Dr Neil's Garden
Nature Reserves, Country Parks & Beaches · Edinburgh, Edinburgh & Lothians
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🌳 Outdoor0–11–33–55–88–1212–16🆓 Free entryGardens🌲 Woodland
What’s there
- Café on site
- Parking
Parking available in Duddingston Kirk's car park (entrance on Duddingston Road West, opposite Holy Rood High School); follow the 140m paved path through the manse garden to the garden entrance gate.
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
Dr Neil's Garden (Edinburgh's Secret Garden) is a secluded, free-to-enter garden on the lower slopes of Arthur's Seat, beside Duddingston Loch in the historic Duddingston village. Created from 1963 by two local GPs, Drs Andrew and Nancy Neil, it is now cared for by a charity run by local people. The garden features conifers, heathers, alpines, a physic garden, herbaceous borders, ponds, a wee bridge and mature trees and shrubs, plus Thomson's Tower. It is a peaceful place for families to explore nature, watch wildlife on the loch, and enjoy the Garden Room Café (run by Duddingston Kirk) which serves teas, coffees, soft drinks, snacks, cakes and biscuits. Entrance is free, with donations welcome. The garden hosts exhibitions and events throughout the year, including the award-winning 'Garden of Delight' promenade play for children aged 4-10 and their families. No dogs allowed, except assistance dogs.
Garden open daily from 10am to dusk all year; closing time follows seasonal dusk (earlier in winter). Café is closed Monday-Wednesday.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
- Wellies
- Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
- Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
- Wet wipes
- Spare outfit
- Portable phone charger
- Picnic blanket
- Kitchen roll
- Pushchair buggy board
- Sit-upon mat
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