The Meadows
🏟 Playground & park · Southside / Marchmont, Edinburgh
The Meadows
A large central Edinburgh park south of the Old Town with one of the city's biggest play areas, tennis courts, croquet and wide tree-lined grassland.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open public park, accessible year-round; no stated closing hours. Public toilets at Hope Park Crescent and South Middle Meadow Walk open roughly 10am-6pm. · Free · No booking needed
About The Meadows
The Meadows is a large public park just south of Edinburgh's Old Town, managed by the City of Edinburgh Council. It is made up largely of open grassland crossed by long tree-lined paths, framed by the cherry blossom avenues that draw crowds each spring. For families, the East Meadows is home to one of the biggest play areas in the city, with a large multi-play unit, swings including baby and toddler swings, slides, a sandpit with diggers, a zip line and climbing features; a separate, smaller toddler play area sits over at Meadows West on Bruntsfield Links. Beyond the playgrounds the park offers tennis courts, a cricket pitch, croquet, designated barbeque areas, outdoor gym equipment, picnic tables and acres of grass for games, picnics and events. Public toilets, including accessible facilities with a Changing Places room, are provided near the play areas, and there is a cafe on site. Flat tarmac paths make the park easy to get around with buggies and wheelchairs. Centrally located and well served by buses, The Meadows is one of Edinburgh's best-loved green spaces for a family day out.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Tennis courts
- Cricket pitch
- Croquet
- Designated barbeque areas
- Outdoor gym equipment
- Picnic tables and seating
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
- Accessibility: Flat, tree-lined tarmac paths cross the park with wheelchair access and seating; accessible public toilets with RADAR key and a Changing Places facility are available.
🧒 Ages & play
- Large multi-play unit (the 'Magnet' play area, among the largest in the city)
- Swings including baby/toddler swings
- Slides
- Sandpit with diggers
- Zip line
- Climbing features
- Separate toddler play area at Meadows West (Bruntsfield Links)
📍 Nearby places to play
- Harrison Park · approx 1.3 miles · Polwarth
- Prestonfield Park · approx 1.4 miles · Prestonfield
- Inverleith Park · approx 1.8 miles · Inverleith
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is The Meadows free?
Yes. The Meadows is a free, public park just south of Edinburgh city centre, managed by the City of Edinburgh Council.
What's in the playground?
The main play area on the East Meadows is one of the largest in the city, with a big multi-play unit, swings, slides, a sandpit with diggers, a zip line and climbing features; there is also a separate toddler play area at Meadows West.
Are there toilets or a cafe?
Yes. There are public toilets at Hope Park Crescent and South Middle Meadow Walk, including accessible facilities and a Changing Places room, and there is a cafe on site.
Where is The Meadows?
It is on Melville Drive in the Southside/Marchmont area, just south of the Old Town, postcode EH9 9EX.
Is it good for toddlers?
Yes. As well as the big East Meadows play area there is a separate, smaller toddler play area at Meadows West on Bruntsfield Links, plus plenty of flat grass for little ones to run around.