Church of the Holy Rude
Church of the Holy Rude
Church of the Holy Rude
4.5
About
At the top of Stirling's historic old town, the magnificent Church of the Holy Rude has stood proudly for hundreds of years. Nowhere else combines the majesty, history, religious and cultural importance to an entire nation in the way the Church of the Holy Rude does for Scotland. Come visit and let us share Scotland's stories with you.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
212 within 3 miles
Attractions
120 within 6 miles
See what travellers are saying
- Iain M11 contributionsSteeped in historyIf you are in the Stirling area and are interested in the history of Scotland, the Church of the Holy Rude is well worth a visit. £5.00 entry fee is well worth it to help keep this beautiful church going. Add it to your list of places to visit.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 October 2023
- James K116 contributionsWorth a peek; reflect on Scottish royalty and religion.This church is an amazing historical site just a few minutes' walk from Stirling Castle. Tours are free, but it's best to book one in advance on the church's website. The docent who greets you is knowledgeable and provides informational material for a self-guided tour. You can breeze through in less than a half hour or spend more time if you'd like. In chilly, rainy weather, the church provides a nice respite on your way to or from the castleVisited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 October 2023
- Debra S44 contributionsQuite a findBeautiful church walking distance from Stirling Castle. Definitely worth a visit. If planning our trip with hindsight, we would have stayed longer in Stirling to explore some of the hidden gems like this church,Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 October 2023
- Alison HBirmingham, United Kingdom5 contributionsMust visitGreat piece of history. Fantastic architecture and a very interesting graveyard which I heard has been used in TV recently. Well worth a visit. Only negative is that the temporary ramps seem quite steep.Visited October 2023Travelled soloWritten 31 October 2023
- Rachel H300 contributionsSTUNNING CHURCH WITH ROYAL HISTORYI visited this church as it was within walking distance of my hotel and because of its royal history. Warm welcome from the volunteers. Lovely wander around this historical church which has royal history - the future King James VI/1 was crowned as a baby.Visited May 2024Travelled soloWritten 27 May 2024
- Gemma S2 contributionsPeaceful and historicA really beautiful, peaceful and interesting place. There's a lot of important history there and the guide, Andy, that spoke to us was really friendly and informative. There were interactives that my kids enjoyed and a fascinating video as well. It's a working church, so is closed on Sundays. I lit a candle for my dearly departed and I took some lovely photos. There are great views from the well tended graveyard.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 24 July 2024
- CarmendaDenver, Colorado735 contributionsIncredible medieval historyReally enjoyed my visit here. This church was visited by royalty and some of the most prominent figures of medieval Scotland, and withstood some of the fighting of the Jacobite rebellion. The pamphlet you receive at check in is particularly well done and informative, and an excellent aide to find relevant spots within the church. This is a self guided venue, with an entry fee. The church is small, so it’ll take less than an hour to get through it. Well worth a visit.Visited August 2024Travelled soloWritten 15 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
481 reviews
Excellent
255
Very good
189
Average
32
Poor
4
Terrible
1
Connie E
187 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
The church has started charging admission in the past year or so. We stepped in the door to see the ceiling. It's not a big church; so, it was quite easy to see the famed stained glass at the other end of the room. When we had organized our trip, the church was free; so, the £5 each price threw us a bit. We didn't end up staying.
Written 8 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carla R
Orlando, FL38 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
If any of you have seen the series on Netflix: “Mary Queen of Scots” it will be very useful for your visit to this area. Holy Rude church, and its adjoining graveyard, can be found a short distance from Stirling castle… which has its own important history in Scotland. When we visited the church, it was closed due to the time of year. Visiting the adjoining graveyard to the church is definitely a worthwhile endeavor. I specifically wanted to take pictures of one of its entrances, as I had previously before my trip found a similar picture on the Internet. I was inspired to repeat my own view of it. I highly recommend this visit, if you can, plan to see it when the church is available for viewing, which is probably during the summer months or on the weekends.
This is the church, where on July 29th of 1567 King James the sixth (son of Mary Queen of Scots) was coronated king of Scotland as an infant child of only 13 months! In the year 1603 he later became king of England: James the first, when Elizabeth the queen died.
