The Royal Edinburgh Botanic Gardens
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Port
Leith (Edinburgh), Scotland, United Kingdom
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Activity Level
Easy Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$120
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Heading to the world-famous Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, you'll pass medieval Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the city skyline and was home to Scottish Kings and Queens through the centuries. Watch for Holyrood Palace, the King's residence in Edinburgh, and follow the well-known principal shopping area, Princes Street. The towering Scott Monument and beautiful Princes Street Gardens are visible en route. Spot the museums and art galleries of the Mound before touring the Georgian New Town, 250 years old -- with its elegant townhouses and private parks.
North of the city center, the Botanic Gardens are set on 70 acres of beautiful landscaping and the grounds feature quite a range of plantings. The gardens were established more than 300 years ago as a source of medicinal herbs and plants, but they have grown and grown and are now home to 13,000 living species. Many of the most exotic plants were brought to Edinburgh by the famous horticulturist George Forrest, who made seven expeditions to southwestern China between 1904 and 1932. There is also a major Chinese-style garden featuring a pavilion, a waterfall and the world's largest collection of Chinese wild plants outside of China.