Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
4.5
Art GalleriesPoints of Interest & LandmarksGardens
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
The Botanics offers visitors peace and tranquility amongst its stunning 72 acres in Edinburgh city centre. Founded in 1670, the Garden is acknowledged to be one of the finest in the world.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Neighborhood: Stockbridge & Dean Village
Just downhill of New Town and attractively straddling a river near the elegant Royal Botanic Garden, it’s small wonder that Stockbridge became one of the city’s first hip neighborhoods. It’s now one of Edinburgh’s most desirable, though many bohemian touches have fallen away as its residents have matured and the area has gentrified. Some second-hand shops cling on, but mostly residents display refined tastes in basement bistros, gastropubs, coffee and antique shops, boutiques and delis and at the Sunday farmers' market. A pleasant ten-minute walk away, along a leafy riverside path beside the gurgling Water of Leith, lies Dean Village. This sleepy neighborhood of medieval half-timbered houses still retains much of the village feel it had when watermills plied their trade here. Beyond, the wooded riverside path feels even more remote as it climbs to the sculpture gardens of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
Reach out directly
See what travelers are saying
  • Bethan Jayne
    11 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A lovely day out
    One of our first stops in Edinburgh was the botanical gardens. Despite the ever changing weather, we had a lovely time. The exhibition ‘Shipping Roots’ by Keg De Souza was really interesting and a great mix for those who love plants and art. After a wander around the gardens, we were a bit disappointed that the glass houses were closed but this couldn’t be helped. Particular highlights include the many waterfalls and the sculptures throughout.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 18, 2023
  • Lou
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Edinburgh Botanic busman's holiday
    We had such wonderful weather. A sunny day to explore the glorious spring colours. Spent a full morning . It did not disappoint. So well maintained. You know these people love their jobs. Couldn't fault any of it. Well done. Very busy (bank holiday) so the cafe was chocker but it didn't matter to us.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 21, 2023
  • deborahmZ6522KW
    Wichita, Kansas9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Spectacular and peaceful gardens
    Although it was 46 degrees the gardens were lush and beautiful and the staff were warm and friendly. We had a late lunch in the cafe that had a plethora of delicious offerings. The cafe is surrounded by windows so the view is spectacular.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 29, 2023
  • Cary L
    Ennis, Ireland240 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A touch of paradise in the middle of the city
    We walked to the Royal Botanical Garden on the second day of our visit. Located on the north side of the city it is 70 acres of paradise right in the middle of Edinburgh. They are one of the most renowned gardens in Europe and have been able to bring to life an amazing array of flowers and trees and plants that one would ever get to experience anywhere else. Peaceful and tranquil is exactly how I would describe this place. It is a place to just come and be. It is free to the public and I highly recommend it to everyone especially if you are a plant and flower enthusiast. Have a great visit.
    Thanks so much for visiting us! We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your visit and we hope to welcome you back again soon.
    Written June 5, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2023
    Written May 2, 2023
  • marches687
    Shropshire, United Kingdom79 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great way bo spend a few peaceful hours
    Great botanic gardens with much to see and enjoy, also with good views. We only had a couple of hours so were unable to see everything and fully relax to take in the atmosphere. The glass houses were closed but this didn't matter as we had a time constraint. When we next visit Edinburgh (after the glass houses have been renovated) we fully expect to spend a full day there.
    Thanks so much for visiting and for taking the time to leave us such a lovely review! You can find out more about the Edinburgh Biomes project, which includes the restoration of our Glasshouses, on our website.
    Written June 14, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2023
    Written May 12, 2023
  • latham_10
    Stafford, United Kingdom387 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Absolutely stunning. Do not miss.
    I was blown away by this garden. Bought a map and paid a donation and was shown what to see. Very helpful. The rock garden is amazing. The azalea lawn was spectacular. Blew me away. The blue poppies in full flower. Never seen before. For free this place is fantastic. Was happy to donate.
    Thanks so much for visiting, and thank you very much for your donation! We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your trip to the Edinburgh Garden.
    Written June 5, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written June 1, 2023
  • Tom C
    15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh
    This is a BEAUTIFUL place not to be missed in Edinburgh! So much beauty, plant diversity, and a great place to walk and enjoy nature. There is a delicious cafe to relax and enjoy a meal or snack in a beautiful setting, and also a fantastic gift shop and greenhouse.
    Thank you very much for taking the time to leave such a kind review. We are very pleased that you enjoyed your visit and were able to take in all that the Edinburgh Garden has to offer, including the café and shop!
    Written June 14, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 13, 2023
  • Rosette B
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best Botanical Garden
    We went here with really no expectations and only to kill time, and we are so glad that we did. This is one of the best botanical gardens we’ve been to. The layout is especially thoughtful when you consider the amount of visitors this place gets. The variety of plants is amazing. I got a lot of inspiration from what I saw on my walk through the garden. My only regret is not bringing my sketchbook.
    Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely review! We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your visit and we hope that you can return again with your sketchbook. We love seeing artwork shared by our visitors!
    Written June 14, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 14, 2023
  • Mark B
    Sheffield, United Kingdom222 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One word, amazing.
    We recently visited The Royal Botanic Gardens during our trip to Edinburgh. We hadn’t planned to do this but the concierge at our hotel recommended it. Situated a short and lovely walk from our hotel we arrived in glorious sunshine with picnic supplies in hand. A fantastic tree fern, my favourite plant, was the first plant we saw, it was magnificent. The staff were very friendly and provided us with a map and advice on which way to go. To cover the whole area in a day was impossible and so we had a gentle stroll. The gardens are some of the best we’ve ever seen with thousands of different plants and trees. We found a spot near some tranquil waterfalls for a our picnic and sat listening to the birds and slow trickle of water. It was delightful, then we carried on round to the section where what appeared to be young students working on plots growing vegetables. After a chat to a gardener and some radish tasting we visited the restaurant. A cup of tea and cake on the balcony before we left ended our visit. You must visit here and if it’s lovely weather then take a picnic.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 19, 2023
  • Laura H
    El Dorado Hills, California431 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gorgeous Garden
    This is a gorgeous garden. We spent most of our day here. It is so green, and has small gently rolling hills where one can get different views. Since we were there in spring, we saw many daffodils, lilies, and tulips. We had lunch at the larger of the two cafes. The dining room was very pretty and served a large selection of quality foods.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 28, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles7,821 reviews
Excellent
5,635
Very good
1,763
Average
310
Poor
64
Terrible
49

