The 30 Best Public pools & Water park in Edinburgh

“Great little hiking trail next to the river. Beautiful old buildings along the hike.”

“Great spot for a Parkrun on a Saturday at 9:30am, keep in mind the triple loop. The boardwalk by the pond is a special feature of the park. Picnic benches and casual benches are scattered around the park. It's a kid friendly place to kick a football or take the baby for a walk in a buggy. Don't forget to stop off at the playground.”

“I love walking here and it handy it's right outside my door so many walks you can do and enjoy feeding the ducks if you fancy it”

“A hidden gem just outside the city! We recently visited Braidburn Valley Park and absolutely loved it. It’s a peaceful, green space with a beautifully flowing small canal that adds to the calm atmosphere. Just 15–20 minutes from Edinburgh city centre, it’s a perfect spot to relax, clear your mind, and enjoy some fresh air away from the hustle and bustle. Ideal for a quiet walk or a short escape into nature. Highly recommended!”

“An unusual and well maintained little space, quite different from the usual planting one finds in public spaces and very much in keeping with its beach surroundings. The Coade stone pillars are really quite striking and it's worth taking the time to have a good look at them and read about them on the interpretation boards. They are made from Coade stone, a type of weather-resistant ceramic. The pillars are listed structures and date back to the early 19th century. They were originally located in the garden of Argyle House, Hope Lane. The Portobello Amenity Society restored the pillars and erected them in the community garden. The Portobello Community Garden is a popular spot for spending contemplative time. There is relaxed seating behind a fence that protects you from the wind. The wide flat paths allow easy access for all. The garden is a delightful area, a corner of tranquillity in contrast to the busy beach area.”

“A series of artificial lagoons created from old ash settling ponds, now a vital sanctuary for coastal birds. This industrially reclaimed site is a premier spot for birdwatching, particularly for waders and wildfowl, demonstrating successful habitat creation and environmental management on the Forth estuary.”

“Excellent park. Well kept, clean & tidy! Swings, slides, flying fox etc for the children (Inc bucket swing for extra security) large green area, friendly dogs welcome to run but lifting number 2's essential! Solid path all the way around, perfect for kids biking or a morning run! Car park at gate, free some months of the year, otherwise there is a parking charge. Look out for the beautiful birds kept on premises! :)”

“Huge Park, there are two Playgrounds, one small and one is big. The small playground is few secs away from Primary School. The Pilrig house is awesome, I find it very special. It can gets rly crowded during summer. It’s also very good for dog walkers (just pls clean up after ur dog). This park is just 2-3mins away from Pilrig Church in Leith Walk. I’d also say it’s quite maintained. I recommend this park to everyone , single, couple esp for family walking. I used to walk here almost everyday and one round is like 1k steps, walking 5 rounds can make you 5k steps. There are two bus stops near this Park, so to come here is not a problem as it’s very convenient. Coming here by car is not a problem too as it’s free on-street Parking.”

“The waterfalls is lovely. There is a beautiful walkway along the Almond river, took it and reached the beach. It's a perfect short walk!”

“Lovely walk to this beautiful harbour, very peaceful place and Nice clean toilets too.”

“A beautiful “old village” with picturesque views moments from the hustle and bustle of city life. Be prepared for there too be lots of people taking pictures so there may be a few moments wait to get that shot. Definitely worth a visit to take in some of the prettiest buildings in Edinburgh”

“A pleasant path for walking and running. It can get a bit crowded on sunny days, making it a little too narrow for comfortable running, but overall it’s a beautiful walk.”

“Small lighthouse at the entrance to Newhaven Harbour on the Firth of Forth. Made from cast iron and finished in 1878, it was decommissioned in 1942. There is no entry for visitors, but Forth Ports have relit it with coloured lights, which makes for a pleasant spectacle.”

“its great here, but we took our underwater camera drone and did see a very strange (non-native?) fish”

“Great place for walking the dog or for taking the kids out to the park”

“Unlike Charlotte Sq at the other end of George St this is very definitely open to the public and as a result feels like a vital piece of greenery in the city centre , its always busy with visitors , shoppers and office workers enjoying the open spaces and /or a coffee from the small costa shack”

“Super walk arround, about 2.1 miles Always enjoy walking my dogs here”

“Free parking at the right hand side (coop shop)than you need to go down the seaside,the view is stunning,would recommend to visit if you’re at Edinburgh”

“Free parking at the right hand side (coop shop)than you need to go down the seaside,the view is stunning,would recommend to visit if you’re at Edinburgh”

“Several really good walks and trails for all ages and fitness levels. There is a visitor center that sells ice cream and juice to keep you going on your walk. There's also a play park area with dedicated areas for BBQ.”

“My husband & I absolutely enjoyed the tour Sep 10 2025 our guide explained the beautiful castle & it’s three interesting previous owners really well & he encouraged any questions from guests the gardens were wonderful a joy to see if you are visiting Edinburgh we recommend it”

“Amazing shop. Staff are so helpful. I was nervous about changing my dogs onto raw food. They explained everything to me and my dogs LOVE it. The shop is clean and well laid out, with a friendly welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Would recommend 100%.”

“Great tennis facilities and clay courts in a picturesque setting. The only downside was the lack of catering. There is an excellent chinese restaurant nearby- the Imperial Palace, and the Waitrose in Morningside is excellent and has a Sushi Day counter”

“A very pleasant gym. The machines are kept very clean and the staff is very nice. Even though it's not a big gym, it has everything you need. Also in a fantastic location!”

“The staff was superb helping us out, gave great recommendations. Short walk to the bust stop making it easy to get to downtown Edinburgh. We have camped all over the United States and now have 10 days in Scotland under our belt. This facility has the best and cleanest bathrooms/showers anywhere.”

“Absolutely loved this place, went with a hen party. Staff were friendly and professional. Really good time by all. We sang our hearts out. Well done guys.”

“Went for the first time today for the driving range, really enjoyed my time and all staff were so lovely! I arrived with nothing, I’ve never played golf and I don’t own a set of clubs. They provided me with everything I needed and all the information. Great place to go and lovely scenery with easy access.”

“This place is an oasis of calm even when the rest of the city is busy! It's a members only club, and there is sometimes a wait for membership - I had to wait about 6 months, but it was worth it. The pool is often very quiet, with only one or two other people in it - I've had it to myself occasionally! There is a steam room, sauna, and hot pool by the pool, as well as a fully kitted out gym upstairs. The staff are friendly, as are the other members. One of the unique features of this place is that when you join, you get a small locker where you can keep your swimwear. Tag your swimwear with your locker number and you can actually chuck it into the laundry baskets with the towels and the staff will wash and dry it for you overnight, and leave it back in your locker. This means that I can go straight from work, for example, to the club without having to go home to pick up my swimwear. Very convenient!”

“Lovely staff, nice cafe next door”

“The gym is excellent. Equipment very high tech but easy to use. Changing rooms nice and clean and staff really lovely. Hairdryer button is hidden at the back. Not much space makes it difficult to get dressed in the shower cubicle. Quiet at lunch times.”