Worth a visit if you need a splash of greenery and nature to complement the history, architecture and man-made majesty of the Scottish capital, which we did. Walking the beautiful grounds on a picture perfect day, after visiting Edinburgh Castle, Old Town and The Royal Mile, we rejuvenated ourselves for more sightseeing and gallery viewing. Pro-tip: get drinks, sandwiches and snacks to-go from one of the famous bakeries in old town and enjoy them on a bench at the Royal Botanic Garden. read more

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - Bellflowers - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Beautiful garden wish we could have seen it all but our time and energy was running out. Love it was no cost. botanical gardens and nature. There was some wierd art but can't say we liked the art ... art is of course subjective. Did see some plants hadn't seen before and there were some birds in a pond. read more

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Wonderful free garden! We walked here through the Water of Leith walkway, from Leith to RBG. The cafe has nice selections of food and beverages. The garden has many colorful flowers. My favorite are the blue ones. The rock garden is interesting. There are so many birds and squirrels here. The garden is huge but there are so many interesting plants to enjoy. read more

This place was super cool! A guy there gave me some meal worms to feed the birds and one of them landed and ate right out of my hand!! This place was so peaceful and tranquil I would love to bring a book and spend more time taking in everything. And the fact that it's free to enter is awesome! Definitely worth a donation to keep the place going. read more

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We could not believe how wonderful this place was and how clean it was, it is clearly so loved. It was quite a walk to get to but worth it. It wasn't crowded on a perfect day. Absolutely stunning and worth whatever donation you can manage. read more

Free! Absolutely beautiful and could spend the day here. Just walking through and the aromatics filled the air. Beautiful lawn to view the city. Cafe food available is good. Worth the time to take a break from the crowds. read more

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I love a botanical garden and this one is very lovely indeed. We walked here from Deans Village, which was quite a nice green walk on it's own. Coming in from the outside, they ask that you wipe your feet off. I've never seen this but it seems to make sense. I love the idea of trying to protect what's there. The welcome center is large with seating and bathrooms. There is also a git shop/garden center and a café to eat at. I wanted to go to the greenhouses, but they were still closed while we were visiting. The different themed areas were delightful and I could have spent way more time in this garden than we did. read more

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Fabulous place to walk and relax. Exactly what we needed after 2 weeks of touring Great Britain.

A gorgeous, large, and beautifully constructed botanical garden/arboretum in central city, easy to get to. Free admission! All sorts of pretty themed sections. Very nice restaurant and gift shop/plant store, reasonably priced. read more

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What a beautiful place. I loved the shoe washing at the entrance so that you didn't drag any invasive plants or weird dirt in. The gift shop was huge and had so many unique things. The grounds themselves were green and lush and full of every kind of plant you could imagine. The signage was great, you always knew exactly what you were looking at. We also had lunch at the cafeteria which was really good and reasonably priced read more

Enjoyed a fabulous afternoon wandering the botanic gardens in Edinburgh. I used to go regularly a child on school trips etc and it was a really nice walk down memory lane to return. Loved the lily pond and had a nice pit stop at the cafe for a tea. My family particularly liked the allotment area where you could see student gardens. Well worth the visit! read more

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - Lily pond - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Love, love, love the Royal Botanical Garden. It's one of my favorite spots in the city. I always find my way here whenever I'm visiting because it really is a special place that honors all things nature. I genuinely love how it attracts people looking to find certain flora; and people looking to just find tech-free time with their family and friends. As of 2020, they were turning 350 years old! "Our vision is to nurture a world that increasingly values, protects, and benefits from plants," they say on their website and yes! That's exactly what they're doing here! Outside in the beautifully manicured landscape you'll find the Woodland Garden, a pond, a rock garden, the Chinese Hillside, a native plants collection, and more. The indoor glasshouses that showcase various climatic zones (home to over 3K exotic plants from all across Earth!), are NOT to be missed - I could hang out with the kois forever! Their dedication to conservation is admirable and inspiring; and, there are so many community events on here that include such a diverse range of topics. Be sure to check out their calendar! If we lived in Edinburgh, I have no doubts that we'd be attending things frequently to support The Botanics! read more

