The 'leafy' Scottish city crowned best for parks and gardens by Time Out
A Scottish city has been crowned among the "best for green spaces" in the world by Time Out. On Tuesday, May 27, Time Out published a list of the "world's best cities for green space and access to nature according to locals".
A total of 20 cities across the globe appear on the renowned travel website's roundup, which was based on surveys of thousands of people across the globe. Placing at number five on the list is Edinburgh.
Auld Reekie was tied with Melbourne in Australia and Austin in the United States. According to the experts, 86 per cent of survey respondents had positive things to say about the Scottish capital and its various green spaces.
One of the top parks in Edinburgh is Holyrood Park, which includes the famous Arthur's Seat. Additionally, the 650-acre royal park is home to lochs, glens, ridges, basalt cliffs, and more.
Another popular green space in Edinburgh is Princes Street Gardens. Consisting of two adjacent parks in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street Gardens dates back to the early 19th century—following the draining of the Nor Loch that was previously situated on the site.
Elsewhere, The Meadows has long been considered one of the Scottish capital's most scenic green spaces. The large public park includes primarily grassland, though there is also a playground, tennis courts, a croquet club, and more.
On the other hand, one of the city's top attractions is the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The free-to-enter garden spans more than 70 acres and is home to one of the biggest collections of plants in the world.
The city also offers easy access to a huge variety of walks and beauty spots in the surrounding areas. Highlights include the Pentland Hills and the Scottish Borders.
Time Out commented: "Auld Reekie placed joint fifth (with Austin and Melbourne), with 86 per cent of Dunediner survey respondents having positive things to say about Edinburgh's green spaces.
"And there's no denying that Edinburgh is a leafy place. The gloriously green likes of Holyrood Park, Arthur's Seat, Carlton Hill, Princes Street Gardens, The Meadows, The Royal Botanic Garden and much more are all within the city limits, while beaches like Portobello and Silverknowes are within easy reach.
"Beyond the city itself, more expansive green spaces at Pentland Hills, Dalkeith and Vogrie are all very accessible, and the Scottish Borders aren't too far, either."
Meanwhile, Medellín in Colombia was named as the best city in the world for green space. According to Time Out, 92 per cent of locals raved about the city's public parks and access to nature.
Following behind in second place on the list is Boston in the United States. Elsewhere, Sydney in Australia and London in England placed joint third.
See below for the full list of the top cities in the world for green spaces. More information can be found on the Time Out website.
20 best cities in the world for green space and access to nature
1. Medellín, Colombia
2. Boston, US
3. Sydney, Australia
= London, UK
5. Austin, US
= Edinburgh, UK
= Melbourne, Australia
8. Denver, US
9. Abu Dhabi, UAE
= Cape Town, South Africa
= Chicago, US
12. San Francisco, US
= Stockholm, Sweden
14. Montreal, Canada
= Munich, Germany
16. Mumbai, India
17. Beijing, China
18. Zurich, Switzerland
= Ottawa, Canada
20. Brisbane, Australia
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Evening Standard
an hour ago
- Evening Standard
Heathrow reveals plan for £21bn third runway
One of Scotland's last 'untouched' private islands for sale for the price of a home in London Remote 90-acre Scottish island for sale for less than a home in London
Scotsman
6 hours ago
- Scotsman
Chaos caused by North Sea cable break shows why we must act to stop Scottish islands being cut off
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In the Northern Isles, you are never so aware of the things you rely upon as when they are no longer there. That, I suspect, has been the rueful thought of many islanders in recent days after an undersea cable breakage last weekend. Whether it was the switchboard at the Balfour hospital in Kirkwall being knocked out, undertakers unable to operate, island airports facing delays, shops unable to process card payments or simply their internet or mobile connections at home, people have had a sharp reminder of how reliant we have become on these connections for our everyday needs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We cannot wind back the clock on our reliance on the internet. Now is the time for our governments to take notice and take action so that Scottish islands cannot be so easily cut off in future. Residents of Orkney and Shetland saw internet and other services disrupted after a cable linking the islands to the UK mainland was damaged (Picture: Adrian Dennis) | AFP via Getty Images Risk of a catastrophe Technological advances bring all sorts of improvements of efficiency, accessibility and opportunity that were not there before in the more 'far-flung' islands of Scotland just as much as anywhere else (who counts as far-flung being a matter of perspective of course). It is sometimes worth taking a look around, however, and recognising the risks of our communities relying too much on too few potential points of failure. After all, in some ways you could say that last week's cable cut was the 'best-case' scenario for disruption. Cable breakages in the summer are better than cable breakages in the winter, when storms and cold weather can turn a 'nuisance' into a 'catastrophe'. One constituent contacted me after the outage saying that her only way to get a signal and communicate with anyone was to stand outside her local community hall. That is irritating in the summer but far more problematic in the colder months. