Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh captures the imagination of everyone who visits. There are over 70 acres of beautiful landscape to explore, providing a tranquil haven just one mile from the city centre. The spectacular Glasshouses are home to 3,000 exotic plants from around the world
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Explore the Garden
- 100,000 plants
- 70 acres
- 10 Glasshouses
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a highlight of any visit to the Scottish Capital. A national treasure of Scotland, this spectacular Living Collection is nearly 350 years old.
When visiting Scotland, a trip to the world-famous Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is unmissable. Visitors can experience an extravaganza of plants from around the world, learn about the Garden's rich and diverse Living Collection and discover a history dating back nearly 350 years.
Set in over 70 acres of beautiful landscape and just one mile north of the city centre, the Garden offers superb panoramic views of the city skyline featuring Edinburgh Castle. The Botanics, as the Garden is affectionately known locally, is breathtaking at any time of year.
A highlight is a tour of the Garden's 10 magnificent Glasshouses including the Victorian Temperate Palmhouse and Tropical Palmhouse. With ten different climatic zones, from steamy tropics to arid desert, the Glasshouses are home to over 3,000 exotic plants from around the world.
Other highlights include the Rock Garden, the Alpine Houses, Woodland Garden, Pond, the Arboretum or tree collection, the Chinese Hillside, the Rhododendron Collection and the Scottish Native Plants Collection in the Heath Garden.
Visitors cannot help but leave with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the importance of plants in our world, and the need to support the Garden's important work.
For more information about the Living Collection at Edinburgh and further detail about the Garden's Terrace Cafe, Gateway Restaurant, Garden guided tours and accessibility, read on.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is located just one mile from the City Centre. For Transport information, click here.
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Useful Information
Open Daily from 10:00 to 16:00, except:
Oct and Feb: 10:00 to 17:00
Mar-Sep: 10:00 to 18:00Closed 25 December and 1 January.
Library & Archive: Mon-Fri: 10.00-16.00 (excl. public holidays).
Admission
Garden entry FREE
Glasshouses admission: Adult £6.50, Concession £5.50, Child (15 and under) Free. Includes voluntary donation - Standard Adult £5.85, Concession £4.95.
Map of the garden (pdf)
Gallery -
More Information
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Photography
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You can take photographs and videos in the Garden for personal use; if you are using a tripod, please ask for a photography permit on arrival at either the East Gate or John Hope Gateway.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh can be used as a location for wedding photography and non-commercial photoshoots, a member of staff will act as a steward for all photography sessions of this type. Please note that there is also a fee charged for this service.
In order to ensure that we can accommodate your request, please contact us two weeks in advance of the date of your visit.
Please contact visitorwelcome@rbge.org.uk.for further information and to request a booking form.
For student photoshoots, please contact the Education Department 0131 248 2937
For Commercial photography, please check here
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Regulations of the Garden
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The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a precious museum of living plants. The Garden's Visitor Welcome team has a duty to protect the Collection. Therefore, please note our regulations:
- Visitors with registered assistance dogs are welcome. However, dogs that are unregistered or pet dogs will not be able to access the grounds
- Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult
- We do not allow bicycles, scooters, frisbee, kites, footballs, mechanically-operated toys and models or drone cameras for personal use into the Garden
- No jogging or running is permitted inside the grounds
- Please do not have picnics in the Rock Garden
Also as part of our official Scottish Parliament Rules and Regulations, visitors are not permitted to:
- pick, cut or destroy any flower or part tree, shrub or plant
- bring into any part of the Garden any flowers or plant life
- bring any package or other article or container after being requested by the Visitor Welcome Team not to do
- climb any tree, railing, fence or structure
- enter any part of the Garden after having been requested by the Visitor Welcome Team not to do so or in contravention of any notice or sign displayed at any part of the grounds or remain in any part of the Garden after having been requested by the Visitor Welcome Team to leave it
- behave or be clothed, whilst in any part of the Garden, in a manner reasonably likely to offend against public decency
- fish, bathe, swim, boat or skate in any part of the Garden
- collect or solicit money in the Garden
Acts for which written permission is required:
- Undertake any trade or business in the Garden
- Sell or distribute anything or offer anything for sale or hire
- Exhibit or affix any notice, advertisement or other written or pictorial matter or give any display, performance or representation
- Play or cause to be played any musical instrument in any part of the Garden
- Make or give any public speech or address
- Take, in any part of the Garden, photographs for commercial purposes
- Play any game or engage in any form of sport of physical exercise in the Garden
- Light a fire or discharge any firearm, firework or other weapon or missile
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Visitor lockers
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Visitor lockers are available in the John Hope Gateway (West Gate), rental charges apply. No items to be stored outwith Garden opening hours:
March to September 10:00 - 18:00
October and February 10:00 - 17:00
November to January 10:00 - 16:00
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Lost Property
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If you have lost any item
- in the Garden: please call 0131 248 2846 and select option 4 or email visitorwelcometeam@rbge.org.uk
- at a wedding or a corporate event: please call 0131 552 1974 or email sales@gatewayrestaurant.net
- in Balfour or a Science Building: please call 0131 248 2800 or email pl-reception@rbge.org.uk
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Map
Location
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is located just one mile from the City Centre. The John Hope Gateway visitor centre is accessed via the West Gate, Arboretum Place and is served by the Majestic Bus Tour (0131 220 0770). The Garden's East Gate is served by Lothian Buses 8, 23 and 27 from the City Centre.
What's On in Edinburgh
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Book Group (Open Book: Reading Together)
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BSS and RBGE Lectures Series - Selection of plant materials by tool-using New Caledonian crows: a botanical detective story from the South Pacific
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Garden Social for Dementia
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Botanic Cottage Open Door
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Expressive Watercolour & Landscape - Intermediate to Advanced
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Expressive Watercolour & Landscape - Beginners to Intermediate
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Contact the Visitor Welcome Team
If you have any queries relating to visitor facilities, accessibility or Lost Property, please call us on +44 (0) 131 248 2909 or get in touch by using the enquiry form.
Get in touch
Help us to flourish
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There are different ways to support RBGE, choose the way which best suits you. Support us by being a Gift Aid visitor or by becoming a Member and enjoy free admission to our Glasshouses and Regional Gardens.
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