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Major city · United Kingdom

Linlithgow

Go as a half-day or one-night stop from Edinburgh: palace, loch walk and High Street in 3–4 hours, 20 min by train.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short daylight, cold, some sights on reduced hours)
Airport
EDI
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Linlithgow is a small West Lothian town 20 minutes by train from Edinburgh, built around a ruined royal palace and a shallow loch. The palace, the loch circuit and the Victorian High Street fill a half-day; one night lets you add Blackness Castle or the Union Canal aqueduct. It is a commuter town, not a resort, and most visitors come from Edinburgh for the afternoon.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Linlithgow, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
  • BeerPint of ale£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, town centre to Beecraigscheck£8–12 (≈ US$11–16)
  • Museum or sight ticketPalace entry, adultcheck£8 (≈ US$11)
  • Budget bedHostel or bunkhouse bed, a night, per person£25 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or small-hotel double room, a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
  • High-end bedB&B or small-hotel double room, a night, per room£180 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £80 (≈ US$110) · High £140 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of ScotsLinlithgow Loch and the PeelSt Michael's Parish ChurchUnion Canal and the Avon Aqueduct
Airports
EDI Edinburgh Airport (11 miles east; no direct public transport — tram or bus to Haymarket, then train, or Bus 38 from Glasgow Road, or a taxi)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Linlithgow: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C

1°C

13 rd

Feb

7°C

1°C

11 rd

Mar

9°C

2°C

12 rd

Apr

12°C

4°C

10 rd

May

15°C

6°C

11 rd

Jun

18°C

9°C

10 rd

Jul

20°C

11°C

11 rd

Aug

20°C

11°C

11 rd

Sep

17°C

9°C

11 rd

Oct

13°C

6°C

13 rd

Nov

9°C

3°C

13 rd

Dec

7°C

1°C

13 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is small enough to walk end to end in about 25 minutes. Town bus L1 loops through the residential areas; Bus 45/46 and community Bus F49 run to Bo'ness and Blackness, both infrequent. Trains from Linlithgow station (east end of High Street) reach Edinburgh in about 20 min and Glasgow in 30–60 min.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Edinburghgo

Door to door: About 35–45 min

Train from Linlithgow station, about every 20 min via Haymarket

The default pairing: sleep in Linlithgow, spend the day in the city.

Blackness Castle

go

Door to door: About 20–30 min by car

Bus F49 (about every 3 hours) or taxi, 3 miles northeast

Ship-shaped 15th-century castle on the Forth; check seasonal hours.

South Queensferry

go

Door to door: About 40–60 min

Train to Dalmeny, then walk or local bus down to the High Street; or drive the M9

Forth bridges views; pairs well with the John Muir Way section. No direct train from Linlithgow — you change at Haymarket for Dalmeny.

Torphichen Preceptory and Cairnpapple Hillcaution

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Train or Bus 38 west, then local bus or taxi into the fields south of Linlithgow

Medieval Knights Hospitaller base and a Bronze Age burial cairn, both a couple of miles south of Linlithgow; Livingston is the nearest transport hub, not the destination.

Falkirk and the Falkirk Wheel

go

Door to door: About 45–60 min (check)

Train to Falkirk High or Grahamston, then local bus

Canal boat lift plus the Antonine Wall; a full half-day. Connection times and the bus leg are check.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

High Street and Kirkgate

Next to the station, palace and pubs; B&Bs and small hotels, everything walkable.

Linlithgow Bridge (west end)

Supermarket and retail park side; quieter, 20–25 min walk to the palace.

Beecraigs Country Park

Campsite and glamping a mile south in the Bathgate hills; car or taxi needed.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
High
£120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or small-hotel double room1 × 1 night × £110£110
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £80£160
Return train Edinburgh–Linlithgow2 × £10 · check£20
Palace and Blackness Castle entry, one adult2 × £15 · check£30
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £8£16
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£34
Trip total≈ £185 per person per day, bed included£370≈ US$500

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Linlithgow excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
Pint of ale£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
Palace entry, adultcheck£8 (≈ US$11)
Blackness Castle entry, adultcheck£7 (≈ US$10)
Taxi, town centre to Beecraigscheck£8–12 (≈ US$11–16)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A small, quiet town with no rough areas; the real risks are slippery loch paths, algal blooms in summer and the last train back to Edinburgh.
  • Palace and Blackness Castle hours change by season and can close at short notice: check Historic Environment Scotland before you travel.
  • Linlithgow Loch can have toxic algal blooms in early summer — keep dogs and children out of green water.
  • The loch path has soft, muddy sections after rain; wear shoes with grip.
  • Pubs at closing time are the only real friction point in town.
  • The old Edinburgh–Inverness road through town is now the B9080 (≈ US$13,000) and severed by the airport: use the train or the M9.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
EU emergency number
112
NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

LinlithgowLinlithgow

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address, please?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • EU emergency number112
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies in Linlithgow; the US consulate-general and most other missions are in Edinburgh.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Linlithgow → Edinburgh Haymarket: about 20 min; fare check
  • Bus 38 Linlithgow → Edinburgh: about 1 h, cheaper than the train
  • Taxi Edinburgh Airport → Linlithgow: about 11 miles; fare check

Say or show

  • Ta / Thanks — Thank you
  • Sorry — Excuse me
  • Where's the train station? — Where is the station?
  • A single to Edinburgh, please — One ticket to Edinburgh, please
  • Do you take card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where's the loo? — Where is the toilet?

Train times and last departures change: check before a late return.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Linlithgow. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short daylight, cold, some sights on reduced hours) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for EDI: last train and Bus 38 times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: station and High Street, palace and Kirkgate, the loch and the Peel.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (palace, St Michael's, Blackness Castle, museum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Marches and Party at the Palace fixtures so the calendar can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources