NatureEasy1.5 to 3 hours
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
← All things to do
About
Seventy acres of world-class botanic garden a mile north of the New Town, free to enter, with the city skyline framed over the treetops from the lawns. The Botanics (nobody local uses the full name) date to 1670 and hold one of the world's richest living collections; the rock garden, the arboretum and the Chinese hillside carry the seasons between them, rhododendrons in spring, blazing colour in autumn. The famous Victorian Palm Houses, closed for restoration from 2019 under the Edinburgh Biomes project, are open again from 2 October 2026 with timed, ticketed entry; the Front Range glasshouses stay closed while their restoration continues.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓One of the world's richest living plant collections, free to enter
- ✓The rock garden and Chinese hillside
- ✓Skyline views back to the Castle from the lawns
- ✓The restored Victorian Palm Houses, open with timed tickets from 2 October 2026
Tips
- →Garden entry is free; the restored Palm Houses are open daily from 2 October 2026 with timed tickets (slots 10.15am to 4.15pm, book ahead on rbge.org.uk), while the Front Range glasshouses stay closed for restoration
- →Walk there along the Water of Leith from Stockbridge; the walkway passes close to the East Gate
- →Rhododendron season (roughly April-May) and autumn colour (October) are the two peaks
- →Confirm current opening hours on rbge.org.uk; they shift seasonally
Best Season
SpringSummerAutumn
