Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh stands on 70 acres just one mile from the city centre. Founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, it is now the main site of a network of four gardens across Scotland. The Edinburgh garden houses nearly 273,000 individual plants representing about 13,300 species from around the world. It also contains a herbarium with more than three million preserved specimens gathered from 157 countries. The site is led by Regius Keeper Dr Julia Knights and supports scientific work on Scottish biodiversity, plants and climate change, and conservation. The garden has grown from its origins near Holyrood Palace to its present location beside Inverleith Row. In 1858 the Temperate Palm House was built and remains Scotland’s tallest glasshouse. In 1881 Inverleith House was opened to the public after being added to the grounds. A cottage from the original site was moved brick by brick to the current gardens and reopened in 2016. The John Hope Gateway, opened in 2010, celebrates the first Regius Keeper and serves as an education centre. Visitors find wide lawns, mature trees and winding paths laid out across the 70-acre site. Glasshouses shelter collections from warmer climates while outdoor beds display plants from many regions. Families walk the grounds, attend guided tours and join seasonal events. The garden also offers taught courses and hosts live performances throughout the year.