This is the church, where on July 29th of 1567 King James the sixth (son of Mary Queen of Scots) was coronated king of Scotland as an infant child of only 13 months! In the year 1603 he later became king of England: James the first, when Elizabeth the queen died.
Written 26 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John S
Saint Clair, MI606 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
The entry fee was very reasonable; I can't remember exactly, but something like 10 pounds...they had plenty of staff/volunteers to answer any questions or chat with. We learned something about the history there and walked the cemetery. The floor inscription about the coronation in the 1500s was very interesting, especially coming from the States, because it showed that the physical church building was already playing an important historical role over 200 years before our country was even founded.
Written 22 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vessi80
North Lanarkshire, UK1,213 contributions
May 2022
Superbly situated on the hill, this cannot be 'crossed' off your 'to do' list quickly.
The open timber roofs and first class stained glass add to the atmosphere. The coronation of James V1 and a sermon by John Knox add to the history.
Welcoming volunteers. Info sheets in countless languages. Modest £2 donation suggested.
The open timber roofs and first class stained glass add to the atmosphere. The coronation of James V1 and a sermon by John Knox add to the history.
Welcoming volunteers. Info sheets in countless languages. Modest £2 donation suggested.
Written 16 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gemma S
2 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
A really beautiful, peaceful and interesting place. There's a lot of important history there and the guide, Andy, that spoke to us was really friendly and informative. There were interactives that my kids enjoyed and a fascinating video as well. It's a working church, so is closed on Sundays. I lit a candle for my dearly departed and I took some lovely photos. There are great views from the well tended graveyard.
Written 24 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Euan C
54 contributions
Jul 2021
Lovely old church in the heart of Stirling's Old town and free to enter (bonus!). the church is the second oldest building in Stirling and has borne witness to many events in our History, including a Royal coronation. Due to current Covid restrictions, some parts are currently closed off, and if you're planning on visiting, make sure you check the opening times before hand as it only seems to open in the afternoon, although there's plenty of things to see in Stirling while you wait :)
Written 18 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maddy
Vineyard, UT211 contributions
May 2019
My mom and I visited the UK in May 2019, and made a half-day trip out to Stirling from Edinburgh.
We stopped at this church on the way up to Stirling Castle. It is an active church, but they had plenty of historical exhibits up! We read all about the history of Stirling and the significance of the church itself. We also perused the graveyard, which is just as spooky as you would hope. Well worth a visit! Make sure to leave a donation if you are able.
We stopped at this church on the way up to Stirling Castle. It is an active church, but they had plenty of historical exhibits up! We read all about the history of Stirling and the significance of the church itself. We also perused the graveyard, which is just as spooky as you would hope. Well worth a visit! Make sure to leave a donation if you are able.
Written 30 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iain M
11 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
If you are in the Stirling area and are interested in the history of Scotland, the Church of the Holy Rude is well worth a visit. £5.00 entry fee is well worth it to help keep this beautiful church going. Add it to your list of places to visit.
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie R
525 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
An impressive and historic church with an extensive cemetery and superb views across Stirling and the surrounding area. The church is open for inside viewing mid afternoon, but check for opening times. The stained glass windows are spectacular. Well worth visiting.
Written 17 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carmenda
Denver, CO735 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
Really enjoyed my visit here. This church was visited by royalty and some of the most prominent figures of medieval Scotland, and withstood some of the fighting of the Jacobite rebellion. The pamphlet you receive at check in is particularly well done and informative, and an excellent aide to find relevant spots within the church. This is a self guided venue, with an entry fee. The church is small, so it’ll take less than an hour to get through it. Well worth a visit.
Written 15 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does anyone know the opening hours please? Days and times. Thanks in advance
Written 3 April 2019
Hmm check the website....
Written 26 September 2019
Is there some way to correct the spelling of this entry so people can find it? It's Holy Rood or more commonly, Holyrood. The "rood" is the crucifix.
Written 3 June 2018
This is the correct spelling - Holy Rude. They have a church website on which it is spelt Rude. So they should know. Holyrood is in Edinburgh.
Written 1 September 2018
Showing results 1-4 of 4
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing