Blending medieval, Georgian, and Gothic architecture, Edinburgh’s cobblestone streets, turreted buildings, and column-lined crescents promise a true step back in time. The tartan shops and whisky bars which lead up the Royal Mile towards the castle draw most of the crowds, but there are hidden pockets of history and quirky nooks to be discovered within these well-trodden lanes.
Watching the sunset from the crags of Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill is a quintessentially Edinburgh experience, but there are lesser-known spots which are just as scenic, if you know where to look.
This list of hidden gems in Edinburgh also features quieter alternatives to the National Gallery and Royal Botanic Garden if it’s culture and calm that you seek, all compiled by an Edinburgh local.
Hidden Gems in Edinburgh
1. Lauriston Castle
There’s more than one castle in Edinburgh, and Lauriston hides some of Scotland’s most beautiful Edwardian interiors from its coastal setting overlooking the Firth of Forth.
The Italian and Japanese gardens (which welcome dog walkers and picnics) were originally landscaped by William Playfair in the 1840s, with some parts of the castle dating even further back to the 16th century. After a guided tour and a walk through the woodlands, indulge in something sweet from Mimi’s Bakehouse which is tucked into the tranquil grounds.
For more information, visit the official website.
2. Cramond
Combine your visit to Lauriston Castle with a stroll along Cramond’s white sandy beach. Check the tide times in advance, and you might be able to walk all the way across the Drum Sands to Cramond Island, thought to be an early medieval stronghold.
Cramond village itself is also brimming with coastal charm, where whitewashed houses tumble down towards the mouth of the River Almond, and elegant swans glide past yachts moored in the harbour. If you’re travelling with your dog, this is a wonderful place to stretch their legs.
3. Cammo Estate
Also located on the city’s north-western outskirts, Cammo Estate retains a rural, lost-to-time feel with its ancient forests, enchanting meadows, and crumbling ruins. Wander through the wheat fields to an old water tower, which looks like something out of a Scottish storybook.
There are also walled gardens and the estate’s former stables to explore. Ideally, the first three of these locations would be visited with a car, but public transport options are available.
4. The Georgian House
Edinburgh is filled with grand townhouses, but the Georgian Townhouse on Charlotte Square has been meticulously restored to its 18th-century glory by the Scottish National Trust, with four-poster beds draped in Regency era fabric, and a covetable mahogany tea table in the old parlour.
Originally designed by acclaimed Scottish architect Robert Adam, this ornately decorated home is as impressive from the outside as it is on the inside.
For more information, visit the official website.
5. Writers’ Museum
Squirreled away in a small courtyard off the Royal Mile, the Writers’ Museum is set within Lady Stair’s House, a particularly photogenic Old Town building thanks to its 17th-century turret.
Entry is free, and the exhibits showcase the lives and works of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson—three of Scotland’s most prominent writers—from letters, manuscripts and engravings to Burns’ very own writing desk.
For more information, visit the official website.
6. Dunbar’s Close
While you’re on the Royal Mile, don’t miss the pretty gardens of Dunbar’s Close (free to enter and open to the public every day). If you’re walking from Edinburgh Castle, keep your eyes peeled for a nondescript entryway on the left-hand side.
This reveals a series of 17th-century knot gardens named after Edinburgh writer, David Dunbar, who lived in the adjoining tenements towards the end of the 18th-century. Robert Burns is said to have spent contemplative moments here, while musing on his poems.
7. Chessel’s Court
An adorable assortment of mansion houses built by Wright and Merchant Chessel in 1748, Chessel’s Court is a little-known courtyard on the south side of the Royal Mile, just opposite New Street.
In the spring, cherry blossom trees frame the cream-coloured houses and fill the courtyard with a sweet fragrance, and ivy in the shape of a heart can be admired (and photographed) year round.
8. Dovecot Studios
Originally founded by the Marquess of Bute in 1912 to commission tapestries for his home on the Isle of Bute, this tapestry studio has been working with talented weavers on hand-spun creations and gun-tufted rugs for over a century.
Renowned names in the art world have also used the studios over the years, including Henry Moore, David Hockney, and Graham Sutherland, and visitors can enjoy the rotating exhibitions alongside weaving and embroidery workshops.
