Castle Terrace Car Park

Castle Terrace Car Park is a brutalist parking structure with exposed concrete and geometric forms spanning multiple levels. The building displays characteristic skeletal concrete construction with open parking decks located directly beside Edinburgh's historic city center.

The building opened in the 1950s as Scotland's first modern multi-storey parking facility and marked a turning point in the country's approach to urban parking design. Its construction was influenced by approaches developed elsewhere in Northern Europe.

The structure reflects how mid-20th century architecture became recognized as part of Edinburgh's built heritage over time. Visitors walking past it notice how its bold concrete form contrasts sharply with the historic stone buildings surrounding it.

The facility offers parking spaces across multiple levels with direct access to nearby attractions like Edinburgh Castle and Grassmarket. Its location on Castle Terrace makes it a convenient starting point for exploring the Old Town and its various sites.

Engineer Frank Dinnis incorporated design elements inspired by Copenhagen's parking approach, creating innovative solutions for vertical parking that set the building apart from others of its era. These northern influences made it a technical standout when it first opened.

Location: City of Edinburgh

Architectural style: brutalism

GPS coordinates: 55.94797,-3.20329

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:24