Lauriston Castle

Lauriston Castle stands on Cramond Road South, a 16th-century tower house with 19th-century additions, overlooking the Firth of Forth. It sits between the neighbourhoods of Cramond, Davidson’s Mains, and Silverknowes. The castle was rebuilt around 1590 by Sir Archibald Napier for his son, and later passed through the hands of the Law family, including economist John Law. In 1827, banker Thomas Allan commissioned architect William Burn to extend the house in the Jacobean style. The Reid family acquired it in 1902 and left it to the nation unchanged. Today it is a Category A listed building with protected gardens. The castle’s history includes raids in 1544, a visit by Sir Walter Scott in 1827, and later proposals to use it as a residence for Edinburgh’s Lord Provost. Its interior reflects Edwardian tastes, while the grounds host the Lord Provost’s annual Garden Party. The gardens are included in Scotland’s Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes. A one-hectare Japanese garden was added in 2002 as the Edinburgh–Kyoto Friendship Garden. The estate remains a local park open to the public. Visitors find the original four-storey tower with circular stair and angle turrets, plus the 19th-century Jacobean wing designed by William Burn. Inside, Edwardian interiors and family collections are preserved as the Reids intended. The gardens offer varied styles, from formal lawns to the modern Japanese garden. Views stretch across the Firth of Forth. The grounds also contain croquet facilities and quiet paths for walking.