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Royal Botanic Garden EdinburghvsEdinburgh Zoo
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Edinburgh Zoo are both recommended by professional travelers. On balance, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh ranks significantly higher than Edinburgh Zoo. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has a TripExpert Score of 96 with recommendations from 8 sources including Fodor's, Concierge and Michelin Guide.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Concierge
Lonely Planet
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Time Out
Fodor's
Atlas Obscura Michelin Guide
Frommer's Frommer's
The Garden, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, Scotland
From $0/night
Concierge "Established in 1670, the Botanics (as they're more commonly known) are a must for horticulturalists."
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Twenty-eight beautifully landscaped hectares include splendid Victorian palm houses, colourful swathes of rhododendrons and azaleas, and a world-famous rock garden." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Since 1670, when it was established for cultivating medicinal plants, the gardens have been an exemplar of botanical conservation." Full review
Michelin Guide 0 Stars
"The origins of this garden, a veritable haven but also a research tool, dates back to the late 17C." Full review
Time Out "The city’s horticulture hotspot boasts a Victorian glasshouse, two dining options and a stunning selection of plants and flowers from across the world." Full review
Fodor's "Britain's largest rhododendron and azalea gardens are part of this 70-acre garden just north of the city center." Full review
i
Don't miss the soaring palms in the glass-domed Temperate House and the steamy Tropical Palm House.
Atlas Obscura "One of the oldest scientific gardens in Britain, containing more than 13,302 plant species in its core collection. " Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"The rhododendrons are one of the estate's main attractions. You can wander around the winding paths inside the futuristic greenhouses (1967) between the original flowerbeds. " Full review
Frommer's "Edinburgh is a green city pricked with parks, but the jewel in the crown is the Botanic Gardens." Full review
Frommer's "This is one of the grandest botanic gardens in all of Great Britain...the planting in various areas assures year-round interest, whether in the rock garden or the wide and long "herbaceous" borders" Full review
Edinburgh Zoo Lonely Planet Fodor's Michelin Guide Time Out Frommer's
134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 6TS, Scotland
From $0/night
Lonely Planet "One of the world's leading conservation zoos. Edinburgh's captive breeding program has helped save many endangered species." Full review
Fodor's "Children love to visit the some 1,000 animals that live in Edinburgh Zoo, especially the two giant pandas—Tian Tian and Yang Gaung—that were flown in from China." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"The famous collection of penguins in Edinburgh (colony of 30 Emperor penguins and a hundred papoose penguins) is the most popular attraction." Full review
i
Don't miss out on some indigenous species, the wildcat, the pine marten or the Golden Eagle.
Time Out "It’s currently the only zoo in the UK to keep koalas and was the first ever zoo to keep and breed penguins, with their enclosure being one of the hits of the tour." Full review
Frommer's "The zoo contains more than 1,500 animals, including white rhinos, pygmy hippos, and chimps. It also boasts the largest penguin colony in Europe housed in the world's biggest penguin enclosure." Full review
