Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh (Scotland) – Where Greenery Reigns

by

Ah! Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh (Scotland)!

We had time in our hands, and to you, it may seem we had loads of energy too. For, although we had toured the Edinburgh Castle, walked down the Royal Mile, strolled in Calton Hill since morning, we still had the traveller’s spirit to go check out the Royal Botanical Gardens!! A quick lunch at Princess Street refuelled us adequately and we hopped into a bus to check out yet another garden in Scotland.

A sprawling park with hundreds of flowering and non-flowering trees and plants, the Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh is a nature lover’s delight. The sheer variety of Rhododendrons drove me berserk. The flowering plum trees brought back images of childhood. The garden, perhaps, is not in every tourist’s itinerary. For, we found mostly residents at the park who had brought their children to run, play and sunbathe in the gardens. It was a bright and beautiful day after all. We too lazed around for a couple of hours, had burgers and coffee, and then tore away to take a walk in the bustling Princess Street.

Some Quick Facts About Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh:

  • It is just a 10-minute bus ride away from Princess Street.
  • It is open every day, except for Christmas and New Year’s
  • The garden opens at 10 am in the morning and closes around 4-5 pm in the evening depending on the season.
  • Entry to the garden is free, but entry to the Glasshouse is at about 4-5 pounds per person.
  • There are 3 cafes inside the Gardens – The Gateway Restaurant, the Terrace Café and the East Gate Coffee Bar. We snacked at the East Gate Coffee Bar. Rates are reasonable.
  • It depends on you how long you want to tour the gardens. If you are keen in botany, could take you 3-4 hours or more as there are a wide variety of species to be found there. The Inverleith House, the Glasshouses and the John Hope Gateway are votaries of information on plant life.

*************************

Plan your holiday in Scotland with the help of our experiences, itinerary and suggestions. Read this: Ye Banks and Braes o’ Bonnie Doon –A Holiday in Scotland 

Also read WOOF’s other Scotland posts:

  1. Calton Hill in Edinburgh (Scotland) — Discover With Wonder
  2. Edinburgh Castle (Scotland) Tour — What You Need To Know
  3. Walk Down The Royal Mile in Edinburgh (Scotland)