The Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh is the second oldest in the UK and home to over 13,000 species. It has a history of over 350 years and this peaceful oasis is based only a mile outside of the city centre. Within the 70 acre garden, there are loads of popular features including; 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.
Where can I find the second the oldest Royal Botanical Gardens in the UK and home to over 13,000 plant species?
What defines a Botanical Garden?
The Botanic Gardens Conservation International defines a botanic garden as having met a list of some of the following criteria:
- Having a reasonable degree of permanence
- An underlying scientific basis for the collections
- Proper documentation of the collections, including geographic origin
- Monitoring of the plants in the collections
- Adequate labelling of the plants
- Open to the public
- Communication of information to other gardens, institutions and the public
- Exchange of seed or other materials with other botanic gardens, arboreta or research institutions
- The undertaking of scientific or technical research on plants in the collections
- Maintenance of research programs in plant taxonomy in associate herbaria.
You should also keep an eye out for the upcoming events on their website as they frequently have interesting events. Entry to the garden is free and there is a great café in the heart of the garden to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.
- The garden is open every day from 10 am – 6 pm
- You can support the garden by becoming a member
- There are three cafes
- Lunch in the cafes is from 12 pm – 3 pm
- Great view of the city’s skyline
- Spectacular wedding venue
- Free entry
