The Gardener’s Lodge
Address: West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, EH2 2HG
The Gardener’s Lodge is a charming Victorian house located within West Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. It was built in 1886 during the town council’s transformation of the gardens into a public park. It was originally the residence of the park’s Head Gardener, but is no longer lived in. It is also known as the Gardener’s Cottage or Gardener’s House. It is just down from the Floral Clock and across from the Royal Scots memorial, two other well-known landmarks in the gardens.
This cottage is a familiar sight to fans of the children’s television series Tea Cup Travels, which was filmed there between 2014 and 2016. The outside of the building was used for filming, but the interiors were shot elsewhere. In 2017, the interior underwent a refurbishment, restored with period furniture and antiques to complement its historical character. Though the inside is rarely open to visitors, it has occasionally opened for tours as part of the city’s Doors Open Days festival.
5 things to do at the Gardener’s Lodge
- The Gardener’s Lodge is not usually open to the public, but you can admire its quaint exterior and gardens.
- Take a photograph or draw a sketch of the lodge, which is an inspiring subject for many local artists.
- Walk around the outside of the lodge and take in the Victorian architecture.
- Use it as a starting point for a longer walk around Princes Street Gardens, exploring the various memorials and landmarks as you go.
- Have a picnic in Princes Street Gardens, with the lodge as a picturesque backdrop.
