Floral Clock
Floral Clock
4
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The area
Neighborhood: Old Town
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavored souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile, the thoroughfare that links the castle with the royal palace – two of Edinburgh’s great set-piece attractions. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds, while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.
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2,209 within 3 miles
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556 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
56 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
16
Average
4
Poor
4
Terrible
4
ajm549
Aberdeen, UK214 contributions
Jul 2021
After a long period out of action the floral clock is back with a wonderful tribute to the work of the National Health Service. Stay a while to take in the beauty of the clock and surrounding text but wait until the quarter hour to see the bird emerge from its little house. Fascinating for small children to watch but can be a bit of a nuisance if you have to wait another 15 minutes to see it again!!
Written July 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bsandrs
Portsmouth, UK22,616 contributions
Aug 2020
I do not think that anybody would disagree with the design of this years planting around the ornamental clock in Princes Street Gardens. The planting, as always is of a very high standard and we always make sure we drop down the steps from the street to enjoy the feature.
Written November 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bibcay
Gateshead, UK4,300 contributions
Sep 2022 • Family
We visited before Queen Elizabeth II died and it has something something do with platinum jubilee. I think it's a great idea what they have done and they could possibly do something else for the queen next even though I am not a royalist.
Written September 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jayem76
Leeds, UK139 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
I went to Edinburgh on the 14th October because I had read on the internet that the clock was "there until October". Obviously as soon as October arrives means October, because when I got there the whole space the clock takes up was totally empty. I had wanted to see this particular one, because it was the 100th anniversary of the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive, so needless to say I was not impressed to see an empty bank of soil. Perhaps a more certain removal date of the plants could be put in place to avoid disappointment
Written October 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judith S
London, UK477 contributions
Jul 2019
A beautiful clock at the Princes Street Entrance to Princes Street Gardens. The positioning of the clock is slightly awkward behind some railings, and I think it might have been off by a few minutes when I was there.
Based on other reviewers it seems that the charity it supports changes - when I was there it said "save the children."
It's a beautiful clock and very well maintained.
Based on other reviewers it seems that the charity it supports changes - when I was there it said "save the children."
It's a beautiful clock and very well maintained.
Written August 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James P
Cambridge, UK2,793 contributions
May 2022
At the end of Princess Gardens, alongside the steps up to the road, this is an intriguing work of art. A very clever floral display, with the hands of the clock actually moving to tell the correct time.
Written August 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johnhp702
Derby, UK20,503 contributions
Jul 2020
The clock face is still there but in these troubled times the words"stay safe" mean much more to people, what a fabulous display.
Written July 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia51,703 contributions
Sep 2018
When we first saw this Floral Clock, in the Princes Street Garden we thought it was just a nice floral display. However we returned a couple of times and had a closer look. We realised it was actually a clock telling real time. The flowers are colourful and beautiful. The location is probably not the best spot as it is very easy to miss, but be that as it may, it is there! In fact it has been in that spot since 1903. Initially it functioned with an hour hand only, but a minute hand was added in 1904. In 1905 the mechanism based on organ pipes and bellows to replicate the sound of the cuckoo was installed in a box next to the Floral Clock to record the hour. The early mechanism did not include the house for the cuckoo or indeed a full scale model of the bird. Over time the clock underwent several modifications. The clockwork mechanism that drove the Floral Clock was converted to electric in 1973. And here are some more vital statistics: The minute and hour hands measure approximately 2.4m and 1.5m respectively. When filled with plants, the large hand weighs approximately 36 kg while the small weighs 22.7 kg. The clock itself is 3.6m wide, with a circumference of 11m. 35,000 plants are used in the design, compared to 13 000 in the 1930s and 25 000 in the 1950s. Definitely worth a close look!
Written August 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brucestewart
Livingston, UK10,155 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
I'm really surprised that there are so few reviews of the floral clock as it is a 'must see' attraction in Edinburgh, much more so than some other well publicised venues. Every year the clock commemmorates a different event or anniversary. This year it is the 200th Anniversary of The Scotsman newspaper. If you are there at the correct time, I think that it is on the hour and the intervening quarter hours, you will see the cuckcoo coming out of its birdbox.
Written August 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thetravellingmanUk
uk9,489 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
This working clock is the oldest in the world.
It was first created in 1903, and up until 1972 it was mechanically operated and had to be wound up daily. From 1973 it was electrically driven.
The clock flowers from July until October.
It is located in West Princes Street Gardens next to The Mound entrance.
Very busy when I visited with people standing on the steps and photographs being taken galore!
TIP - Try and visit as the time is approaching the hour (or every quarter of an hour I believe) and that way you will also see the cuckoo coming out of the house and hear it calling.
It was first created in 1903, and up until 1972 it was mechanically operated and had to be wound up daily. From 1973 it was electrically driven.
The clock flowers from July until October.
It is located in West Princes Street Gardens next to The Mound entrance.
Very busy when I visited with people standing on the steps and photographs being taken galore!
TIP - Try and visit as the time is approaching the hour (or every quarter of an hour I believe) and that way you will also see the cuckoo coming out of the house and hear it calling.
Written August 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N4899UKwilliamw
Elgin, United Kingdom
Just back from Edinburgh and we are wondering why the floral clock has not been planted this year?
Written May 7, 2018
I'll be short on time and am wondering how I access the face of the Floral Clock from Princess Street for a quick picture. I'm assuming you can't actually see the clock from Princess St. or the Mound.
Written June 7, 2017
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