Hopetoun House is a Georgian stately home on the Hopetoun Estate, just west of South Queensferry. It is closed for winter and reopens on Friday 26 March 2027, Thursday to Monday. This guide covers tickets, opening times, getting there without a car, the Outlander scenes filmed here, and how to combine it with Midhope Castle.
Last checked: 11 November 2026.
Most pages still quote old prices and say “open Easter to September” without a date. The facts below come from the estate itself, with the date I checked them.
I’ve been round the grounds, never inside the house. Where this guide describes the interiors, it says so and credits the estate.
In this guide
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Hopetoun House Key Facts for 2027
Hopetoun House is a stately home just west of South Queensferry. It is closed for winter and reopens on Friday 26 March 2027, open Thursday to Monday, 11am to 5pm. House and grounds cost £15 for adults in 2026. There is no public transport, so you need a car, a tour or a pre-booked taxi.
| Detail | Answer | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Next opening | Friday 26 March 2027 | Closed now. Season ends Sunday 26 September 2027. |
| Days and hours | Thursday to Monday, 11am to 5pm | Last entry 4pm. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. |
| Adult ticket | £15 house and grounds (2026) | £7 grounds only. 2027 prices not published yet. |
| Parking | Free | Charges can apply at large public events. |
| Transport | No public transport | Drive, tour, or a taxi with the return pre-booked. |
| Dogs | Grounds and café only | On leads. Not inside the house. |
| Midhope Castle | Separate ticket | Joint ticket and Friday Outlander tour available. |
| Last checked | 11 November 2026 | Source: Hopetoun Estate. |
Hopetoun House Opening Times and Season Dates for 2027
Hopetoun House is closed until Friday 26 March 2027, then open Thursday to Monday, 11am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm, until Sunday 26 September 2027. It is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday, and on four Saturdays: 22 May, 29 May, 5 June and 3 July 2027. Check the estate’s website before travelling.
| 2027 closed Saturdays | Note |
|---|---|
| 22 May | Closed to the public |
| 29 May | Closed to the public |
| 5 June | Closed to the public |
| 3 July | Closed to the public |
The Stables Kitchen follows the same season. The estate says the house also closes now and then for maintenance or private events, so check before you set off.
The estate’s website banner says its phone lines are faulty. Email dayvisits@hopetoun.co.uk instead.
This link takes you to the Hopetoun House page for visitors planning a trip to the ground or stately home.
Is Hopetoun House Open in Winter?
No. Hopetoun House, the grounds and the Stables Kitchen closed for the 2026 season on 27 September. The estate runs private Outlander tours year-round, and Midhope Castle stays open, but a normal visit has to wait until 26 March 2027.
The estate’s Christmas Shopping Fair runs Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026, 10am to 4:30pm daily.
Hopetoun House Tickets and Prices
Adult tickets for the house and grounds cost £15 in 2026, or £7 for grounds only. Children aged 4 to 15 paid £7, under-5s go free, and a family ticket for two adults and two children cost £40. The estate had not published 2027 prices when I checked on 11 November 2026.
| Ticket (2026 prices) | House and grounds | Grounds only |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £15.00 | £7.00 |
| Child (4 to 15) | £7.00 | £4.00 |
| Pensioner or student | £13.50 | £6.50 |
| Family (2 adults, 2 children) | £40.00 | £19.00 |
| Disabled | £7.00 | £4.00 |
| Young Scot card holder | £1.00 | £1.00 |
| Little ones (0 to 4) | Free | Free |
Tickets are sold online or at the gate. The estate recommends booking ahead for a faster check-in. Admission is by ticket only, and a Midhope Castle ticket is separate.
Older pages still quote £10.50, £9.20 and even £5.30. Those figures are years out of date.
The estate also sold 2026 season tickets: £30 for one person, £45 for a couple, £55 for a family of four. They were valid for 2026 only.
How to Get to Hopetoun House From South Queensferry and Edinburgh
Hopetoun House is just west of South Queensferry. Put “Hopetoun House” in the sat nav, which takes you to Farquhar Terrace (EH30 9RW) – it’s a bout a 3-mile drive from the High Street, then follow the brown signs along a straight road for about 1.5 miles. Parking is free. Ignore any sat nav route via the A904 Bo’ness road, because the estate says there is no access that way.
At the entrance you reach a blue ticket kiosk by the main electric gates. If you are in a car, stay in it and show your ticket QR code on your phone or a printout.
Bikes are welcome, but they stay in the car park. Bikes, scooters and skateboards are not allowed past it.
Coming from Edinburgh, our guide to getting from South Queensferry to Edinburgh covers the first leg.
Hopetoun House Without a Car: Taxi, Tour or Private Outlander Tour
Without a car, you have three realistic options: a taxi from South Queensferry, an organised Outlander tour from Edinburgh, or a private Outlander tour booked through the estate. The estate says there is no direct public transport, and a return taxi must be pre-booked because waits can be long.
The estate’s own advice for Midhope is the same one I’d give here: ask the driver to wait, and don’t count on Uber to get you back. A local taxi driver told me that.
| Option | Cost | Time | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi from South Queensferry | ~£20 | 10 minutes | Pre-book the return. Waits can be long. Season dates still apply. |
| Hopetoun Friday Outlander tour | £30 | About 90 min | Fridays at 11:30 in season. You still need to reach the house. Includes Midhope. |
| Outlander day tour from Edinburgh | See the tours below | Half day to a full day | Edinburgh pickup, not South Queensferry. Check Hopetoun House is in the itinerary. |
What to See at Hopetoun House: State Rooms, Grounds and Walks
Inside, you see Georgian state rooms with period furniture, paintings, tapestries and clocks, including the Red Drawing Room and the Tapestry Room. Outside are formal grounds, a deer park and two waymarked walks, the Sea Walk Trail and the Spring Garden Trail. The estate says the majority of the house is wheelchair accessible.
I’ve walked the grounds. I haven’t been inside, so for the rooms I’m relying on the estate. It describes interiors that have stayed virtually unchanged for three centuries, with carving, gilding and plasterwork.
The estate also points out the contrast in the building. Sir William Bruce’s older house feels like a comfortable country home. William Adam’s later additions are grander, with echoes of European palaces.
Outside, the estate’s trail booklet describes the Sea Walk Trail, a numbered loop from the back of the house with views over the Forth. Red deer live in the deer park.
On photography, the estate allows personal pictures outside and inside the house, without flash. Tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed in the house.
Hopetoun House and Outlander: Scenes Filmed Here
Hopetoun House stood in for several Outlander settings, including the Duke of Sandringham’s residence, Jared’s Paris townhouse, Lord Dunsany’s Helwater estate and the Ellesmere estate. The estate counts 24 filming locations across Seasons 1, 2, 3, 7b and 8. Guides in the house point out interior scenes, and downloadable maps mark the spots.
The estate lists these settings:
- The Duke of Sandringham’s residence
- Jared’s townhouse, Jamie and Claire’s Paris residence
- The Hawkins estate in France
- The façade of Maison de Madame Elise
- Lord Dunsany’s residence at Helwater
- The façade of the Ellesmere estate
- Lord Hal Grey’s Westminster office
- Lord John Grey’s residence in Savannah, Georgia
- Joseph Brant’s residence at Shadow Lake in New York
- The solicitor’s office and Joseph Brant’s office in Savannah
The estate’s pages disagree on seasons: one says 1, 2, 3, 7b and 8, another says 1 to 4. I’ve used the longer page.
Looking for Fort William or Cranesmuir? These are also Outlander filming locations near Queensferry Fort William was Blackness Castle and Cranesmuir was Culross, and both have their own guides.
Outlander Tours That Include Hopetoun House
The estate runs a small-group Outlander guided tour on Fridays at 11:30am, lasting about 90 minutes, during the visitor season. Your ticket also includes Midhope Castle. Tours resume when the house reopens in March 2027, and private Outlander tours can be booked year-round. The estate had not published a tour price when I checked.
Tours that include Hopetoun House pick up in Edinburgh, not South Queensferry. Allow time to get into town first.
Hopetoun House and Midhope Castle: Tickets and How to Combine Them
Midhope Castle, the Outlander location known as Lallybroch, is on the same estate but sold separately, so a Hopetoun House ticket does not get you in. The estate offers a joint ticket, and the Friday Outlander tour covers both. Midhope’s own hours differ from the house, so check them before you plan the day.
Midhope costs £9.50 for the grounds only, and children under 5 go free. On 11 November 2026 midhopecastle.com listed 9am to 1pm, last entry 12:30pm, while the estate’s page said 9am to 5pm. So, best to check with the website before planning a journey.
My view from the Midhope guide stands: £9.50 isn’t worth it on its own, and it makes more sense folded into a Hopetoun day. Our Midhope Castle guide has the tickets, closure dates and the car-free options.
The Stables Kitchen at Hopetoun House: Food, Afternoon Tea and Dogs
The Stables Kitchen is a counter-service café in the Adam Stables, open Thursday to Monday in season, 11am to 4:30pm in 2026. Afternoon tea must be pre-booked, with sittings at 2:00, 2:15 and 2:30pm and tables held for two hours. Dogs on leads are welcome in the café and the grounds, but not the house.
The 2026 menu was soups, filled rolls, jacket potatoes, sausage rolls (with a vegetarian option), salads and baking. Vegetarian options were available daily.
No booking is needed for the counter. Afternoon tea is the only thing you must reserve. It costs £20–£25 per person, depending on if you book the regular one or the one with fizz.
