Christmas at Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens 2025

Last Updated on 1st September 2025 by Charlotte Nadeau

This post may contain affiliate links. Please check out my privacy policy and disclosure for more information.

Illuminating Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens in a whole new light, this wonderful Christmas display of neon colours and installations brings festive joy in the days leading up to the holiday. From cradling hot cocoa to strolling through the gardens at night, this magical occasion is a highlight visit in Edinburgh come wintertime. Here’s your guide on how to visit Christmas at Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens in 2025!

*Please note that these images are taken from Edinburgh’s Botanic Light Show in 2022, the artists and their displays change every year, so no two visits are the same!

2025 dates: (running selected evenings between) 20th November – 30th December

Is Christmas at the Botanics worth it?

It’s hard to be definitive as everyone has different expectations from festive activities. What can be said is you shouldn’t expect much from the food and drink here, as the main focus is solely on bringing the garden to light with magical illuminations.

For an entry fee of £21 (adult) and £15 (child), with bundles available and discounts possible, if booked ahead in advance, it’s still a costly activity if going in a group. That being said, there’s plenty to see and it brings the festive spirits to light (quite literally) so, if it’s your kind of thing, I would definitely say it’s worth splashing out on this Christmas treat!

Highlights

Illuminated trail

The trail itself weaves through the trees and foliage of the garden, lighting up the route and allowing visitors to see the Botanics lit up in a neon glow. The individual installations are all created by different artists’, those who participate change from year to year, so no two visits to Christmas at the Botanics are the same.

There are small plaques dotted throughout the trail, offering the name of the artist and QR code links so you can explore more of their work. If you miss these, you can find out more information at the main entrance.

The house light show

Around a third of the way into the trail, you’ll be stopped by a light show that adorns the facade of Inverleith House (built in 1774, this houses rotating exhibitions throughout the year.)

Lights, music, action! This 5-minute light display is a small spectacle of festive joy where you can see impressive projections and beams of light shoot into the night sky; it’s a wonderful visual and sensory experience.

Hot cocoa & toasted marshmallows

Halfway through the trail, you’ll see a small area with a couple of van stalls. Here, you can purchase a hot drink to keep you warm, as well as toasted marshmallows and snacks to eat.

Gift shop

Once you loop back to the start, there’s a small gift shop with general botanic-themed gifts, as well as seasonal items on sale. It’s the perfect place to do some last-minute shopping if you feel inspired to do so!

How to visit

Tickets can be found on their official website here. You can book a time slot between 4:15 pm and 8 pm; the organisers space out the slots so visitors can get the best experience in the gardens. Booking online is generally cheaper, though you can purchase on arrival you may find the time slot you want is sold out.

Be sure to check the weather forecast in advance, as you’ll certainly want to visit on a dry evening. And bring lots of layers as it’s a completely outdoor experience!

Upon arrival to the gardens, either through the East Gate or the West Gate entrance, you’ll want to make your way to the main building to find the start of the trail. From here, the light show is very well signposted and you can simply enjoy the experience and let yourself be guided by the illuminations.

The experience itself takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how fast you walk around/if you stop for a drink.

Enjoyed reading about Edinburgh’s Botanic Light Show? Pin this article now, and read it again later: