Edinburgh is a city of stone, but step off the main streets and you find a surprising number of gardens. Some are famous, like the botanic collection at Inverleith. Others are small, quiet spaces tucked behind closes off the Royal Mile that many visitors walk straight past.
This guide covers 20 of the loveliest gardens in and around the capital, from free city gardens to walled gardens run by charities and the National Trust for Scotland. For each garden we list what to see, how to get there and the current opening times from its official website. If a detail isn’t published, we say so.
Looking for wide lawns and playgrounds instead? Our guide to parks in Edinburgh covers the big green spaces, hills and family parks.
Updated 2 November 2026: opening times, entry prices and access details checked on each garden’s official website. Hours change with the seasons, so check before you go.
Edinburgh Gardens at a Glance
| # | Garden | Area | Entry | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princes Street Gardens | City centre | No charge | Castle views, floral clock |
| 2 | Dunbar’s Close Garden | Canongate | No charge | A quiet break |
| 3 | Physic Garden, Holyrood | Abbey Strand | No charge | Plant history |
| 4 | Sandeman House Garden | High Street | No charge | A hidden lawn |
| 5 | Archivists’ Garden | East End | No charge | Office-hours calm |
| 6 | St Andrew Square | New Town | No charge | Lunch outdoors |
| 7 | George Square Gardens | Southside | No charge | The labyrinth |
| 8 | Nicolson Square | Southside | No charge | A short sit-down |
| 9 | Deaconess Garden | Southside | No charge | Cherry blossom |
| 10 | Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh | Inverleith | No charge; Palm Houses £4.95 | Plant lovers |
| 11 | Lauriston Castle | Cramond | No charge | Japanese garden |
| 12 | Granton Castle Walled Garden | Granton | No charge | Weekend volunteering spirit |
| 13 | Saughton Park | Balgreen | No charge | Herbaceous border |
| 14 | Redhall Walled Garden | Slateford | No charge | Weekday peace |
| 15 | Dr Neil’s Garden | Duddingston | Donations welcome | Loch views |
| 16 | Malleny Garden | Balerno | £3.50 | Old roses |
| 17 | Inveresk Lodge Garden | Musselburgh | £3.50 | Hillside borders |
| 18 | St Mary’s Pleasance | Haddington | No charge | A restored walled layout |
| 19 | Dirleton Castle | East Lothian | £4.50 | Castle plus border |
| 20 | Jupiter Artland | West Lothian | Book online | Art in a landscape |
Adult prices as published by each garden in November 2026. Young Scot cardholders pay £1 at National Trust for Scotland gardens.
Old Town Secret Gardens and Holyrood
These five gardens sit within a few minutes of the Royal Mile. Each one costs nothing and makes a calm stop between busy sights.
1. Princes Street Gardens
The gardens below the castle are the city’s best-known green space. For flower lovers the highlight is the floral clock by the Mound entrance, first planted in 1903 and made up of around 30,000 plants.
The Ross Fountain in West Princes Street Gardens makes a fine photo with the castle behind it. We cover the playground and events in our full Princes Street Gardens guide.
Where & when: Princes Street, EH2 2HG. Opens 7am; closes 6pm from late October to late March, later in summer (10pm from June to late August). Dogs on leads.
2. Dunbar’s Close Garden
Step through a narrow archway on the Canongate and you reach one of the best hidden gardens in the city. It is laid out in the style of a 17th-century garden, with clipped hedges, gravel paths and benches.
The site was a building plot until 1976, when The Mushroom Trust funded the garden and landscape architect Seamus Filor designed it. It is small, so it suits a short sit-down rather than a long walk.
Where & when: 137 Canongate, EH8 8BW. Free. Opens 7am; closes between 3.30pm (winter) and 7.30pm (late May to late August). Bus 35.
3. Physic Garden at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
In 1670 Sir Robert Sibbald and Dr Andrew Balfour set up a physic garden near Holyrood Abbey to grow medicinal plants, with James Sutherland as gardener. That garden grew into the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, which moved to Inverleith in 1820.
The Royal Collection Trust created a new public garden at Abbey Strand in 2020. It has a physic garden with plants such as fennel and borage, and a meadow that recalls the medieval monastic garden of Holyrood Abbey. You can visit at no charge all year.
Where & when: Abbey Strand, at the foot of the Royal Mile. Free all year.
4. Sandeman House Garden
Behind the Scottish Storytelling Centre, through Trunk’s Close, is a secret garden that few visitors find. It belongs to the Scottish Book Trust but is open to the public.
Leafy trees shade a circular seated lawn, and there is a bust of Sir Patrick Geddes, the town planner. Bring a book and enjoy the quiet.
Where & when: Trunk’s Close, beside the Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, EH1 1SR. Free. Opening times aren’t published, so confirm when visiting; the Storytelling Centre opens daily 10am–6pm.
5. The Archivists’ Garden
Tucked between General Register House and New Register House, this secret garden is planted with 59 species connected to Scotland’s memory. Jim McColl opened it on 25 June 2010.
