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.

We take every opportunity to ensure the details for Dunbars Close Garden are accurate, if any of the above information is incorrect we would appreciate if you could take a minute to suggest an edit.

All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.

Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our What's On Edinburgh Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our @WhatOnEdinburgh Twitter or Instagram accounts and you're all set!

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

Gardens and Parks

Roslin Glen Country Park

Roslin Glen Country Park 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...

Gardens and Parks

Calton Hill

Calton Hill , 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.

Gardens and Parks

Jupiter Artland

Jupiter Artland Bonnington House Steadings, Wilkieston EH27 8BB

Set within the picturesque 80 acre estate of Bonnington House, arts organisation Jupiter Artland is the brainchild of Nicky and Robert Wilson!

Gardens and Parks

Princes Street Gardens

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

Princes Street Gardens lies at centre of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site, within New Town and Old Town Outstanding Conservation Areas.

Gardens and Parks

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!

Gardens and Parks

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.

Gardens and Parks

Archerfield Walled Garden

Archerfield Walled Garden Archerfield Estate, Dirleton EH39 5HQ

A fabulous Taste, Shop and Explore experience in the heart of East Lothian. We look forward to welcoming you through our doors to experience everything Archerfield Walled Garden has to offer...

Gardens and Parks

Vogrie Country Park

Vogrie Country Park Gorebridge, Midlothian EH23 4NU

Vogrie offers a haven of tranquillity in the heart of Midlothian's countryside.

Gardens and Parks

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.

Gardens and Parks

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.

Gardens and Parks

Craigmillar Castle Park

Craigmillar Castle Park 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.

Gardens and Parks

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.

All Gardens and Parks listings in Edinburgh