Princes Street Gardens

About Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens fill the valley between Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle, on ground once covered by the Nor Loch. The loch was drained from the 1760s as the New Town was built, and the land was later protected as pleasure grounds so that the view from Princes Street to the Old Town stayed open.

The gardens are in two parts. The East Gardens, of about 3.4 hectares, run from the Mound towards Waverley. The larger West Gardens, of around 12 hectares, began as a private garden opened to subscribers in 1821, and were taken back by the council in 1876 and laid out as a public park.

What to see

• Floral clock: created in 1903 at the corner of the West Gardens by the Mound, and replanted each year with a new design that often marks a person or group.
• Ross Fountain: an ornate cast-iron fountain in the West Gardens, installed in 1872 and restored in 2018, with the castle rising behind.
• Ross Bandstand: the present building dates from 1935 and is used for concerts and events.
• Scott Monument: the Gothic spire honouring Sir Walter Scott, completed in 1844, in the East Gardens.
• Memorials: including the Scottish-American War Memorial, the Royal Scots Monument and the Norwegian Brigade Stone.

Planning your visit

The gardens lie right beside Princes Street and a short walk from Waverley station. The West Gardens have a café near the Ross Fountain and public toilets, including an accessible toilet at the Ross Bandstand. Ball games are not allowed. The West Gardens are open almost every day of the year, but occasionally close early, mostly in the evening, for events.