The Palace Gardens

The Gardens at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

A dramatic contrast to the wilds of Arthur’s Seat, this land was once a monastery garden where monks would grow plants and medicinal herbs for the infirmary. If you explore the gardens, you can still see what remains of the monastery.

When James IV built the first royal palace on these grounds, the gardens were the setting for tournaments, hawking, hunting, and archery. He also constructed a menagerie for lions, tigers, and bears.

Mary, Queen of Scots, often practised in the gardens and even had wild boars brought from France.

Look out for the sundial which was originally placed in the centre of the Privy Garden before it was swept away by Prince Albert to create a new carriage approach. The dial, gifted in 1633 to coincide with Charles I’s coronation, can now be found in the gardens.

Much of the gardens were renovated by Prince Albert and news trees and planting still continue year-round. In 2020, a Physic Garden was opened next to the Palace, based on the original gardens at the site hundreds of years ago, open every day and free to enter.