Have you ever wondered what an art gallery/installation/experience in The Capitol of Panem would be like? It's Jupiter Artland. If you know Hunger Games, you'll know exactly what I mean. If you're not familiar, think indulgent, a spectacle, disturbing, hedonistic, garish, innovative, creative, thought-provoking... you will feel polarizing things here, you will remember your visit here forever. According to their website, "Jupiter Artland is an award-winning contemporary sculpture garden... set over 120 azores of meadow, woodland and indoor gallery spaces, Jupiter Artland is home to over 30 permanent and unique site-specific sculptures... as well as a seasonal programme of carefully curated exhibitions..." Try to come on a beautiful day since this is an outdoor adventure! While it's mostly very accessible, there's a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes! We got the map and made it a point to visit and read about every site. I think Jupiter Artland became famous because of influencers showing off the vibrant Gateway pool (which you can actually occasionally swim in). I loved I Lay Here For You (about women in nature), Rivers (a collection of water from one hundred different rivers in the UK), Animitas (two hundred small Japanese bells that are constantly making different melodies; no two ever the same; it's supposed to be like how no two souls are the same); Rose Walk (the gothic and chinoiserie pavilions); I liked the Weeping Girls (statues in the woods) but my partner felt haunted, vice versa for In Memory (the cemetery with people's names erased); we were both left speechless, creeped out, and concerned after Upside Mimi! which we watched in its entirety. Woof. The Cells are also very iconic and apparently you can wild swim occasionally there too. The VERY LONG point? You SHOULD visit here. Art is supposed to make you feel stuff, and you will very much feel stuff here. read more

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Jupiter Artland is out of this world COOL!!!! On our recent trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, this place was one of the highlights of our visit. Definitely the BEST sculpture garden that we have ever visited anywhere in the world. There are both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The exhibits are displayed all over the more than 100 acres property. You can get a lot of exercise walking while searching and exploring the place looking & admiring the exhibits. Personally, my favorite area was the Cells Of Life. Very beautiful landscape work of art!! You cannot miss it because once you enter the property.....there it is!! "Cells of Life consists of eight landforms and a connecting causeway which surround four lakes and a flat parterre." Unfortunately, we only had a couple of hours to spare. So we did not have the opportunity to explore everything that Jupiter Artland had to offer. Still, we did enjoy our time. If you are in the Edinburgh, Scotland area, I recommend dropping by. read more

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Worth the trip out of Edinburgh! A direct 30-minute bus ride can be taken straight from downtown, otherwise a Bolt is not that costly for a 20-minute trip. The place is a beautiful sight even on a rainy day and does not get muddy either. Gorgeous landscape art and sculptures are spread throughout the 120 acres. Pedestrians are free to walk on the road before entering one of the many trails that branch out leading to various art forms. While a map is provided, it would be useful if the trails had signs as we weren't the only ones that got lost in trying to find a particular landmark. The highlight was The Cells of Life landform, referencing the cellular process of mitosis. Continuing up north from there, you pass by farm animals before reaching the shop and café. Restrooms and the parking lot are there as well. Tickets cost £10 each. Due to the Festival Fringe and re-routes caused by an accident, we arrived later than planned at 10:30 AM on a Monday. We didn't manage to finish exploring the entire place in the hour that we stayed and encountered only a few people. read more

Jupiter Artland - The Cells of Life. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Wilkieston, WLN

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I am disgusted by the Easter Egg Hunt. We have been here many times before and had a good time but this was horribly disappointing. The fact that they are charging £8.50 is ridiculous to begin with, as there are only 8 things to find. This was disappointing enough, until we went to collect our prize. It turned out the "special prize" was a tiny hollow chocolate egg (as seen in photo) which probably came from a multipack and cost about 20p. This is a horrible thing to give a child when promised a special prize at the start. If I could give less than one star then I would as we paid entry along with it. Further to this, the cafe wasn't doing takeaway due to an issue with the till and was running very slowly anyway, so we were left hungry. Easter is meant to be an exciting time for children but they have taken all of the fun and joy away from it. Unless you want to essentially pay £8.30 to fill in 8 boxes with letters then stay away. I wouldn't reccomend anyone visits. Jupiter Artland are charging premium prices for mediocre experiences. We won't be returning. And side note: as I write this we are leaving snd the road to get out of Jupiter Artland is a pothole nightmare. read more

