Dunbar’s Close Garden

Dunbar's Close Garden, a hidden haven of peace

The Edinburgh audio-guided tour lets you discover Dunbar's Close Garden, one of those hidden havens of peace in the heart of the old town. Edinburgh has dozens of inner courtyards concealed behind small narrow lanes, and this one is among the most charming examples.

A garden inspired by the seventeenth century

The garden takes up the features of those that adorned the houses of the street in the seventeenth century. It is not, however, one of the originals: it was designed in the 1970s by the landscape architect Seamus Filor, in order to recreate an island of calm away from the bustle of the Royal Mile. The result is a formal garden, elegant and peaceful.

What there is to see

Hidden right next to the Royal Mile, Dunbar's Close Garden surprises with its calm and its well-kept greenery, arranged in beds in the manner of old gardens. It is a secret delight, ideal for a break away from the crowd. It is reached through a discreet close, like so many inner courtyards that make the charm of the old town.

Practical information

Dunbar's Close Garden lies set back from the Royal Mile, in the old town of Edinburgh, reached through a narrow close. The garden is freely accessible on foot; it is best discovered by day to enjoy its greenery and its calm.

Is the garden old?

The current garden was designed in the 1970s by the landscape architect Seamus Filor, but it takes up the style of the gardens that adorned the houses of the street in the seventeenth century.

How do you reach the garden?

It is reached through a close, one of those narrow passages typical of Edinburgh, set back from the Royal Mile. The garden is a haven of calm hidden behind the houses.