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A gorgeous, peaceful oasis in Edinburgh. I went on a Monday, so it was not very busy. The gardens are immaculately maintained with a variety of flowers, plants, and trees. Horticulture is not really my thing, so I can't really describe what is truly unique, but there is more than 13,000 living species in the gardens. I was fascinated by the Monkey Puzzle Trees, which I don't think I've seen before. They would make for a very interesting Dr. Seuss like Christmas Tree. All I could think about when looking at them was that I want to decorate them with lights and ornaments. The other quite special area is the Queen Mother's Garden, which is design with a small English maze designed with interlocking E's. The inside of the Memorial is decorated with a pattern of seashells. And there are plants and flowers to represent the different continents. There is a beautiful rock garden, which I thought would be rock sculptures, but it was more rock formations which you could walk and explore. They also grow edibles here, and there is area is used to teach people to grow their own food. There is a lot to discover here. I wandered around for a few hours, and wish I had more time. The Edinburgh Botanic Gardens is worth a visit, and is definitely a top attraction in Edinburgh. read more

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Very nice walk around large tree and bushes. Lots of flowers. The specimens are fabulous. The walk is free. A map of the grounds is £1. To tour the several greenhouses has admission. If you like plants this is a must. read more

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Absolutely a must-stop at the location while in Edinburgh. Be aware that their greenhouse is closed for a while - still worth it.

This was really great place went to the light show and wow what a great experience. The different displays in each section were really good and mesmerising. This is one of the best light shows i have been too. Can wait to see it in the day. The food here was also very nice. Would recommend visiting if nearby. read more

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This place is stunning I highly recommend the Christmas at the botanics event, one word; magical. read more

Took family to the Christmas lights and it was spectacular and the mulled wine was the best I have ever tasted!!

Just beautiful. My wife, a gardener, and I, not a gardener, loved it. We drooled over the Japanese and alpine gardens the most - lots of cute little plants we wish we could grow without fuss in our own yard, along with a renewal of our excitement for creating a real rock-garden landscape. Free, though we recommend donating at least the suggested amount if you can afford it. Those monkey puzzle trees don't grow themselves! OK, maybe they do, but somebody's got to weed around 'em. Go there! read more

Amazing light show at Christmas time Make sure you buy tickets early and not at the weekend Smart tip - bring your own marshmallows and sticks read more

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Spectacular setting! No matter the weather, it's such a gorgeous place to take a stroll.

Very Covid safe activity and wonderful place to see. So many different trees, lichen, plants, and small habitats for squirrels and other small animals. I really enjoyed walking around with my friend since I'm unable to go indoors for long periods of time still, and she even had a chat with a squirrel while we were there that lasted at least a few minutes. Charming. read more

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I visited Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh 29th May 2018.  it was kind of magical with all the different colour of flowers and the qdisplay of the garden, it was in great shape. Walking around was very refreshing and a lovely smell of the different flowers.  You can see the staff at Botanic Gardens, do a great job lookingafter the garden. https://socialsandi1.com/2018/05/30/royal-botanic-garden/ read more

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Very nice botanical garden park in the Warriston section of Edinburgh has a great variety of plants and gardens. Beautiful to come in late May to early June when the rhododendrons are in full bloom. They also have rock, alpine, forest and Chinese gardens along with the large green houses. General admission is free but to enter the green house is £6.50 which is worth it. A good place to come on a sunny day and recommended. read more

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If you have more than a day or two in Edinburgh, then this is a must-see. Oddly enough, I first visited the Royal Botanic Gardens in the winter. I was nearby, was looking for a nice place to walk and had already had enough tea in the day to start growing leaves out my ears. Now I have been visiting the gardens for about 6 or 7 months and have had the chance to watch things come to life. It's amazing! I know it's science and it can be easily explained, but I'm still in wonder of the growth of plants and how they change through the seasons. This has helped me gain a higher appreciation of visiting the RBG. Every time I visit, I find a new favourite part of the gardens, and I always seem to discover something new. There are two cafes and a really nice shop at the gardens. Also, there are occasional art exhibitions. If you're visiting Edinburgh, this should be your next stop. If you live here, then you should be ashamed of yourself and get here ASAP... it's kind of like saying you haven't watched The Wizard of Oz.... except real life flowers are more amazing than Technicolor... ok, so now I'm off topic. read more