Jupiter Artland - The Easter egg received - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Wilkieston, WLN

The Jupiter Artland was so interesting and fun and I loved all the interesting sculptures and art pieces dotted around, especially the weeping girls. The gun and tree and the amethyst cave I loved, also the boathouse and the bottles of water from all around the British isles are great. The cells of life (teletubby hills) are great too especially for kids. I give it a 4 star however because of the lack of direction signage, we had a map that wasn't helpful and we ended up in bushes amongst trees and nothing to see so maybe it's an idea to have signposts saying 'weeping girls this way' or 'love bomb this way' so we don't waste time getting lost. Food in the cafe is delicious but very expensive so I suggest taking your own but a great day out and it's something different which I like. read more

Jupiter Artland is a strange and wonderful place. It's one of those places that you can't help wondering how they manage to survive; for one thing it's next to impossible to get to without a car, and on initial inspection it doesn't seem to have much going on to sustain interest. But don't be deceived - vanity project it may be, but this is a veritable wonderland of mystery waiting to be discovered as you walk around the grounds. Arriving through the wonderfully ornate gates gives you a hint that something special lies ahead. The narrow road winds through the woodland estate, with the occasional passing place (the same road leads in and out - something they could do with remedying at the earliest opportunity), until suddenly you emerge between two huge grassy mounds, part of Charles Jencks' magnificent land forms installation (for me the main highlight of the place). After this the road deteriorates into an unsurfaced track until you reach the car park - again something that needs addressing urgently. The car park itself is located quite a way from the entrance and shop, although there is disabled parking a little closer. The warm orange-painted Bonnington House is glimpsed through hedges and trees as you approach the main.courtyard. There's a cafe here serving coffee and lunches, and a shop with a select assortment of artistic goodies for the more discerning giftaholics, and from there you are free to take off in whatever direction you like along the woodland paths, where some amazing pieces of contemporary art await discovery. Get a free map from the shop where you pay your entrance fee, and set off into the unknown. It's an adventure akin to entering wonderland, and you can wander to your heart's content, discovering all the secret places and pondering the significance of the placement of the artworks, which have all been sited in accordance with some geomantic plan. After the Jencks landforms, I think my favourite was the amethyst grotto, a highly energetic space that I couldn't stay in for more than a couple of minutes. But there are many artworks to choose from, and a walk around the estate could easily become a great adventure for children - or adults who can recall that sense of childlike wonder. read more

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Found out about this place last year after the season had closed. Made it out this year and was lucky enough to be treated to a private gardener's tour by the head gardener. Who told us a lot about the grounds as well as the sculptures. Considering the whole thing is on a private estate with all artwork purchased by the owners, it's absolutely spectacular. There's a variety of work ranging from letters to sculptures that have their own field! They also have animals and a duck pond. Great place to take kids as well. Highly recommend making the effort to get out there! read more

Jupiter Artland - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Wilkieston, WLN

This contemporary sculpture garden has all the whimsy and adventure of Lewis Carroll's Wonderland - from the giant psychedelic 'Orchid' by Marc Quinn to the eerie 'Weeping Girls' by Laura Ford, seemingly alone and lost among the woodland. The sculptures were commissioned by the garden's owners Robert and Nicky Wilson and are all inspired by the surrounding landscape. Out with the confinements of stark gallery walls, nature breathes life into these pieces and that is makes Jupiter Artland such a majestic place. read more

Jupiter Artland - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Wilkieston, WLN

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A country estate, with ponds, woodlands, wildernesses... and art work? Yes, you read that correctly. Jupiter Artland is the park surrounding Bonnington House but it's also a carefully curated gallery of sculptures by some of Britain's leading artists including Sir Anthony Gormley (he of the Angel of the North fame), Charles Jenks and Ian Hamilton Finlay (whose sculpture garden Little Sparta in nearby Dunsyre served as inspiration for Jupiter Artland). Despite what other reviews say, it's actually reasonably accessible by public transport as the First bus 27 drops you right by the gates (just get off when you see the bus turn right onto the B7105 for East Calder). You've got a ten minute walk up the drive, passing by some of the art along your way, before you reach the car park and, a little further on, the steadings that serve as cafe, gift shop and home to some of the seasonal exhibitions. Entry is a pretty reasonable £8.50 for adults (£4.50 concession), and whilst it would be possible to do the walk without paying (without a map and backtracking a fair bit), that wouldn't be right, given it's a non profit organisation and I'm sure a lot of upkeep is required (it is a working farm too). You're given a map and are free to choose your own route, but the one suggested takes about 2 hours and brings you past all the art, so I'd advise sticking to it so as not to miss out. There's an app you can download too which provides even more information, as well as images of previous years' artwork in situ, but alas it's only available on iPhones. We were lucky to visit on an absolutely beautiful day, with the sun hitting our backs as we trekked and admired. It's really one for all ages, as the youngest member of our team, at a mere 5 months old, was entranced by everything. To say too much about what you'll discover would be to spoil the experience, but suffice to say the sculptures range from awe-inspiring, to creepy, from colourful to morbid. Unfortunately it's only open during the summer, so you'll have to get there quick if you want to visit this year. We will definitely be back! read more

Jupiter Artland is a magical little sculpture world. I am so glad that Edinburgh has such a place and that Robert & Nicky Wilson had the vision to create such an inspiring sculpture garden. Unlike other art spaces, you come across the commissioned art pieces rather than being directly led to them. You can wandering around the paths at your own pace and take in, not only the artwork but the beautiful grounds as well. My favourite pieces were The Boathouse and the Amethyst Cave, which delighted me in their simplicity & beauty. The garden is only open from around May - October but throughout the year they have an extensive program for children & schools. During their open season they often have fun, one off events, like a Blue Moon picnic. Unfortunately, but understandably it is not dog friendly but it will be a delight for children of all ages (and lots of paths to make buggy pushing easy!). A hip silver bullet camper van holds the cafe which serves lovely cakes and the shop/cafe buildings have been done with exquisite taste. I have sat for long periods just drinking coffee by the cafe and looking out at the gorgeous views. A place to go to be inspired and soak up some natural beauty enhanced by stunning, thoughtful works of sculpture. read more

I've never been a fan of paid adverts. But in this case, I'm willing to tip my hat to the brand-spankin' new signage alongside the bus stops on Princes Street. If not for them a big, glossy picture of Jupiter Artland wouldn't have caught my eye, and I wouldn't have counted myself lucky enough to have scoped out this relatively unheard of place! Jupiter Artland is set a bit outside of Edinburgh, out past the airport. This doesn't mean it's unreachable by car by any means unlike what another reviewer said--as a matter of fact, the ball 'n chain and I navigated quite successfully by way of the First Buses, from which the 27 comes quite regularly (every thirty minutes or so). It deposited us directly outside the front gate of Jupiter, which was totally fine by us. (The bus drivers seem a bit friendlier than your normally stone-faced Lothian bus drivers, and ours was happy enough to offer advice on where and when to get the bus back.) From the gate it's a bit of a hoof through the winding drive to the main ticket office of Jupiter. If you're limited in mobility, or taking toddlers via prams, it's perhaps worth considering having a car as there are no sidewalks, only grass alongside the road. Aside from that the roads as well as paths later on are either paved or very well packed down (we did see one scooter on the path, although access isn't available to all exhibits). It's a little confusing figuring out where exactly you should be going upon entry, as you do pass an "exhibit" or two on your way in, but if you follow the main road you'll eventually find yourself where you should be: the ticket office, and the art contained within the grounds beyond. And what a grounds it is! I'm totally impressed. With a student ID you pay an extremely reasonable fee of 4.50 to get in, otherwise it's around 8 pounds for an adult (worth it). This place has it all: green space, excellent ambling paths through shaded forests, interactive art exhibits, and lovely, lovely views all around. Man! I can absolutely understand why I saw this place mentioned as a "photographer's dream." It's a total blast turning this way and that, scoping out anything from grassy knolls full of layers and curves and shapes and reflections in the water, to a sloping pathway that leads down to a room entirely full of walls of amethysts. Seriously--talk about a childhood dream I'd never realized I had, fulfilled! I think the best way to describe this place is whimsical. It's charming, it's engaging, it's thought-provoking. My husband and I enjoyed every second of our wander, and wander you can to your heart's content. They say on their map that it takes about two hours to get through the entire place, but we spent a wee bit longer taking shelter from a smattering of rain quite happily beneath the boughs of a huge old beech, and later on having a picnic on the grounds. It's sort of like if a museum met with a botanic garden: all the big old trees and shady undergrowth you can handle, as well as a smattering of excellent exhibits that your strolls casually encounter. (Although I did find the weeping girls creepy as all get-out, I'll admit they made for an excellent ambiance in the shady forest.) Even better, this is a place made for all ages: we saw young wee children sliding down the grassy knolls, saw moms pushing prams all over town, and elderly couples scoping out the art alongside us. There are even some "hands on" booths just near the cafe where children can create art, and it seems that there are some special events offered now and again. It's seriously a really fun outing for everyone. Super glad I discovered this charming place. Would be more than happy to return with more friends or family in the future. read more

