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What is Christmas At The Botanics, Edinburgh?
Christmas at the Botanics is an outdoor illuminated trail through the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. Each set of illuminations is created by a different artist and many have a botanical theme alongside the usual holiday season themed illuminations.
It’s a magical trail for after-dark festive fun this festive season. The one-mile trail is within the gated outdoor gardens with larger-than-life illuminations to amaze you in this stunning garden landscape.
Is Christmas At The Botanics Worth It?
At £22.50 for adult tickets or £17.00 for a child in 2023 it’s certainly not the most expensive light trail around. There are also member discount codes if you’re a member of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. It’s a fairly reasonable price compared to most other light trails in Scotland. But is the trail worth the cost?
Well we spent around 2 hours walking along the trail and admiring the different light displays, plus some marshmallows and food. It certainly seems like a great way to spend an evening at Christmas. So I’d say yes, it IS worth it.
Where Is Christmas At The Botanics?
Christmas at the Botanics outdoor trail of lights is located in Edinburgh at the Royal Botanic Gardens. It’s in the North of Edinburgh, just South West of Leith. You can arrive by car, buses stop at the gardens and train stations are in the centre of the city.
Where Can You Park For Christmas At The Botanics, Edinburgh
There is no specific event parking for the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens. However there is plenty of on-street parking all the way around the outskirts of the gardens. Check times for parking fees, they vary along the streets. We parked on Arboretum Place, outside the West Gate, there is plenty of room here for cars. For East Gate try Inverleith Row.
You can book tickets for either the main West Gate entrance or the smaller East Gate entrance. Check your tickets for whichever gate your entrance is before parking! It could be a long walk around to the other side of the gardens.
Christmas At The Botanics, Edinburgh – Review
So what you should expect from Christmas at the Botanics? It’s an outdoor illuminated light trail, so the majority of the trail is outdoors. You can find refuge indoors at the West gate entrance where there are toilets, a shop and exhibition area. However, the trail is all outdoors and you will need to wear appropriate clothing.
In the event of severe weather then the event may be cancelled, so please keep an eye on social media if it’s strong winds! But usually you will just need to wear warm layers and a waterproof jacket!
Each year the light trail has new installations, with new lights and new displays. So you’ll never see the same design twice. This makes for an unforgettable time in this botanical world.
What Type Of Lights Are On The Botanics Trail?
The trail for 2023 begins with an illuminated giant crocus lawn. The crocuses change colours and is set to music. It’s a lovely and peaceful start to the light trail. From here you continue on to kaleidoscope Christmas patterns across the path, before you arrive at the tunnels of light. The light tunnel, or cathedral of light, is made up of 1000’s of tiny flower shaped lights strung up over metal framework. It’s an impressive display!
Coloured pampas grass appear around the corner, lit up with lights. Next are dozens of twinkling snowflakes hiding in the blue lit gardens. Most of the lights are on a botanical theme, but the snowflakes are one of the exceptions.
Around the corner is a garden of stars, not my favourite installation, but the sheer number of stars makes it quite impressive. Set against a background of the waterfall and small pond.
The garden of white roses is at the East Gate Entrance. With exquisite white roses decorating the entire lawn in front of the little cafe at the East Gate. This leads you onto the botanics pond where several gigantic dragonflies are hovering close above the water. Look out for a little duck that likes to sit on top of the dragonflies! The waterside reflections are rather spectacular too.
From the East Gate
Perhaps you will smell marshmallows at this point?! As once you’ve passed through the fire garden, where the ‘fire dancers’ move a top pyramids of fire, you will end up at the marshmallow fire pits. Choose from vanilla, salted caramel and chocolate orange flavours. You can toast the marshmallows whilst looking over the botanics pond.
Next are huge seed heads hanging from the trees above. The dandelion seed heads look rather impressive lit up in white. Not too much further along you will come to Inverleith House projections. The house is lit up in a series of pictures, from flowers to Christmas decorations, with suitably Christmas themed music to match. It’s definitely a fun projection to watch.
Just past the cafe (closed in the evening) you will find food trucks around the little pond. Most of the food is meat based, but there is also hot chocolate, soup and chips available.
I’m not too sure what the next installation was intended to be, perhaps snowflakes? However they certainly look more like Christmas viruses, especially since we’ve all seen pictures of the Covid virus! Neon woven designs hang in the trees next, woven into beautiful patterns, they stand out in the jungle of vegetation.
Down a short slope is the rainbow hedge, all the colours of the rainbow, with botanical shaped lights. But our favourite was just round the corner, a light and music display! This installation had rock style music very loosely inspired by the Nutcracker music. With the lights changing colours and rhythm with the music. We definitely danced to this one!
Finally you have a magical glimpse of Father Christmas, waving a cheery hello or having a short chat. Then back down to the main entrance at the West Gate to finish your trip.
Are There Toilets At Christmas At The Botanics?
Yes! There are toilets at both the West Gate and East Gate, so you can use them when you enter/leave and the others halfway round. Definitely makes it easier to take your time wandering when you know there are toilets available!
What Food And Snacks Are Available?
There are lots of areas to get snacks and drinks around the light trail. From a gin van, to marshmallows by the fire dancers, to a small cafe with cakes and drinks. The main area for food and drinks is just behind Inverleith House. This is where there are several food trucks selling bratwurst, chips, soup and other typical Christmas market style food. There were limited options for vegetarians or pescatarians, with only mushroom fries or chips as non-meat options.
Read more posts about what to do in Edinburgh:
- Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh in Winter for their beautiful Christmas at the Botanics event.
- Edinburgh Castle of Light is an amazing winter spectacle too, both fun and educational too.
- Spend a weekend in the city with this Edinburgh weekend Itinerary.
- Visit Edinburgh’s ‘other’ castle, Craigmillar, an interesting castle with a lot of history!
- Go for a day trip to Inchcolm island, reached by boat from South Queensferry.
- Find the best things to do in Edinburgh for your next visit.
- Conifox Adventure Park is an excellent place for the kids to run off some energy, just on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
- At the end of June spend a day or two at the world famous Royal Highland Show!
- Stay at Eastside Cottages just outside Edinburgh, where you can get the best of the rural farm life and Edinburgh city life.
- Use this car parking company at Edinburgh Airport.
- Spend a day out at Edinburgh Castle with the kids!
- Enjoy another day out at the edge of Edinburgh visiting Cramond Island and beach.
Other Local Attractions in Edinburgh
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