We are extremely happy to call Scotland’s capital our home. Edinburgh is a majestic and beautiful city that is host to the most iconic of Royal Estates in Scotland, and beautiful period architecture; most notably Georgian, and Elizabethan. The centrepiece of this sublime city is the Princes Street Gardens which runs from Waverly Bridge (Waverly Train Station) to St. Johns and St. Cuthbert’s churches on Lothian Road. The gardens stand between the Old and New Town’s and sits in the Shadow of Edinburgh Castle. It is home to some of the most famous and notable statues, war memorials and venues in Scotland.

The Gardens were built in two stages between in the 1770s and 1820s. The first stage of construction arose after a land ownership feud between local proprietors and the City Council which made it all the way to the House of Lords. While the construction of (What is now) the Balmoral Hotel and Waverly Mall was allowed, the remainder of the land was to be used for the pleasure of the people of Edinburgh. The latter stage included the draining of Nor Loch (an artificial water body created for medieval defence and was polluted with wastewater from the Old Town. This is now where the rail network connects Haymarket Station with Edinburgh City Centre.

Due to drinking laws in the gardens at the time of creation, one was only legally entitled to ‘have a wee dram’ on Christmas and New Years; therefore, from then on lives the tradition of a New Years party in the Princes Street Gardens.

Notable Features

Some of Scotlands most famous individuals are honoured by statues and monuments in Princes Street Gardens. The most famous of all is the ‘Scott Monument’- A huge gothic spire which was built in 1844 to honour Walter Scott (a Scottish Author and Poet). David Livingston (A Scottish Explorer who was instrumental in the freeing of Slaves in Zanzibar and East Africa) is also represented among the important Scottish Individuals.

The Gardens are also home to numerous war memorials including: the Royal Scots Memorial, the Scottish American War Memorial, the Royal Scots Greys Memorial, and the Ross Fountain. On the stairs at the eastern entrance of the gardens, there is also the worlds first Floral Clock which is spectacular in the summer months. For those who spend New Years (Hogmanay) in Edinburgh, you will most likely find yourself near the Ross Bandstand.

Every year, the Edinburgh Christmas Markets and Winter Wonderland makes the gardens its home. Hundreds of Thousands of people come to Edinburgh to enjoy the rides, street food and artists.  In the summer months, the fringe, live performers and summer markets take its place.