In the 15th and 16th centuries, this was one of the favorite residences of Scotland's royal Stuarts. It was the first building to be called a palace in the country. Today, it is one of Scotland's most poignant ruins, but visitors can still get an idea of how grand the place once was. Most of the structure was built by King James I between 1425 and 1437. In 1513, Queen Margaret (part of the ruling Tudor family in England) waited in vain here for husband James IV to return from the ruinous battle of Flodden, where England's forces routed the Scots, killing the king and much of his court. When their son, James V (also born here) wed Mary of Guise, the palace fountain ran with wine. Their daughter, the now iconic Mary, Queen of Scots, was later the last Scottish monarch born here. More than 200 years later in 1746, a fire gutted the building when government troops, who were in pursuit of Bonnie Prince Charlie's army, were barracked in Linlithgow. Last admission is 45 minutes before closing.