Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
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 have been closed for restoration since 2019 under the Edinburgh Biomes project, with the Palm Houses announced to reopen, ticketed, on 2 October 2026; the gardens around them are unaffected.
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 Victorian Palm Houses, reopening ticketed from 2 October 2026
Tips
- →Garden entry is free; the glasshouses were closed for restoration at the time of writing, with the Palm Houses reopening 2 October 2026 as a ticketed experience
- →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
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