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Edinburgh City Guide: Parks

By BzHeriotWatt 21 May 2021

Nestled between Edinburgh's beautiful architecture you'll be able to find ample green spaces to chill with friends, play sports or even just read a good book.

After a long day in the library, there's nothing better than getting a bit of fresh air in one of Edinburgh's many parks - it's the city with the highest percentage of green spaces in the whole of the UK!

Take a look below at some of the best parks that the Scottish capital has to offer...

Holyrood Park

Edinburgh's biggest park is right in the heart of the city, and is home to one of Edinburgh's most famous attractions, Arthur's Seat. The extinct volcano soars over Edinburgh's skyline at over 250m tall, and offers spectacular views of the city. The park also has 3 lochs dotted around the park's 650 acres, and is perfect for a nice relaxing stroll, or if you're feeling energised, the 250m height to the summit. Definitely one to put on the agenda!

The Meadows

Located in the south of the city is The Meadows - one of Edinburgh's most popular open spaces. The park boasts lots of sports facilities including tennis courts and a croquet club and it's also used for the annual Meadows Marathon, which includes 5k, 10k, half marathons and full marathons. The Meadows is often full of students and is a perfect place to relax when the sun is shining!

Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens sits just under the majestic Edinburgh Castle and is the most scenic park in the city, with many famous sights in clear view. The area is usually filled with lots of plants and flowers and each year there is the Floral Clock which sees around 30,000 plants from all over the globe. Be sure to visit in the festive season, as the Christmas markets and Winter Wonderland are here and are a must-see. Celebrations for special events such as Hogmanay usually take place here too!

Calton Hill

On the north east side of the City lies Calton Hill. You'll find a collection of historical monuments here such as the National Monument, which takes inspiration from the Parthenon in Athens! Once at the top you'll have fantastic panoramic views of the city and when celebrations are taking place, it's a brilliant vantage point to watch fireworks light up the sky.

Inverleith Park

Inverleith Park is a great place to go if you fancy a spot of sports. The park in the Stockbridge suburb has 3 football pitches, 4 rugby pitches, 6 seven-a-side pitches, a cricket square and a petanque area. It has a pond towards the south of the park and you can even have an allotment here if you're a keen gardener! The Royal Botanic Garden is right next to the park too, so it's an ideal choice for a quiet walk or sit down after visiting the many plants on show at the Botanics.