We holidayed in Edinburgh at the beginning of July and one of the places we visited there was the Royal Botanic Garden. We had seen it featured on Beechgrove Garden which is a Scottish gardening programme and thought it looked like an interesting place to visit.
The garden is on the outskirts of the city centre and is easy to find as it is well signposted. There is no car park but there is plenty of parking on the roadside and the charge is reasonable. The garden itself is free, but there is a small charge to go in the glass houses.
From the minute you step into the garden you feel like you are a million miles from the centre of the city. The paths lead you past a vast array of plants and trees, many native to the British Isles, but many more from around the world, including a large collection of plants from China. As you wander along the pathways you come across many different areas including the Scottish Heath garden, the rock garden, the herbaceous border and the memorial garden dedicated to the late Queen Mother.
After wandering around in the hot sunshine it was so nice to sit on a bench in the shade of some lovely old trees. It was obvious that the garden isnt just an attraction for tourists, but is enjoyed by locals too. We saw office workers eating their lunchtime sandwiches, families with young children enjoying the space and surroundings and elderly people having a walk around.
There are two cafes and a restaurant within the gardens and toilet facilities at various points. The paths are wide and flat so are ideal for people in wheelchairs. There are benches to sit on throughout the garden so you can sit and enjoy the views when you need a rest.
I would definitely reccomend this attraction as well worth a visit if you are in Edinburgh.
