Attraction
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh's fortress on an extinct volcanic plug, home to the Honours of Scotland, St Margaret's Chapel, Mons Meg and the daily One O'Clock Gun.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
A 28-hectare botanic garden in Inverleith, founded in 1670, with free entry to the grounds, restored Victorian Palm Houses and the Chinese Hillside.
At a glance
- Type
- Botanic garden
- Area
- Inverleith, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Official site
- rbge.org.uk
Good to know
- Free garden entry
- Palm Houses (ticketed)
- Cafés
- Gift shop
- Contemporary art gallery
Why we recommend it
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh began in 1670 as a small physic garden near Holyrood Palace and moved to its present site at Inverleith in the 1820s. Today it covers 28 hectares north of the New Town and is both a public garden and a major scientific institution, with three regional gardens elsewhere in Scotland at Benmore, Dawyck and Logan. Entry to the garden itself is free, with a charge for the glasshouses.
The grounds are varied enough for a long walk at any time of year. Notable areas include the rock garden and the Chinese Hillside, and there is plenty of space simply to wander between them. Because the collection is a living, scientific one, the garden changes noticeably through the seasons, so a spring visit and an autumn visit can feel quite different. Check the garden's website for seasonal events, exhibitions at Inverleith House and any temporary closures before you go.
The Victorian Palm Houses are the garden's architectural centrepiece. The Temperate Palm House, built in 1858, is described as the tallest of its kind in Scotland, and the Palm Houses have reopened after restoration; tickets are booked online. Inverleith House, an 18th-century mansion in the middle of the garden, houses a contemporary art gallery, and the John Hope Gateway visitor centre, opened in 2010, sits at the West Gate.
There are two main entrances. The West Gate on Arboretum Place leads to the John Hope Gateway and has Blue Badge parking nearby, while the East Gate is on Inverleith Row. Lothian buses 8, 23 and 27 serve the East Gate, and routes 24 and 29 serve the West Gate. Both gates have cycle stands. Allow at least two hours for the main areas and the Palm Houses, or half a day for a slow circuit with lunch. The garden has cafés, including one near Inverleith House, and a shop.
The garden suits families, couples, photographers and anyone wanting a green escape from the city centre. The garden publishes accessibility information on its website. Combine a visit with the cafés and shops of Stockbridge, a short walk south, or follow the Water of Leith Walkway towards Dean Village. On Sundays, the Stockbridge Market is close enough to visit on the same morning.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh FAQs
Is the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh free?
Entry to the garden is free. There is a charge for the glasshouses, booked online.
Where are the entrances?
The West Gate is on Arboretum Place by the John Hope Gateway, and the East Gate is on Inverleith Row.
Which buses go to the garden?
Lothian buses 8, 23 and 27 serve the East Gate, and routes 24 and 29 serve the West Gate.
Are the Palm Houses open?
The garden says the Palm Houses have reopened after restoration; tickets are booked through its website.
When was the garden founded?
It was founded in 1670 as a physic garden near Holyrood and moved to Inverleith in the 1820s.
Is there parking?
Blue Badge spaces are on Arboretum Place and there is metered on-street parking near the West Gate.
How long should you allow?
Allow at least two hours, or half a day with lunch and the glasshouses.
What is nearby?
Stockbridge, with its cafés and Sunday market, is a short walk south.