David R Mitchell of the botanic garden came up with the idea, and the landscape firm Gross. Max. designed it. National Records of Scotland also has a 3D virtual tour online.
Where & when: Between General Register House and New Register House, East End. Free during office hours.
New Town and Southside Garden Squares
Garden squares were part of Georgian city planning. These are the ones you can walk into without a key.
6. St Andrew Square
At the east end of George Street, St Andrew Square was once private. It reopened to the public on 4 April 2008 after a £2.6 million makeover, and Essential Edinburgh now manages it.
The Melville Monument, to Henry Dundas, rises in the centre, and its lawns make it a popular lunch spot. There is a café pavilion.
Where & when: St Andrew Square, New Town. Free. A short walk from the bus station.
7. George Square Gardens
This university garden square is ringed by lawns and benches used by students between lectures. It also holds the Edinburgh Labyrinth, a path you can walk, opposite the Hugh Robson Building.
Where & when: George Square, Southside. Weekdays only: 7am–4pm in winter (late October to early April), usually 7am–7pm from April to October.
8. Nicolson Square
A small garden square just off Nicolson Street. Its centrepiece is the Brass Founders’ pillar, topped with a figure of Tubal Cain.
Where & when: Nicolson Square, Southside. Free.
9. Deaconess Garden
This small garden on West Richmond Street is at its best in spring, when cherry trees flower and around 5,000 bulbs come up. Rose beds follow in summer.
It sits beside the former Deaconess hospital, which opened in 1894. St Patrick Square and Hill Square are nearby if you want to explore more quiet corners.
Where & when: West Richmond Street, Southside. Free. Buses 14 and 60.
North and West Edinburgh Gardens
A short bus ride takes you to the city’s biggest plant collection and three walled gardens.
10. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
A mile north of the centre, the botanic garden covers more than 70 acres. Highlights include the Rock Garden, the Alpine Houses, the Chinese Hillside, the Woodland Garden, the Pond, the Arboretum, the rhododendron collection and native Scottish plants in the Heath Garden.
Garden entry is free. The two Victorian Palm Houses reopened on 2 October 2026 with timed tickets between 10.15am and 4.15pm: adults £4.95, concessions £4.20, under-16s go in at no charge and Young Scot £1, prices including a donation. The Front Range glasshouses are still closed.
Parking nearby is metered on-street, so the bus is easier: 24 and 29 for the West Gate, or 8, 9, 23 and 27 for the East Gate.
Where & when: West Gate: Arboretum Place, EH3 5NZ. East Gate: Inverleith Row, EH3 5LP. Opens 10am daily; closes 5pm February to October, 4pm in November and January, 3.30pm in December. Closed 25 December and 1 January.
11. Lauriston Castle Gardens
Lauriston Castle is a 16th-century tower house above the Firth of Forth, given to the nation in 1926 by Mr and Mrs W.R. Reid, so 2026 marks its centenary. Entry to the grounds costs nothing, and they include an Italian garden and a Japanese garden.
The Japanese garden, called the Kyoto Friendship Garden, opened in 2002 to mark the twinning of Edinburgh and Kyoto. To visit the castle itself you need a guided tour, while the gardens are yours to wander.
Where & when: Cramond Road South, EH4 5QD. Grounds open April to October 7.30am–8pm and November to March 7.30am–5pm.
12. Granton Castle Walled Garden
This walled garden near the shore dates back to the 16th century and is being brought back to life by a community group. It hosts weekly volunteer sessions, seasonal workshops and small social enterprises, including a flower farm and a mushroom farm.
Facilities are basic: one composting toilet and no running water. Dogs are welcome on leads.
Where & when: Off the Speirs Bruce Way path, opposite The Pitt, West Shore Road. Free. Saturdays and Sundays, 2–4pm April to October and 1–3pm November to March; closed from just before Christmas to early January.
13. Saughton Park
The walled garden at Saughton Park has the largest herbaceous border in Edinburgh, framed by clipped yew hedges, plus a rose garden, a sunken Italian garden, a Scottish physic garden and a glass Winter Garden. The park hosted the Scottish National Exhibition in 1908.
After restoration it reopened in 2019, with a café and a conservatory. See our parks guide for the play area and sports.
Where & when: Balgreen Road, EH11 3BQ. Walled garden April to September 9am–9pm, October to March 9am–4pm. Conservatory 9am–3.15pm Monday to Friday, 9am–1.45pm weekends.
14. Redhall Walled Garden
Run by the mental health charity SAMH, Redhall is a therapeutic horticulture project where people in recovery work in the garden. Visitors are welcome on weekdays to look round and see the work.
Where & when: 97 Lanark Road, EH14 2LZ. Monday to Friday 9am–4pm.
South-East Edinburgh
Below Arthur’s Seat, Duddingston village has one of the most loved small gardens in Scotland.
