Looking for the best parks in Edinburgh to meet friends, have a stroll or get involved in a local event? This guide details free popular urban green spaces and smaller community parks kept by volunteers.
We also have a guide on the loveliest gardens in Edinburgh.
Updated September 2026
| Park Name | Area (acres) | Key Features | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Meadows | 63 | Blossom trees, art murals, community garden, marathon route | EH3 9PE |
| Holyrood Park | 650 | Arthur’s Seat (251m), 3 lochs, St Anthony’s Chapel | EH8 8HG |
| Princes Street Gardens | 37 | Scott Monument, Ross Fountain, Scottish National Gallery | EH2 4BA |
| Starbank Park | 7 | Community orchard, play park, dog-friendly | EH6 6ST |
| Leith Links | 14 | Historic golf course, play park, community events | EH6 6QD |
| Saughton Park | 34 | Rose Garden, bandstand, Water of Leith, playground | EH11 3DF |
| Inverleith Park | 54 | Boating pond, sports pitches, castle views, allotments | EH3 5RJ |
| Bruntsfield Links | 35 | Historic golf (15th century), short hole course, Golf Tavern | EH9 1DY |
| Hermitage of Braid | 149 | Nature reserve, Ice House, Doo’cot, woodland walks | EH10 7DY |
| Queen Street Gardens | 7 | Pond with island, Georgian railings, UNESCO site | EH3 6ND |
Popular Parks in Edinburgh
Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens is a 37-acre public park in the heart of Edinburgh, lying in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. The gardens are divided by The Mound into East Gardens (8.5 acres) and West Gardens (29 acres), running along the south side of Princes Street between Waverley Bridge and Lothian Road.
Originally a body of water called the Nor Loch, the area was drained in the 1820s and transformed into the beautiful gardens we see today. The gardens are open daily from 7am to 9:35pm with free entry.
Key features include the iconic Scott Monument, the ornate Ross Fountain, Ross Bandstand, and the Scottish National Gallery. Public toilets are available at Ross Bandstand (10am-4:30pm) and West Gardens (10am-7pm). The gardens offer stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and are a must-visit for anyone exploring the city.
The Meadows
The Meadows is a 63-acre park in the southside of the city.
Once home to Borough-Loch, this urban park is popular with students, families, dog walkers and sports enthusiasts all year round.
According to this Meadows website, locals have an Act of Parliament passed in 1827 to thank for this huge green area as the law prevented anyone from building on it.
In spring, photographers get very excited as the blossom tree arch blooms and creates a tunnel of pink!
Find out more in our guide on where to find the prettiest blossom trees in Edinburgh.
At the junction of Middle Meadow and North Meadow Walk, you will find a series of art murals covering the Scottish Power wall.
Artist Astrid Jaekel and poet Rachel Woolf were commissioned by a series of groups including the Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links to create the five-piece mural called ‘Processions’.
The work includes two processions.
The first is in honour of “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” by Muriel Spark and the second, the May Queen’s Coronation with a nod to the cherry blossoms and illustrates the poem “A Throng of Folk” by Rachel Woolf.
Close to the mural is the viral hot chocolate vendor, Uplands Roast.
Due to its proximity to Teviot Place, the park is often used during the annual Festival Fringe in August.
I’ve definitely danced to the Harry Potter theme tune in The Meadows, along with others taking part the in silent disco tour.
A tad tipsy on Fringe booze I will add.
Other events are held throughout the year such as the Meadows Marathon which is an annual race with 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon and relay options.
Previously, the park had a whale’s jawbone called Jawbone Arch. This feature was removed in 2014 for restoration purposes.
Currently, Greening Our Street looks after The Meadows Community Garden and encourages locals and visitors to drop by every Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm.
Greening Our Street fronts the banning of disposable BBQs in The Meadows campaign, “Don’t Burn The Meadows’
Disposable BBQs are not allowed in The Meadows and cause a nuisance to locals and damage the park.
The grass is charred and firefighters are called to put out smoking bins which melt. You can see the issue in this video.
Dogs are allowed in The Meadows but there are specified areas such as the play parks and the tennis courts which are prohibited.
Visiting Edinburgh with your pup?
