Royal Botanic Gardens
Edinburgh
At a glance
Refresh your senses! If you are looking for a bit of peace and quiet then the Royal Botanic Gardens is an ideal place to find it. Just a short walk from the city centre, the grounds are a visually spectacular tranquil haven. With the the world-famous Rock Garden, peat and woodland gardens, colourful herbaceous borders and several specialist collections such as the Chinese Hillside, it has something to inspire relaxation in all visitors.
The gardens were founded in 1670 and they have explored and explained the world of plants ever since, recreating several world regions alongside the more common European garden themes, including ponds and rockeries.
The expertise of the staff offer one of the world's best resources for learning about the natural world. Education, from casual visitors to botany students, is one of the Garden's chief aims and runs through all its activities making it a great learning opportunity for all ages.
The gardens can be entered without charge, however, the glasshouses have an entrance fee but are still certainly worth a visit. The stifling humidity of the tropical rainforest and the dry heat of the desert found within these carefully controlled climates will certainly take you away from Edinburgh's changeable weather.
