Holyrood
Holyrood is the area at the foot of the Royal Mile with the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament, and the word is used as shorthand for the Parliament itself. When the news says "Holyrood has voted", it means the Scottish Parliament, just as "Westminster" means the UK Parliament.
In practice
The name comes from Holyrood Abbey, founded in the twelfth century; its ruined nave stands beside the palace. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the monarch's official residence in Scotland and opens to visitors when the royal household is not in residence. Across the road is the Scottish Parliament building, designed by the Catalan architect Enric Miralles and opened in 2004. Behind them both is Holyrood Park, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags.
Why it matters to newcomers
Many areas of daily life in Scotland, from health and education to housing law and some taxes, are decided at Holyrood rather than Westminster, so Scottish rules can differ from what you read in UK-wide coverage. The Parliament building is open to the public, and you can watch debates from the gallery free of charge.
Related
- Royal Mile - the street that ends at Holyrood
- Outwith - a Scots word common in Holyrood's legislation
- New Town - the other half of the World Heritage Site
Sources: Scottish Parliament; Royal Collection Trust: Palace of Holyroodhouse.