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I feel obliged to write a little love note to the gift shop/nursery separately. If you're seeking a review on the gardens or glasshouses in detail, see below. Summary: show tune level amazing and awkward fairytale twirling. Got it? Perfect, moving on... I have to give a shimmy hug and a tip of the hat to the nursery here. I do not have a green thumb but luckily, my neighbour is an amazing gardener and she's been keeping my outdoor plants alive. I take much more pleasure in purchasing greenery, knowing they'll survive longer than a week. It inspired me to actually try to keep plants IN the house, so long as they 1. can survive cats and 2. require absolutely no attention. So with said mission, I set off this week to the two florists in Stockbridge that sell indoor plants and with Waitrose in my back pocket as a last ditch effort. The Botanics didn't make the list on the first round, as I thought they'd be too expensive. Long rant, short: the florists were unhelpful, the selection was teeny tiny and in some cases, the plants looked as though they had been in a fist fight. Even bruised and battered, they were coming up in the £6 mark for a small pot. Waitrose wasn't much better, so at the last moment I thought, budget be damned and headed for the Botanic Gardens shop. Jackpot!! Ok people, listen up: not only are the staff here uber cheerful and insanely knowledgeable (they helped me navigate the feline monster issue as best they could), but the plants are so well taken care of, the selection is amazing and IT WAS CHEAPER THAN WAITROSE. I picked up two beautiful ferns for £5 a pop... a good £1.50 under what the same type of plant had been at the other locations. I have learned my lesson and let's be honest, the cats will have eaten those two within two weeks, so in my quest to find houseplants that survive, the Royal Botanic Garden shop will be my ground zero. read more

A unique place close to the Stockbridge area, well worth checking out if you're nearby. Free entry to the gardens, but you'll need to pay a small fee if you want to see the glasshouses- 10 in total that are definitely worth going through. They're super lush and peaceful and have plants and trees you wouldn't normally see in Scotland. A great place to explore, apparently it's the largest rhododendron collection in the world and which is pretty cool to note. There's a cafe on site which has an array of food and snacks. Always worth keeping an eye out for any events happening, especially on a weekend either at the gardens or the Inverleith Park adjacent to the gardens. Well worth taking the time out to explore! read more

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I enjoy a good park and Edinburgh has plenty... plenty... plenty! This one is more of a garden but it has loads of lawn area and one of the best views of Edinburgh, so I'll still consider this a park. This place is free and has a small exhibit of plants just before the entry way to the gardens. The garden is sectioned off based on the types of plants grown in the area and the design of the garden. A highlight of this place is the lawn overseeing an amazing view of Edinburgh. You can sit on the grass and have a picnic while overlooking the castle and the city's many iconic skyscrapers. If you feel like trekking along, the garden has a Victorian glass house filled with different tropical flowers and plants. There is an entry fee of £5 if you want to see the whole thing. Otherwise the front part of the glass house is free. This place will excite any person into plants, but this is also a great place to take a stroll if you want some peace and quiet or a place to think and reflect. It's not that far from city centre so it's really an awesome place to escape the hustle and bustle of it all to recharge. The garden has various special events so check their website for the "happenings". If you need to take a "breather," this place is a great place to chill before facing that great big busy world again! read more

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I recently joined the Botanic Lates and enjoyed this evening very much. The entry was about £14 and you could walk around the gardens, visit Innerleith House presenting part of the British Art Show, explore the west gate entrance restaurant part with a science exhibition including cancer research, robots, ceilidh and silent disco. There were Scottish brewed drinks and Beuccluth Scottish burgers and Scottish ice cream. Must say that the burgers were a bit overpriced for what you got :-( I was not able to explore the gardens yet, but I will be back! read more

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What a great break from the bustle of touring Edinburgh. Rhododendrons are the thing at the Botanic, and they were in full flower when we visited in mid-April. Apparently the rhodies have some sort of blight and the Botanic is taking steps to deal with it, but some of them look a bit bedraggled. The coffee shop provided a needed shot of mid-afternoon caffeine. read more

