visit and it was very interesting to see all the new planting taking place, especially the trees and maze. You do need to go when the weather is fine because there would be few places to shelter in the rain. I would recommend asking for an audible guide. This wasn't offered when I purchased my ticket and I believe it would have made my experience more interesting.

A wonderful experience at Balmoral Castle—worth the visit even without the full tour! Our visit to Balmoral Castle was memorable, even though the full interior tour was already sold out—which, we later learned, is common as those tickets often sell out months in advance. If you’re hoping for the full experience, definitely book well ahead. That said, the general access ticket still offers a great visit. We purchased ours in advance and had no issues. With this ticket, you can explore the beautifully maintained gardens, the expansive grounds, and the only room inside the castle open to the public—the grand ballroom. The ballroom alone is worth the visit. It’s the only part of the residence available for viewing, but it’s rich with royal memorabilia, including family portraits, historic artifacts, and displays highlighting the connection between Balmoral and the British Royal Family. It gives you a glimpse into the private life of the estate. The grounds and gardens are peaceful and impressive, with stunning views of the surrounding hills and woodlands. There are walking trails you can take around the estate, and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable, happy to answer questions and offer background on the property. The overall setting is magnificent—Balmoral is nestled in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, and the combination of royal history and natural beauty makes it a special stop. Even without the full tour, it’s a rewarding experience. Just being on the estate gives you a sense of the tranquility and grandeur the royal family must enjoy here.

Balmoral Castle is a striking estate in the Scottish Highlands, steeped in history and connection to the British Royal Family. It's interesting to see a place that's featured in many shows I've watched. While the castle itself is a private residence and not open for public tours (except the ballroom), the grounds showcase the rugged beauty of the Scottish landscape. A visit offers a glimpse into royal heritage amidst stunning Highland scenery. Parking is 5 pounds for 13 hours, and you also need to pay for the entry.

We visited Balmoral Castle in May, just as it reopened to the public for the season. It wasn’t crowded at all, so we could really enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and take our time exploring. The kids received a special activity map, which was a great addition and kept them engaged. The gardens and walking areas are absolutely beautiful, and the castle itself is stunning from the outside. Inside, only two rooms were open to visitors during our visit, but still worth seeing. There’s also a lovely café on site and an exhibition with more about the history of the place. Highly recommended for a relaxing and magical day out with a royal touch!

Nice castle with lots of grounds to wonder around and admire. Due to its royal status you can only enter one small room (ballroom), unless you book a private tour. On the private tour you can see 5 or 6 rooms with a guide. The grounds are immaculate. Nice spaces to walk. The cafe was only a slight letdown. Nothing particularly bad about it but it could be better for such a desirable setting.

Inside tour, fascinating. The grounds are just brilliant. Especially the sunken garden and planting by KCIII round the edges of the lawns. Kitchen garden is huge. Love the new thistle topiary. The river side walk along the river Dee is to die for. At every turn there is a photo opportunity. Lovely large restaurant. Went a bit mad in the gift shop

While I do think Balmoral Castle is worth a visit, it is important to realize that you are basically paying (a hefty fee!) to visit the beautiful castle grounds. There is very little of the actual castle that you can visit, and in that small ballroom section that you can, you can't take photos or video. There is (of course) a well appointed cafe and gift shop and clean toilets. There's a small paid parking lot a short walk from the ticket booth. It's quite a bit of walking if you want to explore the majority of the grounds so keep that in mind.

If you want to come, that is fine however it is the national park around it that is the real treasure. The cafe here is not much more than fruit and cheeses. Don't count in anything substantial. Also you can do this in under 45 min if you hurry but plan on an hour.

5 friggin p had a lovely walk on the grounds and learnt a lot thanks to the free audio guide. had a really nice lunch at a very good price. went into the gift shop and selected £400 worth of china for my tea service back home. was asked if I wanted to purchase a bag for 10c Australian, left all my items at the counter and left. sorry your majesty but that's just offensive

Purchased by Queen Victoria in 1848, the Estate has been the Scottish Home of the British Royal Family ever since. The Estate extends to just over 50,000 acres of heather clad hills, ancient Caledonian woodland, policies and of course the beautiful River Dee is nearby. Over the past 150 years careful stewardship by the owners, The Royal Family, has preserved the wildlife, scenery and architecture which is available for all generations to enjoy. Once you have purchased your ticket from the Gate Shop you pass through the elegant main gates, either on foot or on the tractor trailer ride, and travel up the tree lined main drive which takes you to the Balmoral Exhibition where the audio tour starts. The audio tour is included in the admission and guides you around the grounds, gardens and exhibitions. Languages available are French, German, Italian, Spanish and English. Once you have browsed the Balmoral exhibition you can walk across the courtyard to view the short audio visual presentation about the Estate, view the wildlife and art exhibition before moving on to the gardens. The Gardens Wander through the large kitchen garden, visit the conservatory and enjoy the views from the fountain area before viewing Garden Cottage, which lies in a secluded spot in the grounds only a short distance away from the Castle and the impressive rose garden. The Ballroom The Ballroom houses a collection of fine art, silver figurines and porcelain from within the Castle. There is a short film of the Royal Family at Balmoral, together with a display of Ballgowns belonging to HM the Queen. The Gift and Coffee Shop In the gift Shop you can purchase some exclusive Balmoral gifts before relaxing in the spacious Coffee Shop. Afterwards wander along the riverside path or enjoy one of the many waymarked trails on the estate.