Adam D
Hartlepool, UK32 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Couples
The 3* review is reflective of the glass house as the covid restrictions are a little extreme. There is 5mins between groups entering, as such we didn't see another group during our visit but waited 30 mins to get in.

Four out of 10 of the glass houses are shut and the houses that are open are partially shut inside. We were informed that the 4/10 glass houses were shut after paying.

They still charge £5 per person for entry and we were in and out in about 10-15 mins max.

The rest of the gardens are lovely and I happily gave a donation for the chance to walk round.
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carly T
Yorkshire, UK18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Couples
Stunning gardens, lots of trees, giant sequoias, gorgeous flowers, lovely pond with tiny fish.
Glass houses are being restored and increased so currently closed but the looked amazing even from outside.
Would recommend taking a picnic, food available is currently limited. Lots of benches everywhere to sit and eat or on the grass.
FREE to enter! But book in advance (don’t be one of the people who walks a long way there without checking the details and then leaves a one star review because you can’t get in, that’s your fault for not checking 😑)
Parking on the streets outside, we paid £7.70 for 4 hours.
A really peaceful lovely afternoon 🌻
Written June 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sunnydays
Glasgow, UK62 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020 • Family
I came here with my daughter in law and grandchild. We had a really lovely few hours walking around the beautiful gardens and then stopped for a coffee in a pleasant cafe where we were attended to by lovely staff.

On leaving the cafe at 2.50pm we were literally frog marched out of the gardens as we were told rather abruptly that you were closed and we must leave by the opposite gate to where we came in. I complained and said my car was parked in Rodney Street but I was still told we must leave due to the light show about to start.

We had to walk quite a distance with a screaming baby and I for one was not happy at the treatment we received by this heavy handed female.