It's comtemporary, it's arty, it's all outside in the fresh air and it's like stepping into the world of Narinia with Alice in Wonderland! The scuptures are really great, gets the dust of that thinking cap and excites you to see what is round the next corner. They say it takes about 2 hours to walk round the estate, so be prepared to walk as you wil have to walk. But it's a wonderful walk! Getting there you will need a car, however I did see people walk all the way up from the estate entrance! I'm not sure if there is a local bus service, so you may wan to check that out. There is a cafe, gift shop and toilets but only in the same area as where you buy the tickets. So go and spend a penny before you set round the sculptures as i didn't see any after the vIsitor centre! You will have a great time, it's a breath of fresh air! read more

Jupiter Artland is a real hidden gem of a... well actually I'm not really sure what it is. Country estate? Landscape garden? Woodland walk? Gigantic art installation? Psychedelic outdoors funhouse? Probably all of those things. I want to tell you all about it, but Jupiter Artland is best explored yourself. Unlike your more conventional art exhibition, there are no signs telling you where to look or what you are looking at. At Jupiter Artland you have you mind slightly blown on the way in by the amazing landscaping, then at the ticket office you are given a map and sent on your way. It is then up to you to find your way around the many paths and avenues (some more well defined than others) and discover all the amazing things there are to see. It's great fun! As you walk through the lovely old wood with its barely-manicured flora and big old trees, you will occasionally turn a corner or come over the brow of a hill to see some striking object, bizarrely misplaced in the forest as if from some mad hallucination. You get a genuine sense of wonder and discovery. The attention to detail that has gone into this place is wonderful to see. From the carefully placed stepping-stone paths to the minimalist signage, everything is managed with a light-touch but has been extremely well thought out and perfectly executed. In terms of practicalities, Jupiter Artland is an almost entirely outdoors activity, so come when the weather is nice (or at least dry!). You can get the First 27 or x27 (*not* the Lothian 27) from quite a few stops between Regent Road, along Princes Street, up Dalry Road (including the stop on Dalry Road near Haymarket), and all the way along to Gorgie Road. The bus comes about every half an hour and, at the time of writing, costs £5.80 for an adult return. There's no official stop at Jupiter Artland, but the drivers know where it is and will stop if you ask them. Similarly, there's no stop on the other side of the road for the journey back, but stand on the pavement just outside the gate when you're ready to come home, stick your arm out and the bus will happily stop for you. As part of the experience is exploration and discovery, you'll probably enjoy it more if you avoid the crowds. If you can, I would recommend going on a weekday when it's likely to be much quieter. If you can only manage a weekend, it's probably much quieter early in the morning. We went bang in the middle of the day on a sunny Saturday, though, and it didn't feel overly crowded (although a few less darling Tarquins and Hugos being pushed around in buggies would have been nice). On the whole, Jupiter Artland is a unique, amusing and utterly enjoyable way to spend a few hours. If you like to have your entertainment fast, loud and in your face, then Jupiter Artland is not for you. If you like to wander, take photos and say "wow, what's that thing??", then I implore you to set your sails for Jupiter. read more