Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

When you step into the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, a world-class botanical collection founded in 1670 and now one of Scotland’s most important scientific and conservation sites. Also known as RBGE, it’s not just a pretty park—it’s a living archive of over 13,000 plant species, many rare or endangered, managed by scientists who study everything from climate resilience to plant medicine. This isn’t a place you visit just to walk around. It’s a hub where botany, history, and public education meet—and it’s open to everyone.

Related to it are botanic gardens Scotland, a network of curated plant collections across the country, each with its own focus—from the alpine trails at Dawyck to the coastal species at Inverewe. But the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh stands apart because of its size, its research role, and its global seed bank. It’s where scientists preserve plant DNA for future generations, and where visitors can see trees older than the United States. The garden also connects to Edinburgh plants, the native and imported species that thrive in the city’s mild, wet climate, from Highland ferns to Himalayan rhododendrons. You’ll find these plants labeled, grouped by region, and often tied to stories—like how the garden helped save the Scottish wildflower, the Highland saxifrage, from extinction.

And it’s not just about the plants. The garden’s layout tells a story of colonial trade, Victorian curiosity, and modern ecology. The Rock Garden, the Alpine House, the Glasshouses—all were built with purpose. The Herbarium holds over three million dried specimens, used by researchers worldwide. Even the paths and benches are designed for accessibility, with maps and tactile guides for visually impaired visitors. This is a place where science is visible, where conservation is tangible, and where you can stand next to a tree that survived the Ice Age.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real, practical guides on how to explore this space—whether you’re using a mobility scooter, chasing rare blooms in spring, or looking for quiet corners away from the crowds. You’ll learn how to use the garden’s map apps, where to sit without missing the best views, and how to connect your visit to bigger ideas like rewilding and climate action. These aren’t tourist brochures. They’re field notes from people who’ve walked these paths, studied the labels, and come back again because there’s always something new to see.