Holyrood (/ˈhɒliruːd/; Scots: Halyruid,^[1] Scottish Gaelic: Taigh an Ròid^[2]) is an area in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, lying east of the city centre, at the foot of the Royal Mile.

Quick Facts OS grid reference, Council area ...

Holyrood Scottish Gaelic: Taigh an Ròid Scots: Halyruid
Taken from Holyrood Park in 2004. From left to right: Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh Castle, Scottish Parliament Building, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scott Monument, Balmoral Hotel clock tower and Nelson's Monument.
Holyrood Location within the City of Edinburgh council area Show map of the City of Edinburgh council area Holyrood Location within Scotland Show map of Scotland
OS grid reference	NT267737
Council area	City of Edinburgh
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	EDINBURGH
Postcode district	EH8, EH99
Dialling code	0131
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Edinburgh East
Scottish Parliament	Edinburgh Central
List of places UK Scotland 55°57′06″N 3°10′42″W

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The area takes its name from Holyrood Abbey, which was the Church of the Holy Rude (Scots for 'Holy Cross').

Holyrood includes the following sites:

• The modern Scottish Parliament Building.^[3] For this reason "Holyrood" is often used in contemporary media as a metonym for the Scottish Government.
• The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the monarch in Scotland.
• The ruins of Holyrood Abbey
• Holyrood Park, an expansive royal park to the south and east of the palace.
• The Queen's Gallery, part of the Holyroodhouse complex formerly a church and now an art gallery.
• Dynamic Earth, visitor attraction and science centre which is Scotland's largest interactive museum.
• A number of residential, light commercial, and government properties.