Hopetoun House Garden Centre and Farm Shop: What Is and Isn’t on the Estate
Searches for a Hopetoun House garden centre usually mean New Hopetoun Gardens, a separate garden centre and tearoom by Newton village, EH52 6QZ. The estate’s own shop is Hopetoun Farm Shop, a five-star farm shop with an estate butchery. Neither is part of a house and grounds ticket, so confirm which one you want before driving.
New Hopetoun Gardens lists opening as 10am to 5pm, with the tearoom to 4:30pm.
Is Hopetoun House Worth Visiting? Who It Suits
Hopetoun House suits anyone who likes grand interiors, parkland walks and an easy half day, especially Outlander fans with a car. It suits less well visitors travelling between October and March, when the house is closed, or anyone relying on buses.
I can’t give you a verdict on the rooms, because I haven’t been inside. What I can say is that the grounds are an easy place to spend an hour or two. There is a lovely trail in the woodland that takes several species of trees, including oaks, cedars, spruce, beech, and yews.
Skip it if:
- You want to visit before late March.
- You are relying on a bus.
- You are only free on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
Go if:
- You like period interiors and have a car or a booked taxi.
- You are an Outlander fan who also wants Midhope Castle on the same trip.
A Short History of Hopetoun House and the Hope Family
Work on Hopetoun House began in 1699 under Sir William Bruce, for Charles Hope, who became the first Earl of Hopetoun in 1703. William Adam added the grand façade, colonnades and state apartments from 1721, and the work continued after his death in 1748. The Hope family still lives in the house.
Charles’s mother, Lady Margaret Hamilton, commissioned the house in 1699 after her husband drowned in the wreck of the Gloucester. The works were completed in 1707, according to the estate.
King George IV visited in 1822 at the end of his state visit to Scotland, and knighted the painter Sir Henry Raeburn in the house.
Does anyone live there? Yes. The estate says the present Earl of Hopetoun lives in the house.
Hopetoun House FAQs
These answers cover the questions visitors ask most about Hopetoun House, from winter closures and ticket prices to buses and Outlander. They reflect the estate’s published information, last checked on 11 November 2026. Where the estate had not yet published 2027 details, the answer says so.
Is Hopetoun House open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays?
No. Hopetoun House and Grounds open Thursday to Monday, 11am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. Tuesday and Wednesday are closed all season, and the estate lists four extra closed Saturdays in 2027: 22 May, 29 May, 5 June and 3 July.
How much does Hopetoun House cost?
In 2026 adults paid £15 for house and grounds and £7 for grounds only. Children aged 4 to 15 paid £7 or £4, and little ones aged 0 to 4 went free. The estate had not published 2027 prices when I checked on 11 November 2026.
Does anyone live in Hopetoun House?
Yes. The estate says the present Earl of Hopetoun lives in the house, and his father, the 4th Marquess of Linlithgow, lives elsewhere on the estate. The Hope family have been there for over 300 years, which is why parts of the house stay private.
Can you get to Hopetoun House by bus?
No. The estate says it is rural with no nearby bus routes. Taxis and Ubers can get you there, but the return must be pre-booked because waits can be long. Most visitors drive or join an Outlander tour.
Was Hopetoun House used in Outlander?
Yes. The estate says it hosted 24 filming locations across Seasons 1, 2, 3, 7b and 8, including the Duke of Sandringham’s residence and Jared’s Paris townhouse. Guides in the house can point out interior scenes, and the estate publishes interiors and grounds maps.
Does a Hopetoun House ticket include Midhope Castle?
No. Midhope Castle is a separate site a few miles away, and its entry is not in standard Hopetoun House admission. The estate offers a joint ticket, and its Friday Outlander guided tour includes both. Ask when you book.
Are dogs allowed at Hopetoun House?
Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds and the Stables Kitchen, but not inside the house. Water bowls are provided outside and owners are asked to clean up after their dogs. Drones are not permitted anywhere on the estate.
Can you book afternoon tea at Hopetoun House?
Yes, but you must pre-book. In 2026 the Stables Kitchen offered three sittings, at 2:00, 2:15 and 2:30pm, Thursday to Monday, with tables held for two hours. The café is closed until spring 2027, so check the estate for next season’s booking.
Is there a garden centre at Hopetoun House?
Not as part of the house visit. People searching for one usually mean New Hopetoun Gardens, a separate garden centre and tearoom by Newton village, EH52 6QZ. The estate’s own shop is Hopetoun Farm Shop, an estate butchery and deli.
Picture: Hopetoun House Andrew Shiva, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Creative Commons.
Scott Gibson grew up in South Queensferry and runs queensferry.net. The Forth and Edinburgh guides come from lived experience — tender days at Hawes Pier, cruise traffic, the shortcuts into the city. For the wider Scotland cruise ports, he draws on friends in some of the port towns alongside port, operator and transport sources — so the detail holds up on the ground, not just on paper. Clear directions, real timings, no brochure fluff.