Ross Fountain
Address: West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, EH1 2EU
The Ross Fountain is a large French-made water feature, which gunmaker Daniel Ross purchased at the world fair 1862 in London and gifted to the city of Edinburgh. Since 1872 it has stood in Princes Street Gardens, beneath the towering Edinburgh Castle. Its ornate design features a central female figure holding onto the decorative spire at the top, with four female muses beneath, symbolising the arts, science, poetry and industry. There are eight mermaids sitting in scallop shells on the bottom section. Other details include cherub and lion heads, aquatic foliage and intricate motifs.
In 2018, the tarnished, golden-coloured fountain was extensively repaired and repainted in a new colour scheme of turquoise, gold and brown, inspired by other French fountains that were made around the same time. In this process, the whole structure was taken apart and each of the 122 pieces refurbished and put back together. The foundations were completely rebuilt too, allowing water to flow from the fountain once more. The view of the Ross Fountain with the castle above is one of the city’s iconic images. Picture perfect!
5 things to do at the Ross Fountain
- Admire the ornate design and look for the mermaids, muses, cherubs, lions and more.
- Enjoy the water feature, which was restored to full working order in 2018.
- Capture some stunning photos at this iconic Edinburgh location.
- Relax in the gardens or have a picnic with a view of the fountain.
- Explore the many other great monuments and landmarks in Princes Street Gardens.