I'd never been to the Edinburgh Botanics before but figured they would be a good spot to enjoy the nice weather and get some good photos. We opted to walk it from the train station which, with the help of good old google maps wasn't too bad, although we would have been quicker if we hadn't stopped to take photos enroute. The gardens themselves are a fair size with several nice areas including a terrace cafe and walled garden. Access is free although its £5 to enter the glasshouses which was well worth it for us as we spent several hours snapping some unusual plants and flowers. A word of warning though the glasshouses are hot and humid as the climate reflects the plants natural environment. Definitely a nice spot for a wander and some photos on a summer day! read more

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I've been in Edinburgh for just over 6 years, and somehow today was my first ever visit to the botanic gardens. I joined a friend to visit on doors open day, so we got to see the library and the herbarium which is not usually open to visitors. The library was really interesting with books dating back to the 1500s, I'd love to get a chance to see them on display. The gardens themselves were beautiful, the sun was shining and it was a perfect Indian Summer Edinburgh day. We wandered around the art exhibition, the Chinese Garden, saw the (sadly currently drained) pond, and sat in the sun watching the world go by enjoying juice from the cafe at the East Gate. (Hint, there wasn't a queue there, the queue at the other cafe was huge!). I can't believe I haven't been before, and after spending hours there today and still not seeing everything I'll definitely be back! read more

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Beautiful gardens. Perfect way to get some fresh air/kill a few hours in the great outdoors. Each visit is different & if like me you don't have your own garden, this place is perfect. Some of the things apart from having a lovely walk/admiring the plants & flowers that you can do: Search for the fairy doors in the fairy garden; Play pooh sticks on the bridge; Spot the biggest fish in the glasshouses; Feed the squirrels; Find conkers; Puddle jumping (works best if you are with kids otherwise you just look weird - just saying ;)) The cafe is excellent. Great selection of sandwiches, hot dishes, cakes & fab ice cream when the weather is warm read more

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I've lived in Edinburgh for 8 years and shamefully had never before been to the Botanics. But on a gloriously sunny long weekend my boyfriend and I headed down for a wander. Now, in my head it would be more like Glasgow's Botanics and we'd find a spot to sit and read - but it didn't feel quite right doing that here so instead we did a full circuit, admiring the beautiful botany and fabulous flowers. I was really pleasantly surprised by how lovely it all is (especially in the sun). Feeling a bit hungry we stopped by one of the cafes for a coffee and a cake and yep, it was on the more expensive side for what you got. Plus, chocolate melts... We missed out on the various greenhouses, as you have to pay to get in (and it's not especially cheap, from memory entrance was about a fiver), but otherwise had a great time - no doubt helped by the weather! read more

You get two types of public gardens - landscaped garden focusing on general shape and form and spectacular floral displays. This particular garden is more the former than the latter - more Capability Brown than Alan Titchmarsh. The paths offer easy access round the gardens, but if you really want to enjoy them let the things that catch your eye guide you not the path set out for you. Upon leaving the main paths everything gets a bit more tranquil and you can be a bit more alone with your thoughts and a part of the garden around you. These gardens are designed to draw you in and only once you are within them and surrounded by them can you truly appreciate them. In addition, there are some fabulous secluded spots, some with hidden away benches, off the main path. It's free to get into the park so well worth a visit and on entry a map can be bought for 50p. Points of interest include the Herbaceous Border, Rock Garden and the Pond. That said, don't just head straight for these, just go in the general direction else you won't take it all in. The greenhouses are also on offer and you will have to pay to get in - personally I don't think its worth it, but if you're interested it may be worth a peek. In general the base opening hours are 10am till 4pm through the week, but longer in summer (closes at 7pm at peak of summer - check website for when it is open for longer). read more

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Such an asset for the city. Gorgeous walks. Great places to stop for a coffee or lunch. Friendly welcoming staff. One of the main reasons I love living in Broughton - such a privilege to spend time walking round the Botanics. Christmas at the Botanics is a must see also. Highly recommended. read more

