Dunbars Close Garden
Dunbars Close Garden
4.5
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Southside & Holyrood
Many of Edinburgh’s student hangouts gather around university buildings in Southside, the sort of neighbourhood that supports a long string of second-hand shops and eateries serving ethnic food for just a few pounds. In August the student population is replaced by vast numbers of boisterous visitors here for the Fringe, Edinburgh’s world-class comedy and arts festival which headquarters itself here. Flanking Southside are two great parks. The Meadows is a vast flat and sporty space where football, rugby, tennis, cricket, croquet, and golf often all take place side by side. Kids in its big playgrounds add to the joyful noise. Far bigger and much wilder, Holyrood Park extends to the east and provides a real hike up Arthur’s Seat, but the district is best known as the site of Scotland’s Parliament and its premier Royal Palace—and their steady stream of sightseers.
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Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
2,228 within 5 kms
Attractions
574 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- pakabayAdelaide, Australia2,521 contributionsPeaceful secret gardenWhat a beautiful, peaceful & secluded space at Canongate, on the Royal Mile. It’s right next to the hauntingly beautiful Canongate Kirkyard (cemetery), and you enter through a little alleyway, the Close. What opens up before you is a well cared for, well laid out garden with well manicured topiary and low hedges, paths & seats. It’s not that big, you don’t need to spend that much time here to appreciate it, but on a sunny day, I could spend a long time, given the chance. If you are a gardener or appreciate tranquil green spaces, seek it out. An added bonus - the Canongate stop for the hop-on hop-off bus is about 20 metfrom the ent.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 16 March 2024
- Susan RMudgee, Australia177 contributionsHidden gemWe stumbled on this pretty garden when we caught a glimpse of it whilst walking on the Royal Mile. What a beautiful hidden gem, and now one of my favourite parts of Edinburgh. Quiet and serene, so lovely after the brash onslaught of the Royal Mile.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 28 May 2024
- Beth_sageMinnetonka, Minnesota557 contributionsQuiet restI was on a walking tour, and the tour guide led us into Dunbars Close. It is easy to miss - in fact the tour guide almost missed it. It is a delightful little garden - and an amazing space tucked behind the buildings. It is a very peaceful respite from the street noise.Visited June 2024Travelled soloWritten 14 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
92 reviews
Excellent
58
Very good
28
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
0
vessi80
North Lanarkshire, UK1,213 contributions
Oct 2022
In Autumn sunshine with the Festival crowds wilted away, pick your botanic bench and enjoy a break in this faithfully recreated 17th century garden.
The spectacular summer roses gone but still plenty to enjoy.
The long border faces Panmure House once home to the economist Adam Smith.
The garden was donated to the city by the Mushroom Trust .
The spectacular summer roses gone but still plenty to enjoy.
The long border faces Panmure House once home to the economist Adam Smith.
The garden was donated to the city by the Mushroom Trust .
Written 15 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth_sage
Minnetonka, MN557 contributions
June 2024 • Solo
I was on a walking tour, and the tour guide led us into Dunbars Close. It is easy to miss - in fact the tour guide almost missed it. It is a delightful little garden - and an amazing space tucked behind the buildings. It is a very peaceful respite from the street noise.
Written 14 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joasi23
South Yorkshire, UK2,016 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
What a beautiful hidden surprise . We have walked past the entrance many times unaware what was through the little alley . So pretty and lots of photo opportunities with an impressive backdrop . Have a ten min sit down heading up or down the royal mile , bliss
Written 23 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan R
Mudgee, Australia177 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We stumbled on this pretty garden when we caught a glimpse of it whilst walking on the Royal Mile. What a beautiful hidden gem, and now one of my favourite parts of Edinburgh. Quiet and serene, so lovely after the brash onslaught of the Royal Mile.
Written 28 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JRMADA
United States3,386 contributions
Aug 2022
This is a beautiful small garden to escape the hustle of Old Town Edinburgh. It is good for a picnic or to sit and enjoy a moment of peace and quiet. We went there twice during Military Tattoo and were surprise to find it empty and had it all to ourselves.
Written 18 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
arpc29
Tampa, FL1,349 contributions
Nov 2015 • Solo
I had read about this garden in an article on what to see in Edinburgh. You can get there via a regular bus or the hop-on hop-off buses if you get off at the Canongate Kirk stop. I knew it was near the Museum of Edinburgh so when I was there, I asked where it was. It is just down and across the street from that museum to the right of a Christmas store. Once you get near the entrance, you will see a plaque just inside the "tunnel" to the garden. I was there in the winter so the scenery was more stark than at other times of the year but it was still beautiful. I wandered about the garden with only a few other people coming through to appreciate its beauty. There are benches in the garden to sit and rest or think or just enjoy. It was a place of peace and quiet just off the bustling Royal Mile.
Written 5 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Veronica B
Weston super Mare, UK204 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
Walking up the Royal Mile towards the Castle we looked in at Dunbar's Close Garden,a small tranquil plot of land with plenty of seats laid out in 17th century style.
A delightful spot to enjoy and relax for a while away from the hustle and bustle.
The garden is near the Canongate Kirk – the local church for the Queen when she is staying in Edinburgh.
A delightful spot to enjoy and relax for a while away from the hustle and bustle.
The garden is near the Canongate Kirk – the local church for the Queen when she is staying in Edinburgh.
Written 19 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate
London, UK225 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
Dunbars Close is hidden away from off Canongate. You would walk right past it if you weren't deliberately looking for it, which is why it is so magical and separate from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The garden is stunning and very quiet, making it a haven if you're looking for someone to have some peace in nature while in the city. It really is a hidden gem of Edinburgh. Located right across the street from the museum of Edinburgh and surrounded by many other closes and courts, its definitely in a very historic part of the city!
The garden is stunning and very quiet, making it a haven if you're looking for someone to have some peace in nature while in the city. It really is a hidden gem of Edinburgh. Located right across the street from the museum of Edinburgh and surrounded by many other closes and courts, its definitely in a very historic part of the city!
Written 2 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scotty102
Innerleithen, UK690 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
In the middle of the city it can often be impossible to find some real peace & quiet, but here you can find it and more. Lovely landscaped gardens, immaculately kept and clean. As good as it was in December, I can't wait until the summer to see everything in full bloom.
Written 28 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Malgorzata
12,083 contributions
Jan 2019
Dunbar's Close's name was taken from the Edinburgh writer David Dunbar . He owned tenements on either side of this close in 1773 . Hidden within the close today is a garden laid out in the character of the seventeenth century. This is a beautiful, little garden tucked into the neighborhood. It gives visitors a feeling of peaceful seclusion and provides a comfortable refuge from the busy streets. Very peaceful little place the crowds aren't aware of. Great place to rest if you’ve been walking a lot , even during winter.
Written 26 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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