We were considering booking for the light show but not sure we would return here which is sad.
Written December 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bsandrs
Portsmouth, UK23,078 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Whilst we had visited the City regularly for the Festival over a number of years, for some strange reason we had never made it to the Botanic Gardens, so with the venue being one of the sites re-opening under lockdown regulations, we were very pleased to obtain tickets on line. A revelation for us, on a dry but misty day the green shades really came to the for and we spent a delightful couple of hours strolling the route and checking out many of the famous feature such as the high hedge, the huge borders and the pond. Now we have discovered the Gardens we will be back soon.
Written September 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HectorsHouse99
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
I walked to the john hope gateway from the east gate, and entered at what was a seemingly obvious entrance and then noticed inside, as I had walked through the doors that there was a sign saying 'garden closed' which you would only see if you were walking out the building. I am a student who has chosen to audit the John Hope Gateway from a selection of uni options and stepped back out of the door to take a photo of the cladding with no intention of going into the garden. however a certain female, young, curly dark brown haired, European staff member notified me that the garden was closed, I understood this despite the confusion of the sign as it was not on the outside of the building. When inside I explained to the staff member that i was doing a university project on the building and wanted to know if there was a way to take a photograph of the rear side of the building. Once again my request was seemingly ignored for her to only say, extremely patronisingly and in a tone inferring I was stupid "the garden is closed" In a tone similarly to that which you see English people speaking to foreign people in parody, slowly and loudly. I felt this was extremely unhelpful and offensive, I also suspect she was speaking to me in this manor as I was younger than the average visitor (20), and do not expect that she would've treated a more elderly customer in this way. I felt uncomfortable to finish my audit and hence left lacking in information for my 3rd year university project, with little intention of returning despite the gorgeous gardens and architecture. I would have merely appreciated a 'I'm sorry madame there is no way you can take a photo today, please try another day or look online' or something along these helpful and polite lines.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lornahb
Doncaster, UK15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
Loved our visit. The garden is extremely well looked after with a huge variety of plants. We especially loved the Alpines. It’s a shame we couldn’t visit the conservatories as they looked very impressive but I understand why.
Staff were lovely and facilities were good even under the circumstances. Booking was easy and meant we encountered very few crowds.
Written August 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mrsmack182
Inverness, UK64 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
Lovely place to visit despite astronomical on street parking charges at the West Gate! Take some peanuts and you’ll be able to get up close and friendly with the squirrels who literally eat out of your hand. You might want to save some for yourself as the prices in the cafes within the gardens are ridiculously expensive for mediocre coffee and filled rolls etc. Take a picnic and enjoy it on one of the many benches to avoid the enormous slow moving queue and those who either cannot or will not socially distance. Thankfully we visited on a nice day and enjoyed the outside space as there was a 45 minute wait to enter the glass houses.
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Allotmenteerconsumer
Broughton, UK151 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
First visit ever !
I’m a keen hobby Alpine gardener and wanted to visit for years. Whilst on holiday in Northumberland made the 2 hour trek to visit. I had high expectations and it exceeded them. The garden, particularly the Alpine area, were fantastic and the staff were extremely welcoming and happy to talk.
You have to book a timed slot (although tickets are free). We did this easily on line. We chose the East Gate and travelled by car. Of course Edinburgh is a busy city so allow for delays etc. Parked on the road (Sat Nav EH35LP). Pay at meter £2.50 per hour. The park is surrounded by houses and the East gate is near to above postcode up a small but signposted pedestrian walkway. Entry was straightforward and efficient after scanning your QR code on your email.
Small takeaway shop at the entrance is open and we enjoyed our cappuccinos sat on one of the many benches along the generous walkways.
I think it’s fair to describe the site as a mix of arboretum, beds and specialist areas. Whilst there was a number of people there at the same time the site is generous and social distancing was easily achieved. A charming mix of local families and tourists from around the world.
We headed directly to the Alpine areas. If you have any interest in this subject it’s a must see. There’s a traditional Alpine House complimented by a contemporary fairly new purpose built display building. Outside there are cold frames, many various sizes of trough and rockery borders. The range of plants is absolutely fantastic. I’ve taken so many photos to work through at my leisure.
We also enjoyed the fruit and vegetable growing area. The staff were very happy to talk to a fellow grower/Allotmenteer!
There’s an outstanding and huge beech hedge with artistic opening cut into it. The beds in front of it are just colossal.
Of course at this time of year in this location borders and trees are just getting going. You can tell from the web site that later in the year there is other things to see. May/ June is a key time to see Alpines at their best.
All in all a wonderful visit. Thank you to all concerned.
Written May 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vessi80
North Lanarkshire, UK1,080 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
The blooms have bloomed and the glasshouses are closed for repairs but on a busy, hot Festival day this 70 acre space is the perfect retreat.
Entrance is free . With a £1 map, you are garden ready . Donations are encouraged but the £8 tour at 11 am was a great way to give and grow. XXL thanks to Caroline , a superb guide and to the ultra welcoming staff at both gates.
Enjoy the stylish interior and displays at the John Hope Gateway and then the Goldsworthy striking stainless steel East Gate. Sculptures by greats like Hepworth are also a must see.
The Chinese Sections were oriental object d'art and the rockery really 'rocked'.
You could spend all day here , it's just fortunate there isn't a maze - only a suggestion RBGE !
Written August 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bella
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Friends
Great free day out. Recommend if you’re looking for something quiet and peaceful to do in Edinburgh. Lots of great gardens, all well presented.

Best of all it is free to visit.

There’s 2 cafes on site and a gift shop - would recommend the cafe near Inverleith House as it has a nicer vibe.

Only suggestion would be that the cafe makes more scones as they had run out by 4 pm !!
Written August 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 6,262
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh