Overview

Princes Street Gardens runs along one side of Princess Street, one of the main thoroughfares of Edinburgh, with amazing views over to Edinburgh Castle. The Garden is split into two separate parks, East and West Gardens. This review is for the West Gardens. If you have a mobility impairment you may find the East Garden easier to get around, please see separate listening. The West Gardens for being such an important public space in the capital is shockingly very inaccessible. While its very easy to get to, it is very difficult to get around, with only some step free paths being safely accessible, as the gardens lie in a valley.

Transport & Parking

Princes Street Gardens occupies one side of the main shopping street, so there are lots of bus routes that pass the garden. At the east end of the garden is Waverley Railway Station, Edinburgh's main train station. The tram stops close by too. Getting to it is really easy by public transport.

Access

PRINCES STREET GARDENS WEST This garden is between the National Galleries of Scotland and St Cuthbert's Church. This is the largest of the two parks and in my opinion the most attractive. It had stunning views over to Edinburgh Castle, colourful flower beds, lawn areas, the famous Floral Clock, the Ross Fountain, Wojtek the Soldier Bear Memorial and bandstand (outdoor stage). Also as it is larger it does not feel so busy as the East Gardens, as when I visited on a sunny July day it still felt peaceful and spacious. I found this park very difficult to navigate with my crutch. I made the mistake and assumed that from St Cuthbert's Church I could continue onto Princess Street Gardens. However, I could not find a route (it might have just been me), so before I got to the gardens I had walked down stairs to St Cuthbert's Church and then had to climb stairs to get me back onto Princess Street. To enter the West Gardens from Princess Street, next to St Cuthbert's Church, I had to use starts as there was no signage indicating if or where a step free route was. The stairs have a decorative wide banister on either side and a single handrail in the middle, see photo. They were not easy for me to get down with my crutch. From the bottom of the stairs there is a wide, flat, concreate path that runs parallel with Princess Street. There are lots of benches with back support and arms along this path so it was quiet easy to sit down whenever I needed to rest. Along this path are beautiful flower beds and the Wojtek the Soldier Bear Memorial. It's a very pleasant walk. While walking along from one end to the other, I noticed periodic paths leading up to Princess Street, see photo. While there were no steps and a single handrail, these paths were very steep. Personally I would have found them very difficult to use, so I avoided them. At the far end of this path I arrived at another staircase, identical to the one I had come down. It had a decorative wide banister on either side and a single handrail in the middle, see photo. Again I saw no signposts indicating a step free route. FLORAL CLOCK The famous Floral Clock is on the the National Galleries of Scotland end of the park. It is stunning and look out for the cuckoo. However, the clock itself is on a slope and to view it properly you have to stand on the steps to see it. It is in an awkward position as standing on the steps to view and photograph it blocks part of the steps for other visitors trying to use them. It also means that it is inaccessible for many wheelchair users and some people with prams. Speaking later to my cousin who lives in Edinburgh the clock has always been located there. It is a shame it is not in a more accessible location so more people could enjoy it. Away from the path parallel to Princess Street, the garden dips down into a valley. While the paths are concreate, they do have a noticeable slope. I was exhausted from doing the stairs, so I did not want to struggle by trying to access the rest of the path/ garden.

Toilets

I did not see any accessible toilets.

Staff

I did not see any staff. However, the gardens are beautifully maintained.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I really enjoyed what did and saw but I felt excluded and disadvantaged from exploring the rest of the park due to a lack of accessibility, which was very disappointing. Given its prominence both as a visitor attraction and location I would have hoped for better access than there is.

Photos