Regent, Royal and Carlton Terrace Garden

Regent, Royal and Carlton Terrace Garden is a private communal green space on the east side of Calton Hill covering approximately 4.8 hectares. It contains six distinct lawn areas, a wooded section with mixed tree species, and is enclosed by the three terraces that give it its name.

The garden was established between 1830 and 1832 with guidance from naturalist Patrick Neill and botanist Robert Graham who shaped its original design. It has retained its foundational layout and remains a direct legacy of the New Town development period.

The garden serves as a central green space for the surrounding neighborhood, reflecting the ordered design principles of Georgian-era Edinburgh with its carefully maintained lawns. The three connected terraces that frame it remain important focal points in daily life for local residents.

Access is typically limited to special open days throughout the year, though the location is convenient with Picardy Place tram stop and London Road bus station nearby. Visitors should note the garden sits below street level on the surrounding terraces, making it easy to find the access points.

From its elevated position, the garden offers views across the Firth of Forth toward Fife and southeastward across Holyrood toward the Arthur's Seat mountain. This vantage point makes it unusual among Edinburgh's communal gardens for combining intimate space with panoramic sight lines.