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The open grass of the Meadows on a bright day, the towers of the old Royal Infirmary beyond.
Edinburgh

The Meadows

The great park on the south side of the Old Town, once the Burgh Loch, crossed by tree-lined walks and a path through a whale's jawbones.

Welcome

South of the Old Town the city opens out into a great green plain of grass and trees.

The Meadows are where Edinburgh comes to lie in the sun, kick a ball about, cycle to work and walk the dog, and on a summer evening they fill with picnics and the smell of barbecues.

They were once water. The Burgh Loch, or South Loch, lay here and gave the town much of its drinking water until the first piped supply arrived in 1621. In the 18th century it was drained, and the land was laid out with walks lined by trees. An Act of Parliament of 1827 protected it from building, and it has stayed open ever since.

Long paths run across it under avenues of trees. One of them, Jawbone Walk, passes under an arch made of a whale's jawbones, first set up for the great International Exhibition held on the Meadows in 1886.

Close byHendersonsA vegetarian and vegan restaurant beside Bruntsfield Links.3 min by roadSee itHendersons
Before you go

The Meadows are open at all times and free.

Paths cross them in every direction, among them the Jawbone Walk.

Where
South of the Old Town, between Lauriston, Marchmont and Tollcross.
Where it is

South of the Old Town, between the university and Marchmont.

Close byAround the Meadows.
  1. Machina CoffeeMachina CoffeeUnder a mile1 min by road
  2. King's TheatreKing's TheatreEdinburgh's Edwardian theatre on Leven Street, reopened in 2026.Under a mile3 min by road
  3. Turreted George Heriot's School with Edinburgh Castle on the hill beyondGeorge Heriot's SchoolA Renaissance palace of a school, begun in 1628.Under a mile4 min by road
  4. Wooden shelf of books in a dimly lit café interiorThe Edinburgh BookshopAn award-winning independent bookshop on Bruntsfield Place.1 mile4 min by road
  5. Söderberg's glass front on Simpson Loan, tables outside and cakes in the window.Söderberg The MeadowsA Swedish bakery and cafe on Simpson Loan by the Meadows.1 mile5 min by road
Directions
Black-fronted shop "CONSIDERIT" with red cushions in the windowCafeConsiderit0.4 miles
Black metal stools beneath a small wall lamp on textured plasterCafeBeatnik0.4 miles
Bookshelves line a bright shop interior, with wooden stools by the windowAttractionsTill’s Bookshop0.5 miles
Restaurant interior with dried flowers covering the ceiling and pendant lights above wooden tablesRestaurantsHendersons0.6 miles
Wooden tables and benches beneath a blue artwork on a stone wallRestaurantsHarajuku Kitchen0.6 miles
Yamato restaurant frontage with panelled door and slatted wooden claddingRestaurantsYamato0.6 miles
Tasting glasses on wooden boards before copper stills in a distilleryRestaurants56 North0.7 miles
Castello Coffee Bruntsfield window lettering, espresso machine visible through the glassCafeCastello Coffee0.7 miles
Woman in green jacket smiles beside a shop doorway with "History" posterShoppingArmchair Books0.8 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the Meadows, and when each is next free.

A round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.Moment George IV Bridge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from the Meadows
Check datesA man walks past Bucken Booths entrance flanked by black lamp postsOld Town Chambers
  • To stay
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from the Meadows
Check datesA turreted sandstone building with conical spires catches the evening light above rooftops, a large pine tree standing beside it.The Scott Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from the Meadows
Check datesWest End Muse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Edinburgh
  • Under a mile from the Meadows
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in EdinburghAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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For further reading, before you go.