London Road Gardens, Edinburgh

London Road Gardens (formerly Royal Terrace Gardens) are one of the collection of New Town Gardens located close to the city centre of Edinburgh in the New Town, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1995. They occupy a long strip of land from east to west along the lower northern slope of Calton Hill, with an area of 4.37 hectares (10.8 acres). The gardens are notable for their large, old trees including limes and some fine, surviving elms, also spring flowers, particularly daffodils.

1. History

Royal Terrace Gardens were designed by the architect William Henry Playfair, as part of his plan for the Eastern, or third New Town, approved by a committee on 27 September 1819. They formed the slope below Royal Terrace and Carlton Terrace (also designed by Playfair) preserving the view from these streets. The site originally contained two quarries, and Playfair decided to fill these in, landscaping the gardens, using earth excavated in the course of building of the terraces above. Eventually the land was fenced, landscaped and planted with trees in 1829. Following the arrival of the deposed King Charles X of France in October 1830, a special footpath was added through the gardens to enable him to walk between his residence in Holyrood Palace and the Catholic cathedral of St Mary's in Picardy Place at the top of Leith Walk.

1. Management

The gardens were, and are, owned by the George Heriot's Hospital. They are leased to the City of Edinburgh Council for public use on condition that they are maintained in good order, to be used only as "pleasure grounds with walks". No trees may be removed without consent. The lease is renewed at 25 year intervals.

1. Royal Terrace Gardens' House

Playfair also designed a gardeners cottage for the west end of the gardens which was built in 1836 when it was known as the Royal Terrace Gardens' House. It is now used as a restaurant.

1. See also

William Henry Playfair Calton Hill Regent Terrace Royal Terrace, Edinburgh Carlton Terrace, Edinburgh Regent, Royal and Carlton Terrace Gardens

1. References

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Royal Terrace, Edinburgh

Royal Terrace is a grand street in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, on the north side of Calton Hill within the New Town and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1995, built on the south side of a setted street, facing the sloping banks of London Road Gardens, formerly Royal Terrace Gardens, with views looking north towards Leith and the Firth of Forth.

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Regent, Royal and Carlton Terrace Gardens

The Regent, Royal and Carlton Terrace Gardens (informally called Regent Gardens, and previously known as the Calton Hill Pleasure Ground and the Large Garden) are private communal gardens in the New Town area of Edinburgh, EH7. They lie over a 4.8-hectare (12-acre) site on the east side of Calton Hill. The gardens have been listed on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes as part of the New Town gardens heritage designation since March 2001. The gardens form some of the collection of New Town Gardens. The gardens are secluded high up on the hill, with impressive views southeast over Holyrood to Arthur's Seat and north across the Firth of Forth to Fife. However, the gardens are secluded and the adjacent properties offer the only close-up view of the landscape. They are the largest and most impressively landscaped of all the gardens in Edinburgh's New Town remaining in private ownership.

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Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh

The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, also known as ACE, is an infoshop and autonomous social centre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1997, although it follows on from previous groups.

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Carlton Terrace, Edinburgh

Carlton Terrace (known as Carlton Place from around 1830 until 1842) is a residential street in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located on the east side of Calton Hill, at the eastern extremity of the New Town, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1995. The street is in the form of an inverted crescent, a long, hairpin curved terrace of 19 classical town houses, linking together with Regent Terrace and Royal Terrace in a 'necklace' around the hill. Built on the west side of a setted street, the terrace faces sloping gardens descending down to Abbeyhill, across to Holyrood, and over to the heights of Arthur's Seat. Residents enjoy access to Regent Gardens.

Historic Site Landmark