Here are the best pet-friendly hotels in the city.
Close by there is Victor Hugo for epic sandwiches and Considerit for plant-based donuts.
Holyrood Park
Most locals and every tourist will spend time in the city centre green space, Holyrood Park because this is where many of Edinburgh’s top attractions can be found.
Things to do in and near Holyrood Park include visiting the Scottish Parliament, a tour of Holyrood Palace, family fun at Dynamic Earth, an easy hike up Arthur’s Seat or an even easier walk to Salisbury Crags.
If you’re looking for more walks in Edinburgh don’t miss these suggestions.
Holyrood Park is 650 acres in size and terrain changes around different sections of the park.
The park has three lochs (Duddingston Loch, St Margaret’s Loch and Dunsapie Loch), one peak at 251m (Arthur’s Seat) and historic ruins (St Anthony’s Chapel).
In spring you can enjoy the light fragrant smell of yellow gorse while hiking up Arthur’s Seat for 360 views of the city and beyond.
If you prefer to hike without the crowds, check out Crow Hill close to Arthur’s Seat.
You may also like our guide on the best place to take photos in Edinburgh.
Starbank Park
Starbank Park is a well-manicured green space located in Newhaven with impressive views of the Firth of Forth.
This 2.7-acre Victorian sloped park is looked after by Edinburgh Council and volunteers at the Friends of Starbank Park.
Parts of the garden stretch back to the 1800s, Starbank House was constructed in 1815.
Wheelchair and pram access can be found at Laverockbank Road and there is a public toilet on site.
There are two other access points off Starbank Road.
Friends of Starbank Park host a series of events throughout the year including Easter egg hunts, Halloween parties and wreath-making classes at Christmas.
There is a nature trail inspired by the author, Hans Christian Anderson, which was created by volunteers and Victoria Primary School.
One of the coolest things about this park is its tardis-shaped free library so you can grab a book and chill out at one of the benches.
Read next: Free things to do in Edinburgh.
Leith Links
Leith Links is a 46-acre park, split into two, in the area of Leith, funnily enough.
The park is located in a residential and historical port area of Edinburgh, a welcomed green space in an old industrial area.
There’s plenty of space for a kickabout (game of football), sunbathing and jogging.
I used to run around the park with my friend a couple of nights a week when I lived in Leith.
Houses surround the park but that doesn’t stop the sport for which the park was intended, golf!
This is where the first recorded rules of golf were created and the bronze statue of John Rattray, surgeon, Jacobite and golfer commemorates this.
The story of the statue isn’t a straightforward one.
Since Leith Links is protected by an Act of Parliament, the organising committee had to apply to Westminster for permission.
The UK Government sent the application to the Scottish Parliament.
Local councillors in Leith and Edinburgh finally managed to get the request approved ten years later and 275 years after the rules were written.
Leith Links is where you will find live music, food and community spirit at the annual Leith Festival.
It is also home to the free Mela Edinburgh, a festival that celebrates dance and food from around the world and the BAME community in Scotland.
Leith is a diverse and fun neighbourhood.
There are plenty of options for food, drink and independent shops.
You can walk from Leith to Stockbridge using the Waters of Leith Walkway which you can read more about in our guide to Edinburgh walks here.
Leith Links can be reached by public bus and there are stops at the park.
Saughton Park
The 34 acres of Saughton Park (Balgreen Road) can be found in the southwest of the city and much of the work done in this green space is organised by Friends of Saughton Park.
The park dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries with the Rose and Winter Gardens being the oldest part.
Today, volunteers have helped plant trees and build plant beds in The Physic Garden and Community Orchards.
Not only can you find fruit growing in the park but wildlife such as otters have been spotted in the Water of Leith which runs alongside Gorgie Road.
Kingfishers nest in Saughton Park and the Grey Heron can be spotted in the park near Fords Road.
Cyclists and walkers often pop into the park while using the Waters of Leith Walkway from Balerno to Leith.
You can refuel at the Four Square Park Café.
While the historic paddling pool and monkey swings are a thing of the past, the “Playground for All” is a popular spot for young children.
A firm favourite with locals is the Saughton Bandstand.
This is the city’s only cast-iron bandstand and one of just five worldwide.
