Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh occupies a large site at 20A Inverleith Row in the Inverleith district of Edinburgh, Scotland, north of the New Town and close to Stockbridge. Founded in 1670 as a physic garden, it is one of the oldest botanic gardens in Britain and now covers a landscape of lawns, themed beds, woodland, ponds and rock gardens. Highlights include the Rock Garden, with alpine plants arranged among stone, and the Chinese Hillside, a slope planted with species collected in China, which shows strong colour in spring and autumn. Elevated points in the garden give views back towards the Edinburgh skyline, including the castle and Arthur's Seat. The garden grounds are free to enter, with donations welcome, while the glasshouses are currently closed for restoration, so visitors should check the official website for the latest information. A walk through the main areas takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours, and the paths include some gradients. The garden is open daily, with longer hours from March to September, shorter hours in February and October, and early closing from November to January. It is closed on 25 December and 1 January. Spring and early summer are the best seasons, when the rhododendrons, azaleas and bulbs are in flower, and autumn brings strong foliage colour. Weekday mornings are the quietest, while sunny weekend afternoons draw families and picnickers. The garden can be reached by Lothian Buses along Inverleith Row or on a pleasant 25-minute walk from Princes Street via Stockbridge, which can be combined with the Water of Leith Walkway. Cafes and a shop on site provide refreshments, and visitors can bring their own picnics to enjoy on the lawns. The skyline view is best photographed from the upper parts of the Chinese Hillside on clear days.