Hotels near Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens is the long green valley between the Old Town and the New Town, and one of the prettiest urban parks in Britain. Until 1820 the basin was the Nor' Loch, a polluted lake used to drain the medieval city. Drained and landscaped, it now stretches almost 1.5 km below the castle rock with formal lawns, a Victorian bandstand, and the best free castle views in the city.

The eastern section holds the Scott Monument, the towering 61-metre Gothic spire dedicated to author Sir Walter Scott - you can climb 287 winding steps for a small fee. The Ross Fountain at the western end is a French cast-iron beauty restored to working order in 2018. In summer, deck chairs come out on the lawns, and in winter the gardens transform into Edinburgh's Christmas market with a Ferris wheel beside the castle.

Pro Tip: The Princes Street side is busy, so cross via The Mound to the quieter West Princes Street Gardens for picnics. Skip the Scott Monument climb if you have plans for Arthur's Seat the same day - both are tiring on the legs.