Princes Street Gardens
Edinburgh
At a glance
A public park in the very centre of the city, why not escape for a few hours in our beautiful Princes Street Gardens. You have the choice of the east and west gardens, however lying back with the Castle towering above you in the west gardens is a must... weather permitting.
Created in the 1820s following the draining of Nor Loch- an inland lake surrounding the castle - Princes Street Garden's shape is formed from the loch's bed. Although this central loch surrounding the castle would have made for a beautiful sight, it was however heavily polluted by the local's sewage and a strong factor in its name Auld Reekie. Once drained, the construction of the New Town commenced and the area was transformed into Princes Street Gardens and the bridges were now formed to link the Old Town and the New Town. Later the National Gallery of Scotland, Waverly Train Station and the gothic Walter Scott Monument would find their homes in the gardens.
From Christmas to Hogmanay, Princes Street Gardens are taken over by the festivities, including the Christmas market, an ice rink and a spectacular ferris wheel which is all quite stunning when lit up at night.