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Even in these warmer months, however, there are serious challenges. One islander wrote to me this week because her father, who recently had a stroke, has had no way to contact her should he have a fall, due to the connectivity disruption. Another has had to rely on the help of neighbours to submit a job application and prepare for an interview. Building up our defences What has come through in my inbox time and again from islanders is the poor communication of network providers and the inconsistency of their support for customers – a tale as familiar in Edinburgh as it is in Lerwick. Every part of the country should have the same expectation of reliable, well-reinforced communications (and energy) links – and it is in every part of this country's interest to build up these defences. After all, Britain may be a larger island than those in Orkney or Shetland but it is an island all the same. Many of the same risks to connectivity that apply north of the Pentland Firth apply to the UK as a whole – with far wider potential consequences. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad All indications are that this latest cable cut was accidental, but after reports of Russia targeting undersea cables in the Baltic, we cannot be complacent about our own infrastructure. We have all grown to rely upon instant connections for so much of our economy and our society. We may not be prepared for what happens when those connections can no longer be taken for granted.
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Extraordinary UK island home to dolphins, panoramic cliff views & salmon fishing is on sale for less than a two-bed flat
Estate agents say the island would be perfect for transforming into a glamping site, or using as a film set ISLE TAKE IT Extraordinary UK island home to dolphins, panoramic cliff views & salmon fishing is on sale for less than a two-bed flat Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BREATHTAKING UK island home to seals and the rolling cliffs is on sale for less than the price of some two-bed flats. Accessible by boat or helicopter, the 90-acre uninhabited island is immersed in the wilderness, making it perfect for anyone keen to escape the hustle and bustle. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Insh Island is up for sale for £500,000 Credit: Facebook 5 The island has stunning coastline Credit: Facebook 5 The island features a "cave house" Credit: Facebook Insh Island, located in the Inner Hebrides, is one of Scotland's "last untouched private islands". The entire island is currently on the market for £500,000, which is less than the average price for a two-bed flat in central London. It offers panoramic views of the vast Atlantic Ocean, and is home to incredible marine wildlife, such as dolphins and seals. From dramatic cliffs to magnificent stargazing, the slice of wilderness has everything you need to relax and unwind in nature. Spend hours strolling along the untouched coastal paths, or, if you're feeling adventurous, grab a kayak and head out to sea, or grab a rod and fish for wild salmon. Insh Island is located close to Easdale, Scotland's smallest inhabited island, which is home to the World Stone Skimming Championships. From Easdale, you can easily take a 3-5 minute passenger ferry to Ellenabeich on Seil Island from where you can head north to Oban, the nearest large town. The island has no established buildings on it, but there is a "cave house" on the northwestern coastline. It's a completely blank canvas, perfect for transforming into a private family retreat, or a conservation project. According to estate agents Savills, there is plenty of opportunity for renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. Little Diomede is a tiny remote island where US is just 2 MILES from Russia The agents add that there is great potential for a glamping site or organic farm on the island. Savills said: "Beyond its natural appeal, Insh Island represents a compelling investment. "As demand for exclusive, eco-conscious destinations continues to grow, this island is ideally suited for tourism, wellness retreats, or even use as a film location. "Land of this kind, wild, private, and unspoiled,is increasingly rare and offers lasting legacy value." Property agent Cameron Ewer added: "One of Scotland's last, untouched private islands. "As someone who appreciates the value of natural beauty, this is just too good an opportunity for any like-minded investor to ignore." Shuna Island And Insh isn't the only Scottish Island that is currently on sale after Shuna Island went on the market for the first time in 80 years. Spanning across 1,110 acres, the island has been in the hands of the same family for the last eight decades. The island, which has eight residential properties on it, as well as a castle, is on the market for a whopping £5.5 million. It is located just off the coast from Appin, Argyll and Bute and features a working farm and a holiday home business. Shuna Castle, which was built in the early 20th century is in ruins, but offers panoramic views of the stunning Scottish coast. 5 H6P9P2 Insh Island Scotland September 2013 Credit: Alamy