Saughton Bandstand was home to live shows in the 60s and 70s.
In the 80s it fell into disrepair and was removed. It made its revival in 2016.
Saughton Park has events running throughout the year.
You can keep up to date by joining the Friends of Saughton Park Facebook group.
Inverleith Park
Inverleith Park is a 54-acre urban park located next to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, making it one of the largest open green spaces in the city. The park features a boating pond with a wetlands water garden, sports pitches for football, rugby, and cricket, a children’s playground, allotments, and a historic Sundial Garden dating from 1890.
The park offers stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and the Pentland Hills, and is a popular spot for watching the Festival fireworks. Boulevards with mature trees provide excellent walking and cycling routes. The park is free to visit and open year-round.
Bruntsfield Links
Bruntsfield Links is a 35-acre public park adjacent to The Meadows, renowned as one of the earliest known locations where golf was played in Scotland, with records dating back to the 15th century. Today, a 36-hole short hole golf course has been played here since 1890, and it remains free to use (bring your own clubs).
The Links is the last remnant of the Burgh Muir woodland, cleared in 1508 by James IV. The historic Golf Tavern claims heritage from 1456. Criss-crossed with paths, Bruntsfield Links is a popular spot for picnics and connects to The Meadows via Leamington Walk cycle route.
Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill
The Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill is a 60.3-hectare (149-acre) local nature reserve located between the Braid Hills and Blackford Hill. Designated in 1993, the reserve features mixed woodland, grassland, scrub, and marshland, with the Braid Burn running through it.
Highlights include the 18th-century Hermitage House, an Ice House, a Doo’cot (dovecote) with 1965 nest boxes, and an ingenious water pump drawing from the Braid Burn. The reserve is a haven for wildlife including woodpeckers, owls, warblers, voles, shrews, and bats. A small community garden features medicinal and culinary plants.
Queen Street Gardens
Queen Street Gardens is a 7-acre historic garden in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town, established in 1822 by Act of Parliament. Designed by landscape artist Andrew Wilson, the gardens feature a pond with an island (said to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson), original Georgian iron railings, a Nissen Hut from WWII, a Victorian water pump, and a Grecian temple folly.
Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, these gardens were historically private communal spaces for Queen Street residents. Today they offer a serene escape with winding paths, mature trees, and seasonal flower beds. Best visited between April and August when the flowers are in full bloom.
Other Parks in Edinburgh
- Victoria Park (Newhaven/Trinity)
- Lighthouse Park (Newhaven)
- Lochend Park (near Easter Road)
- Harrison Park (Union Canal)
- Corstorphine Hill (west Edinburgh, woodland walks)
- Water of Leith Walkway (Balerno to Leith, 19.5 km)
- Pentland Hills (regional park, hills and reservoirs)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Edinburgh park has the best views?
For panoramic city views, Holyrood Park (Arthur’s Seat at 251m) and Calton Hill (103m) offer the best vantage points. Princes Street Gardens provides the classic Edinburgh Castle backdrop, while Inverleith Park offers excellent castle and Pentland Hills views.
Are Edinburgh parks free to visit?
Yes, all public parks in Edinburgh are free to visit year-round. Some attractions within parks may charge, such as the Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens or the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill, but park entry itself is always free.
Which parks have playgrounds?
Several Edinburgh parks have playgrounds: Inverleith Park has a large children’s play area, Holyrood Park has family-friendly paths near Duddingston Loch, Saughton Park has a “Playground for All” for young children, and Princes Street Gardens has play areas near Ross Bandstand.
Can you have a picnic in Edinburgh parks?
Yes, picnics are welcome in all Edinburgh parks. The Meadows, Bruntsfield Links, and Inverleith Park are particularly popular for picnics. Note that disposable BBQs are not allowed in The Meadows as part of the “Don’t Burn The Meadows” campaign.
Which Edinburgh park is best for families?
Inverleith Park is excellent for families with its playground, boating pond, and sports facilities. Holyrood Park offers easy walks suitable for children near St Margaret’s Loch. Saughton Park has a dedicated “Playground for All” and the Water of Leith Walkway for cycling. Princes Street Gardens is central and easy to access with young children.
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