Gardens and green spaces

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A walk in the park

Edinburgh is an unusually green place, with public parks and green spaces scattered throughout the capital.

Princes Street Gardens, right in the centre of the city, is the perfect place to take a break from shopping, sit back and admire the castle.

The City of Edinburgh Council has detailed information on the community parks in Edinburgh.

For a quieter day, head to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Inverleith, where you can learn about exotic flora, visit Britain’s tallest palm house or relax in the Chinese Hillside garden.

Short hikes and city views

A few minutes walk from the Royal Mile is Holyrood Park, named after the adjacent Holyrood House, the Queen’s residence in the capital.

It boasts a tiny loch, rocky crags and even an extinct volcano, Arthur’s Seat, which only takes about half an hour to climb and provides excellent views from the top.

For a shorter climb, the panoramic city views from Calton Hill are magnificent.

The tranquil surroundings are complemented by the Acropolis, an unfinished war memorial once dubbed ‘Edinburgh’s disgrace’.

At the University

George Square in the heart of the main campus is a great place to relax and read between lectures.

The University has also installed a permanent pavement labyrinth in the gardens. Walking the path offers a unique space to slow down and find time for reflection.