Panorama taken inside the Great Hall of Stirling Castle.

Stirling Castle - Great Hall - Stirling visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Stirling Castle - Great Hall' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Stirlingshire.

The Great Hall of Stirling Castle was built by James IV after the completion of the King's Old Building in 1497. It stands on the eastern side of the Inner Close and was also called 'Parliament Hall' and is the earliest example of Renaissance-influenced royal architecture in Scotland. The Great Hall was constructed by the English and is similar to Edward IV's hall at Eltham Palace.

The great hall measures 42m by 14.25m, making it the largest hall of its kind in Scotland. It was covered by a hammerbeam roof and inside were 5 fireplaces. Large windows illuminated a dias at the southern end where the kings and queens would sit. It is thought that at one time a passage lead from the Great Hall to the Great Kitchen.

In 1800 the Great Hall was sub-divided into barracks and the hammerbeam roof and internal decorations removed. The army remained here until 1965. Thereafter restoration work, completed in 1999, has resorted many of the features, including the hammerbeam roof, decorative crenellated parapet and windows. The outside has once again been limewashed. Many visitors now take pictures of themselves seated on imitation thrones within the hall.

The Great Hall can be accessed from both the Inner Close and Outer Close of the castle.

Stirling Castle
Esplanade,
Stirling, FK8 1EJ

The route to Stirling Castle is marked along back streets ascending through the Old Town to the Esplanade in Stirling. Parking available at the end of the Esplanade. Stirling Castle is managed by Historic Scotland and entrance is ticketed.