Edinburgh Castle has completed a £2.7m redevelopment of its visitor facilities.

The attraction has invested in measures to cut queuing time and making entry and exit to the historic site more accessible by relocating the ticket office and creating a new visitor reception area.

The new ticket office – located within the castle’s estate, rather than on the walkway leading up to it – was designed by Gareth Hoskins Architects and constructed by Mansell.

The new online ticketing service, by Gateway Ticketing Systems, uses ecommerce technology and is designed to speed up and improve people flow at busy times.

Historic Scotland has also invested in a new corporate brand identity for the castle, which includes a new website, designed by Euro RSCG 4D Digital, and a new logo to be introduced in all official signage, flags and merchandise. The new identity was designed by a partnership between Inverleith-based The Union and London-based Corporate Edge.

Barbara Smith, executive manager of Edinburgh Castle, said: “The redevelopment of our admissions and ticketing systems mean that it’s now easier and quicker for visitors to access the Castle and time isn’t wasted queuing.

The castle is one of the Scottish capital city’s most popular attractions with more than 1.2 million visitors a year.