FAQs / Help
Play with Plants is an interactive family play experience that enables children to explore the world of plants through hands on activities.
15th June until 1st September
Child 5 + £7, Child 1-4 £5 Adult £2, under 1's free
The purchased ticket is for a specified 60-minute time slot. Latecomers will be admitted but will be restricted to their timeslot.
From Saturday 17th August, timeslots from 12.15 onwards will not be restricted to one hour. Visitors can stay as long as they wish until closer at 17.15.
10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 13:15, 14:15, 15:15, 16:15
Food and drink is not allowed in Play with Plants. However, you are welcome to eat in the Garden and there are two restaurants on site.
For safety of other users and our plants, no scooter or bikes are allowed in the Garden including inside Play with Plants
You are welcome to take photographs and to share these on social media with the hashtag #PlaywithPlants.
Please note that commercial photography is not permitted at this event, except by prior written agreement. To enquire please email comsales@rbge.org.uk
Play with Plants is an indoor event and will not be affected by the weather. If you wish to explore the Garden as well, we recommend you dress for the outdoors.
Digital tickets will be sent to you in your confirmation email at the time of purchase.The ticket is sent as a QR code which will be scanned at entry to the exhibition.
Members will receive a 10% discount off their admission ticket for Play with Plants. Members will receive a code in their newsletter for 10% discount on booking. You will be required to show your membership card on admission to the exhibition.
We recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment. Each timed entry has a limited capacity and weekend slots are likely to sell out.
We recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment. Each timed entry has a limited capacity. Tickets can be purchase in the John Hope Gateway between 10am and 4.15pm, we only accept card payment.
You can change the date of your booking free of charge up to 24 hours in advance of our session, provided your booking is the same number of tickets and value. This can only be done online if you have created a digitickets account which we recommend doing at booking to enable you to make changes yourself. If you do not have an account, changes need to be made in person at the Garden's ticket desk.
You can change the time of your booking free of charge up to 24 hours in advance of our session, provided your booking is the same number of tickets and value. This can only be done online if you have created a DigiTickets account which we recommend doing at booking to enable you to make changes yourself. If you do not have an account, changes need to be made in person at the Garden's ticket desk.
All tickets are strictly non-refundable.
You can show your E-tickets on your phone.
We recommend checking with your card issuer if your card is declined to ensure there are sufficient funds in your account and that there are no problems placing an order on our website.
Play with Plants is located inside the John Hope Gateway at the West Gate.
Play with Plants is most suitable for children aged 3 -10 years but there are fun activities for all the family.
You are welcome to exit and return to the exhibition anytime during you 60-minute time slot. You will receive a hand stamp on entry to the space to signify you are booked into that slot. Please be aware, if you leave the space, your time in the space will still be restricted to your 60-minute slot.
A session lasts 60 minutes.
You do not require a ticket for entry to the Botanics, you can enter the Garden anytime from 10am until 5.15pm.
Please contact the Gardens by emailing events@rbge.org.uk. Please allow 2 days for our team to reply.Please contact our events team
You can bring your own mobility scooter. There are also eight motorised scooters and three wheelchairs for visitors that can be borrowed free of charge at either entrance (East Gate or John Hope Gateway Visitor Centre). We recommend booking these in advance of your visit. To book a wheelchair or mobility scooter, or if you require any further access advice in order to plan your visit, please contact us on 0131 248 2909 or send an email to visitorwelcome@rbge.org.uk.
The easiest way to book a mobility scooter is by clicking here or email visitorwelcome@rbge.org.uk
Play with Plants is fully accessible for wheelchair users. The majority of the garden has a mixture of hard standing and tarmac footpaths and fully accessible.
We want all visitors to enjoy the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and aim to provide the best possible access to everyone in order that they enjoy their visit.
We hope the following information will help you plan your trip to the Garden.
At a glance:
• Accessible toilets are located in our visitor centre and in the Garden.
• Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available.
• There is seating at regular intervals in the Garden.
• Water is available for assistance animals.
• Pen, paper and magnifying glasses are available at our Visitor Welcome desk.
• Hearing loops are located at our welcome points
• British Sign Language seasonal garden tours are available to book.
• Assistance animals that are highly trained are welcome at the Garden.
We will be running quiet sessions during the summer. The capacity of this session will be limited to ensure that the exhibition remains less crowded and more relaxed. The dates will be announced soon. Please keep an eye on our website.
There are two entrances at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Play with Plants is at the West Gate.
West Gate Address: Royal Botanic Garden, West Gate, Arboretum Place, EH3 5NZ
East Gate Address: Royal Botanic Garden, East Gate, Inverleith Row, EH3 5LP On foot: The Garden is just one mile north of Princes Street. The West Gate located on Arboretum Place can be accessed via Stockbridge and the East Gate is located on Inverleith Row.
By train: The nearest station is Waverley Station which is 1.5 miles from the Garden.
By bus: The Garden's East Gate is served by Lothian Buses 8, 23 and 27 from the City Centre and the West Gate (John Hope Gateway) is served by Lothian Buses 29, 42 and 24 via Stockbridge.
By car: If you are arriving by car, entry is via the West Gate (John Hope Gateway) where there is ample on-street parking available.
The Garden is just one mile north of Princes Street. The West Gate located on Arboretum Place can be accessed via Stockbridge and the East Gate is located on Inverleith Row.
At the West Gate/John Hope Gateway there is an area which can be used for drop-off, but it is not dedicated.
There are no parking facilities onsite at the Botanics but there is ample parking around the periphery of the Garden. Please use metered parking bays on Arboretum Road, Arboretum Place, Inverleith Place, Inverleith Terrace, East Fettes Avenue, Carrington Road and Fettes Avenue (free after 5:30pm). Resident permit bays should be avoided. There is no parking next to the East Gate.
If your event has been cancelled, you will receive an email to confirm this with more information.
You will only receive further information via email if your particular date/time slot has been cancelled. You will then be given the option to attend a future date/time.
If the event was cancelled and no new date has been offered, refunds are automatically credited back to the original source of payment and will take up to 10 working days to clear.
If there are any issues refunding you, we will contact you via email.
We have six blue badge parking spaces for disabled people to the left of the West Gate entrance and a further three spaces opposite to the left of the Inverleith Park Gate. Blue Badge holders can park in metered bays for free if displaying their badge.
There are an additional WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) spaces in the circular area outside the Botanics' West Gate.