Venue of the Month: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is celebrating 350 years and is open again to the public to help us reconnect with nature and feel the benefits of being in a natural environment.

Further to this, the venue is a beautiful setting for meeting, events and special occasions including weddings. 

Weddings at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - Getting engaged and planning a wedding is a very exciting time! As a wedding venue, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Located minutes from centre of Edinburgh, with 70 acres of manicured lawns and landscaped grounds and gardens, offers a romantic setting for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies and celebrations..

The team of passionate and professional event designers are on hand to guide couples through every step to ensue that every wedding day is totally unique at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

There are a host of locations to choose from to suit your vision from an outdoor ceremony in the spectacular Redwood Grove or indoors in the beautiful Caledonian Hall, or even a twilight ceremony under the stars on the Outdoor Terrace.

To celebrate after the ceremony there are a number of spaces to choose from the  Caledonian Hall where guests can spill out into the surrounding area and really enjoy all that the Gardens have to offer, the Pavilion with views across the waterfall and rock garden or the John Hope Gateway and Outdoor Terrace for a large party with lots of atmosphere.

The chef and wedding planning team  ensure guests are wowed by the finest Scottish produce and seasonal ingredients  some of which come direct from the gardens and with all the finishes touches to the day to make it truly a dream come true.

Arrange a wedding planning viewing

Meetings and Conferences at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a beautiful setting in the heart of Edinburgh for meetings and events. With the multiple venues, extensive grounds and hundreds of years of scientific history at your fingertips, the venue offers fantastic inspiration for company wide meetings, team building and networking events.

There are four main areas to consider:

John Hope Gateway and the Outdoor Terrace

One of Scotland's most sustainable buildings, this is a truly versatile space for formal dinners, informal celebrations or even a night of dancing. The doors lead out to the decking where guests can enjoy the fresh Scottish air under the warmth of the outdoor heaters and blankets. This covered area allows guests to appreciate the Gardens no matter what the weather

Caledonian Hall and Pavilion

Built in the 1820's as a herbarium, it's high ceiling and large windows offer the perfect venue for a more formal affair. With an indoor bar area and outdoor patio with seating, your guests will have all they need for an afternoon and evening of celebrations. The Caledonian Hall is perfect for conferences, dinners, drinks receptions and exhibitions and is booked alongside the adjoining Pavilion which provides a fantastic breakout space overlooking the rock garden.

David Douglas Room

This intimate location within the John Hope Gateway building offers floor to ceiling windows which makes it perfect for a lunch, dinner or conference space. The views across the Garden create the perfect backdrop and with a private terrace there is the option to enjoy a drinks reception outdoors with heaters in the winter months.

Lecture Theatre and Conference Room

For a large conference for 250 guests or a small meeting for 12 we have a modern lecture theatre and conference room with modern audio-visual facilities. The Conference Room can act as a standalone venue, a break-out area for the Lecture Theatre or an overflow for relaying the Lecture Theatre presentation.                                      

Covid-19 Safety Measures at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

To protect visitors and staff, a booking for a specified timeslot should be made ahead of attending the gardens.

Further to this a number of health and safety measures have been introduced:

• Guests will receive a warm welcome at a distance.
• Visitor capacity will be monitored to facilitate physical distancing.
• Hand sanitiser units are placed at entrances and other points within the Garden.
• There are protection screens at receptions.
• Contactless payments only.
• PPE is available for our staff.  Face coverings are now mandatory when visiting our shops.
• There is helpful, directional signage within the boundaries of the Garden.
• Please observe two metre physical distancing in line with Scottish Government guidelines.  
• Toilets, including additional temporary facilities, are open but please observe maximum limits.
• Test and trace policy in place.

FAQs on Covid-19 protocol can also be found here.