So much bigger than the Glasgow botanics! This is a gorgeous park with lots of extra special areas like the huge collection of Chinese plants, a bridge, herb gardens and the awesome glasshouses! There are 10 in total and they're so fun to walk around, there are some really unique plants there! You have to pay a fiver to go in the glasshouses which is why I can't give it 5 stars as I thought that was a bit steep, but otherwise it's just gorgeous. Absolutely recommend for an afternoon in Edinburgh. read more

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This was the perfect first stop on my most recent trip to Edinburgh, especially considering the sun was out & the temperature outside was perfect. The gardens are located a very quick taxi ride 5-15 minutes from hotels in the city center, Royal Mile, or Old Town areas, depending on traffic. It's the perfect green oasis to kill a few hours and breathe some fresh air in a beautiful setting. Admission is free, with a separate charge to visit the glasshouses. I did visit the glasshouses, and while they weren't expensive for the 6 GBP or so admission fee it took to visit, I wasn't overly impressed with them as they didn't offer anything special which I hadn't already seen at other garden attractions I've been to (this comes from the perspective of a spoiled person who has visited some really great garden locations worldwide). Overall, I recommend a visit to anyone visiting Edinburgh, as the grounds can be covered in 45 minutes at a steady pace, but I recommend a leisurely stroll allowing at least 90 minutes if not a few hours, especially if the weather is nice. read more

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Other than Edinburgh Castle, if there is another must-see it is the Gardens. When I visited Malaysia I thought I had seen every flower in the Universe --- until I came here. You'll need to make sure your camera is fully-charged as there is no shortage of beautiful flowers from all over the world. Both the grounds and the glasshouses are immaculate. Breathtaking place. read more

The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh is one of the world's oldest, and the second oldest in Britain after Oxford. It is a fabulous place to visit to unwind, and the famous rock garden is sublimely beautiful. History Founded originally as a physic garden (to grow medicinal plants) in 1670, it has moved twice; first in 1763 to Leith, and in 1820 to its present location on Inverleith Row. Three additional sites across Scotland have since been added at Benmore (1929), Logan (1969) and Dawyck (1978). As well as being a major botanic garden with some 15,000 living species, the site at Inverleith Row houses extensive research facilities and a substantial botanical research library, as well as a large herbarium of some 3 million dried specimens. The garden The main garden on Inveleith Row also known as 'the Botanics' comprises 70 acres of landscaped gardens and an arboretum, a mile north of the city centre. There are three glasshouses open to the public: the original Tropical Palm House, opened in 1834; the beautiful and impressive Temperate Palm House, opened as an extension in 1862, and 70ft (22m) high; and the striking and large modern glasshouse, opened in the 1960s and, at the time, one of the most innovative designs of its type. Of the gardens, the top attraction is undoubtedly the famous Rock Garden, which grows alpine plants in a hill-top setting with rocks, an extensive network of paths, a waterfall and a stream. It is beautifully landscaped and, with around 5,000 plant species, regarded by many as the best of its type in the world. Also impressive is the herbaceous border, which is 165m long and is backed by a beech hedge which is made up of 150 individual trees, now over 100 years old. A newer addition was the Chinese Hillside, created in 1993 and opened formally by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. Its collection of 16,000 indigenous Chinese plants is the largest outside China. Finally, reflecting its location, there is a Scottish Heath Garden with a wide range of heathers in a naturalistic setting. The site also includes a small privately operated art gallery (in Inverleith House). Practicalities Entrance is free to the gardens: there is a charge for the glasshouses. There are entrances on Inverleith Row (East Gate) and Arboretum Row (West Gate). The main public buildings are now contained in the new John Hope Gateway centre by the West Gate. This includes areas for displays and exhibitions, an excellent botanical shop and plant sales area, toilets, a restaurant and information centre. There is a coffee bar at the East Gate and the Terrace café in the centre of the gardens, which provides excellent views. Buses 8, 23 and 27 stop close to the East Gate on Inverleith Row. Car parking is limited to metered on-street parking around the site, but there are dedicated disabled parking bays at the John Hope Gateway (West Gate) on Arboretum Place. All buildings and major areas of the Garden are accessible to wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are available for loan at the Garden entrances and a self-driven electric cart is available by prior appointment. Both the John Hope Gateway and Terrace Café have disabled toilets. Dogs are not allowed, except for Guide Dogs. read more

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