Edinburgh is one of Britain’s greenest cities. In its parks, you’ll discover rugged peaks, picnic spots, and botanic glasshouses. There are cutting-edge skateparks to ride, art galleries to explore, and even otters to spot. Visitors are drawn to hilly Edinburgh for its urban charms, however, it’s often in its numerous parks — lively, bucolic, and utterly epic — that the city’s vibrancy finds its greatest expression.
Here are just a few of Edinburgh’s biggest and best parks. A significant part of the pleasure of exploring this city lies in uncovering its surprising corners: the hidden wild spots tucked behind hills and railway tracks, the playgrounds nestled in residential areas, and the grassy patches that echo with the sounds of five-a-side football. Start your exploration with these featured parks, and just keep wandering — you’ll encounter some hidden treasures of your own.
Princes Street Gardens
Edinburgh boasts two historic hearts: the medieval Old Town, featuring its cramped alleys and towering castle, and the Georgian New Town, characterized by elegant streets traversing grand squares. Between these districts lies the clipped green valley of Princes Street Gardens, a glorious space ideal for a stroll, picnic, or a break from sightseeing.
Created in the 1820s after the foul-smelling Nor Loch was drained, the gardens comprise two sections. East Princes Street Gardens, home to an annual Christmas market and the Scott Monument, contrasts with the larger West Princes Street Gardens, featuring the Ross Bandstand (which hosts open-air concerts), the ornate Ross Fountain, and a vibrant floral clock.
Additionally, numerous nearby attractions enrich the experience, including the neighboring Scottish National Gallery, but many visitors find contentment simply lounging beneath trees, admiring the colorful flowerbeds or the majestic bulk of the castle.
Holyrood Park
Holyrood Park rises from the base of the Royal Mile, past basalt crags, small lochs, glens, and expansive gorse, culminating at the rugged peak of Arthur’s Seat. This former royal hunting ground embodies a wilderness in miniature, and it’s a fantastic place to rejuvenate your spirit.
Car parking is available, however, it’s an easy walk from the Old Town. It’s also possible to make a day of it by heading across the park to the Sheep Heid Inn, a 700-year-old pub with a charming ambiance and a skittle alley.
Additional walking paths lead around its western side, showcasing sights like Dynamic Earth and the Palace of Holyrood House, or up to the Radical Road at the top of the Salisbury Crags to Arthur’s Seat itself. This 251m (823ft) ancient volcano, previously hosting a prehistoric hill fort, offers the finest panoramic views in the city.
Inverleith Park and the Botanics
Two of Edinburgh’s finest green spaces are located just north of the city’s New Town. Inverleith Park is well-known for its pond and excellent sporting facilities, while the renowned Royal Botanic Garden is home to nearly a quarter of a million plant species. This historic garden has been collecting species since 1670, and strolling through its landscaped acres grants views of rhododendrons, azaleas, and many rare species, although a small fee applies to enter the elegant glasshouses.
Inverleith Park is more of an everyday space, offering football, rugby, tennis courts, cricket, petanque, and a children’s playground, making it a bustling scene populated with runners and families. Additionally, the park’s beauty is accentuated by an impressive swan population.
The Meadows
South of the Old Town, the ground dips towards the expansive Meadows. Cherry-tree-lined paths traverse grassy stretches that are bustling with casual games of football on weekends. When the sun shines, local students gather in groups to enjoy the weather, often with drinks in hand. Therefore, summer also sees events occupying parts of the space, including fairs and temporary venues for the immensely popular Edinburgh Fringe.
Bordering the Meadows to the southwest, the Bruntsfield Links contain more open space and feature a delightful (and free) pitch-and-putt golf course — clubs and balls are available for hire at the nearby Golf Tavern.
Saughton Park and Gardens
An £8 million restoration, completed in 2019, transformed Saughton Park into one of the finest green spaces in the city. Walled gardens, orchards, a glasshouse, and colorful blossoms in season create a pastoral feel — you may even spot otters along the neighboring Water of Leith. Moreover, this modern space features a sophisticated kids’ playground and a smart cafe powered by hydroelectricity.
The extensive skate park, designed by local skaters, ranks among the best in the UK, featuring street-style zones and a bowl section. Additionally, the park includes fields for team sports. Located in the suburb of Gorgie in western Edinburgh, it is not particularly known for its sights, although Murrayfield rugby stadium is nearby.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill, home to stunning city views and a half-finished acropolis, is not a typical Edinburgh park. Rising above the east end of Princes Street, it passes several Scottish government buildings along the way. The brisk climb to the summit rewards visitors with the vista from the National Monument — a pillared homage to Athens’ Parthenon, known colloquially as “Scotland’s folly.” You’ll find a temple-style monument dedicated to Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, as well as an art gallery housed in a former observatory.
The views stretch along Princes Street and out to the Firth of Forth, with the hill also hosting events throughout the year — notably Beltane, a vibrant fire festival celebrating spring.
Other great parks in Edinburgh
Edinburgh features numerous additional excellent green spaces. In the north of the city, Leith Links and Victoria Park offer play areas and scenic spots for leisurely walks. From there, the Water of Leith follows a path lined by parks and wooded stretches, extending past Inverleith Park and the New Town to Saughton Park.
Out west, Corstorphine Hill unfolds with its large, appealing wooded areas bordering Edinburgh Zoo. Meanwhile, south of the center, the Hermitage of Braid presents a beautiful nature reserve, where its green valley ascends to the slopes of the Braid Hills.