For more information, visit the official website.
9. Flodden Wall & Vennel Steps
Built in the 16th-century after the Battle of Flodden (a crushing defeat for the Scots at the hands of the English), remnants and original stonework of this defensive wall can still be seen in the Old Town, particularly around Greyfriars Kirkyard.
If you follow the wall down towards the Grassmarket, you’ll come to the Vennel Steps—a narrow staircase with spectacular views of Edinburgh Castle, framed by old street lamps. Reach the bottom of the steps and join the queue for Mary’s Milk Bar.
10. Physic Garden
Fewer crowds seem to find their way to the Physic Garden compared with the Royal Botanic Garden, and the setting is equally idyllic in the Palace of Holyroodhouse’s courtyard.
Set against the rugged backdrop of Arthur’s Seat, the 17th-century garden displays medicinal plants that were historically used by apothecaries, doctors, and herbalists to treat any number of ailments. Planted in a geometric pattern, the flower beds are tidily arranged and soft scents of herbs fill the air.
11. Duddingston
Skirting the south-eastern edge of Holyrood Park, Duddingston is a quaint, history-steeped village with timber-framed cottages dating back to the 12th-century, including The Sheep Heid Inn, said to be Scotland’s oldest pub.
Hidden within the village is Dr Neil’s Garden, known to a privileged few as ‘Edinburgh’s secret garden’. Nearby Duddingston Loch is one of the capital’s last remaining freshwater lakes, drawing herons, swans, and wading birds to its tranquil shores.
12. St. Stephen Street
The charming village of Stockbridge attracts its fair share of visitors, and is one of the city’s most sought-after postcodes to live in. The bustling farmers market held each Sunday is popular with tourists and locals alike, but don’t miss the independent offerings on nearby St. Stephen Street.
Peruse Scottish-made fragrances in the chic Jorum Studio, fine Scottish jewellery in ætla, and consciously curated fashion brands in treen, then pop into Golden Hare Books to raid the well-stocked shelves which are kept warm by a wood-burning stove. The street runs parallel to Circus Lane, which is also worth a ramble (with your camera in tow).
13. St. Bernard’s Well
Follow the leafy walkway along the Water of Leith between Stockbridge and Dean Village, and a Greco-Roman pavilion emerges from the trees. Encircled by classical columns, the elegant structure houses a well, which was once believed to hold healing powers.
Fittingly, a statue of Hygeia, the ancient Greek goddess of wellbeing, stands at its centre. Set aside some time to get lost in the fairy-tale lanes and centuries-old bridges of Dean Village, which started life in the 12th-century as a grain milling community.
14. Custom Lane
Sitting at one corner of The Shore, Leith’s cobbled waterfront and docks, Custom Lane has been beautifully converted by Edinburgh-based architects, GRAS, from a wharf building into a centre for design.
On the ground floor, visitors can access the Williams & Johnson café, gallery, and workshop area, and shop for unusual, handmade objects in neighbouring Bard—a sensitively styled gallery space dedicated to Scottish craft.
For more information, visit the official website.
15. Blackford Hill
Rivalling Arthur’s Seat for the best views in Edinburgh, Blackford Hill sprawls across woodland and gorse-covered meadows to the south of the city centre.
Easy-to-follow trails lead to the summit, which overlooks Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town’s distinctive skyline, Calton Hill, and as far as the rolling Pentland Hills. The Royal Observatory is nestled just below the main peak, which hosts astronomy and star-gazing evenings from its Victorian telescope dome.
For more information, visit the official website
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Author: Thanks to her nomadic childhood in the Far East, Chloe Frost-Smith’s first travel memories are filled with tuk-tuks, water buffalo, and paddy fields. Happiest when barefoot or on horseback, Chloe is a country girl at heart and often daydreams about ranch life in the American West. She’s currently based in Edinburgh as Swoon’s Editor-in-Chief, while writing about her favourite hotels and interiors for various luxury brands. If you can’t reach Chloe, she’s likely road-tripping around the Scottish Highlands & Islands with her faithful hound Humphrey.