15. Dr Neil’s Garden
Drs Andrew and Nancy Neil began making this garden in Duddingston village in 1963. The original design was planted mostly with conifers, heathers and alpines, with rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias, and there are views up to Arthur’s Seat.
Thomson’s Tower stands in the grounds. Dogs aren’t allowed apart from assistance dogs, and picnics aren’t permitted. The Garden Room café is closed until spring.
Where & when: 5 Old Church Lane, EH15 3PX, reached through the Duddingston Kirk car park. Open daily 10am to dusk. Free; donations welcome. Bus 12.
Day Trips: Gardens Near Edinburgh
All five are within an hour by bus or car and pair well with lunch in a nearby town.
16. Malleny Garden, Balerno
This National Trust for Scotland walled garden, 8 miles west of the centre, holds about 150 varieties of rose, including the National Collection of 19th-century shrub roses, so visit in June or July to see them at their best.
Four 400-year-old yews, known as the Four Evangelists, stand on the lawn, and there are Victorian greenhouses. Bus 44 stops in Balerno.
Where & when: Balerno, EH14 7AF, off the A70. Open 10am–5pm from 1 March to 31 October and 10am–4pm from 1 November to 28 February. Adults £3.50.
17. Inveresk Lodge Garden, Musselburgh
Another National Trust for Scotland garden, 6 miles east, laid out on a hillside. Sloping lawns and borders sit at the top, with woodland and ponds below.
Where & when: 24 Inveresk Village Road, EH21 7TE. Open daily 10am–5pm or dusk if earlier. Adults £3.50.
18. St Mary’s Pleasance, Haddington
Laid out in the 1970s beside Haddington House, this 17th-century-style walled garden of 1.6 acres includes a sunken garden. The Apple House is often open and sells seasonal produce such as apples, pears, plums and mulberries. Dogs, bikes and ball games aren’t allowed.
Where & when: 28 Sidegate, Haddington, EH41 4BU. Free. Opens 9am; closes 5pm in summer and 3.30pm in winter.
19. Dirleton Castle Gardens
Historic Environment Scotland cares for this castle ruin, set in gardens with a herbaceous border at its best in summer.
Where & when: Dirleton, East Lothian. Winter hours 10am–4pm, closed Thursdays and Fridays and from 24 December to 4 January. Adults £4.50, concessions £3.50, children £2.50.
20. Jupiter Artland
A 100-acre sculpture park in West Lothian, about 25 minutes from the centre, with outdoor works such as Firmament by Antony Gormley and Cells of Life, a landform by Charles Jencks.
Dogs need their own ticket and must be on leads, and picnics aren’t allowed. Book your visit online before you travel. Parking costs nothing, or take the X27 bus.
Where & when: West Lothian. Open Friday to Sunday from 6 November to 20 December and 27–29 December; closed in January; daily 10am–5pm in the main season. Book online.
More Green Spaces Worth Knowing
Parks with garden corners
Inverleith Park has a sundial garden and a wet garden boardwalk, and Starbank Park has bedding and views to Fife. The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links are open parkland rather than gardens; all are in our parks guide.
Queen Street Gardens
These New Town gardens are private, open only to key-holders, so you can enjoy them from the railings.
The former Secret Herb Garden
The site in south Edinburgh is no longer open to visitors. It was put on the market in October 2026.
Tips for Visiting Edinburgh Gardens
- Check opening times on the day: many city gardens close at dusk, and some only open on weekdays or at weekends.
- Visit in May to July for roses and borders, and in spring for blossom at the Deaconess Garden and St Andrew Square.
- Dog rules vary. Dogs are allowed on leads at Granton and Princes Street, but not at Dr Neil’s or St Mary’s Pleasance. See our dog-friendly Edinburgh guide.
- Take the bus: most gardens outside the centre have limited or metered parking.
- Bring cash or a card for donation boxes at volunteer-run gardens.
Edinburgh Garden FAQs
Is the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh free?
Yes, there’s no charge for the garden. Only the Palm Houses charge, from £4.95 for adults, and under-16s go in at no charge.
Where can I find a secret garden in Edinburgh?
Dunbar’s Close Garden on the Canongate, the Archivists’ Garden at Register House and Sandeman House Garden behind the Scottish Storytelling Centre are the best secret spots, and all are easy to miss.
Which gardens near Edinburgh are worth a visit on a day trip?
Malleny Garden for old roses, Inveresk Lodge Garden in Musselburgh, St Mary’s Pleasance in Haddington, Dirleton Castle and Jupiter Artland.
When is the best time to see Edinburgh gardens?
Late spring and early summer, when blossom, rhododendrons, roses and borders are out. Winter is quieter, and most city gardens close earlier.
Can I take my dog?
At some. Princes Street Gardens and Granton Castle Walled Garden accept dogs on leads; Dr Neil’s Garden and St Mary’s Pleasance don’t.
Final Words
That’s our pick of the loveliest Edinburgh gardens for 2026. For more seasonal ideas, see Edinburgh in spring and Edinburgh in autumn, or plan a longer outing with our day trips by bus.