Dunbars Close Garden

Dunbar’s Close on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s Old Town is a hidden gem, laid out in the style and character of a 17th century garden.

About Dunbars Close Garden

	137 Canongate Edinburgh EH8 8BW, Edinburgh Old Town EH8 8BW
	01315295151
	Dunbars Close Garden Website

Listed Under Attractions - Gardens and Parks

Dunbar’s Close on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s Old Town is a hidden gem. The garden has been laid out in the style and character of a 17th century garden. To enter you travel along a narrow, cobbled close. It opens out into a surprisingly tranquil and elegant parterre of clipped shrubs under a cosy green canopy of trees. Beyond the entrance are further parterres, each with different atmospheres and all are sheltered thanks to high church walls on the west side and clipped hedging on the others. Entrance to the garden is free of charge.

The garden is special, particularly when the trees are in full leaf. It has such an authentic sense of place that you feel like you are one of the few to have discovered it. It is hard to believe that somewhere so peaceful, so city centre, was a building site until 1976 when The Mushroom Trust funded the creation of a new garden by Seamus Filor, landscape architect. The Mushroom Trust handed the garden over to the City of Edinburgh on completion and is still involved in its management.

The close was probably named after David Dunbar, a writer who owned the tenements at the garden’s entrance.

Upcoming Events at Dunbars Close Garden

Sorry, but we have no upcoming events for Dunbars Close Garden. If you know of an event taking place at Dunbars Close Garden or anywhere else in Edinburgh tell us about it and we'll list it on the website, for free!

More Gardens and Parks in Edinburgh

Almondell & Calderwood Country Park

Almondell & Calderwood Country Park Almond Lodge, Broxburn EH52 5PE

Probably the best kept secret in West Lothian, Almondell & Calderwood Country Park is a 220-acre park and 4 star visitor attraction!
Read more

Calton Hill

NA NA, Edinburgh New Town EH7 5AA

Calton Hill is a hill in central Edinburgh, just to the east of the New Town and is included in the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site.It offers some of...
Read more

Charlotte Square Gardens

40 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh New Town EH2 4HQ

This pleasant, leafy green space located at the heart of the historic New Town is an oasis of tranquility. Like many of the Georgian gardens in Edinburgh...
Read more

Craigmillar Castle Park

NA Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh South EH16 4TB

Craigmillar Castle Park is a natural heritage park with areas of mature and young woodland, grassland and old quarries. In 1997, over 40,000 trees were...
Read more

Dalkeith Country Park

Dalkeith Country Park Dalkeith, Edinburgh South EH22 2NA

As you stroll beneath the oaks in the rambling Country Park, you may find it difficult to believe you are only five miles from the centre of Scotland’...
Read more

George Square Gardens

57 George Square, Edinburgh South EH8 9JU

George Square is a city square in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is in the south of the city centre, adjacent to the Meadows. It was laid out in 1766 outside...
Read more

Holyrood Park

Holyrood Park Queen's Dr, Edinburgh East EH8 8HG

Holyrood Park is a unique historic landscape in the heart of the city, whose dramatic crags and hills give Edinburgh part of its distinctive skyline....
Read more

Hopetoun House

Hopetoun House Hopetoun, South Queensferry EH30 9SL

Hopetoun is a place of outstanding natural beauty, which has Scotland\'s finest stately home at its heart. Situated on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Hopetoun...
Read more

Inverleith Park

Inverleith Park , Stockbridge and Canonmills EH3 5PA

“Inverleith Park is in the heart of Edinburgh, right next to the Royal Botanic Gardens, just to the north of the New Town & Stockbridge. At 22 hectares...
Read more

Lauriston Castle

2 Cramond Road South, Edinburgh West EH4 6AD

When you step inside Lauriston Castle, you see it just as it was in 1926, when it was left to the nation by the last private owner, Mrs Reid.The Castle...
Read more

Pentland Hills Regional Park

NA NA, Lothians NA

The Pentland Hills Regional Park is a living, working landscape, that offers great opportunities to experience, learn about and enjoy the outdoors. Sculpted...
Read more

Polkemmet Country Park

NA NA, Near Whitburn EH47 0AD

The Park offers beautiful woodland and riverside walks, play area, picnic areas with seating and a barbecue facility.
Read more

Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens Princes Street, Edinburgh Old Town EH2 2HG

Princes Street Gardens lies at centre of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site, within New Town and Old Town Outstanding Conservation Areas. It is listed in...
Read more

Roslin Glen Country Park

NA North Esk Valley, Roslin EH25 9PU

Roslin Glen Country Park is a wooded glen in the North Esk Valley, near the village of Roslin.It contains walks with several places of interest along...
Read more

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

20A Inverleith Row, Stockbridge and Canonmills EH3 5LR

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction...
Read more

Scotlands Gardens: Edinburgh & Lothians

, Various Locations Edinburgh

Explore large and small gardens of horticultural interest throughout Edinburgh, the Lothians and all of Scotland thanks to Scotland's Gardens Scheme!
Read more

Sighthill Park

Sighthill Park Broomhouse Road, Edinburgh West EH12 3UP

Sighthill is a large park with flat expanses of grass which are dedicated to football and it is bounded by community woodlands.
Read more

St Andrew Square Garden Edinburgh

St.Andrew Square Garden NA, Edinburgh New Town EH2 1AF

Built in 1770 as a private garden for the Square's proprietors, now managed by Essential Edinburgh on behalf of the private owners and open to the public...
Read more

The Meadows

The Meadows Melville Drive, Edinburgh South EH9 9EX

The Meadows remain one of the most important open spaces in Edinburgh and one of the most popular. There's something for everyone with the biggest play...
Read more

Victoria Park Edinburgh

Victoria Park Newhaven Road , Edinburgh North EH6 5PY

A lovely public park in the Trinity area of Edinburgh. The park has been awarded a Green Flag since 2011, in recognition of it being a quality greenspace.
Read more

Vogrie Country Park

NA NA, Midlothian EH23 4NU

Vogrie offers a haven of tranquillity in the heart of Midlothian's countryside.It retains much of its character as a Victorian parkland estate, with sweeping...
Read more