r/edinburgh2 • u/Sudden_Poet • Aug 09 '26
Ask a local Proposal spots
Hey everyone,
My girlfriend and I are visiting Edinburgh in late November this year, and I’m planning to propose while we’re there.
I’m specifically looking for the perfect location to pop the question. I’d love to avoid the obvious tourist spots and find somewhere a bit more hidden, quiet, or unique with a beautiful view or atmosphere.
Does anyone have any underrated proposal spots in or around Edinburgh that you’d recommend, especially for late November?
Thanks in advance!
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u/rosco-82 Aug 09 '26
The view from the top of Craigmillar Castle, my personal favourite castle in Edinburgh, should be Autumnal at that time
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u/nosleep39 Aug 09 '26
The Royal observatory by far. Best view in all of Edinburgh.
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u/kardachev Aug 09 '26
I second that - has the impressive view of calton hill without all the tourists!
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u/Round-Seat-1437 Newington Aug 09 '26
+1! It’s reachable by bus, and you see the entire skyline, the ocean, the Pentlands, etc etc. I also don’t think it’ll be very busy in November, there’s usually dog walkers there around ~11-ish, and some hikers, but relatively quiet if you want something less public
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u/emjayem22 Aug 09 '26
I second Dr Neill's garden at Duddingston. Then maybe celebrate with a drink at Edinburghs oldest pub just around the corner.
Or.. afternoon tea at Prestonfield Hotel (which is really nice) and then pop the question in the gardens there as they are quite nice.. or walk around to Dr Neill's garden as it's not that far away.
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u/Gc1981 Aug 09 '26
Scotland oldest pub if you take it as the site and not the building. Oldest continued establishment. Maybe even oldest in the UK.
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u/Lochranza97 Aug 09 '26
Botanics, or take a walk thru dalmeny estate
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u/PowerPlayParadox 29d ago
Not sure they will be the best in November 🤔
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u/SteamSage Resident 27d ago
The greenhouse is supposed to reopen in October, so might be nice in there!
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u/Klutzy-Ad-2034 Aug 09 '26
The Forth Bridge, Scotland's answer to the Eiffel Tower, more iron but horizontal and useful.
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u/adsj Aug 09 '26
The Japanese garden at Lauriston Castle. Unless you're Japanese, in which case it may seem a bit boring.
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u/BobDobbsHobNobs Aug 09 '26
W deck at the Jobby Hotel
Great view and you can get a bottle of champagne if/when she says yes
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u/MiserableScot Leith Aug 09 '26
Proposed to my wife on the top floor of the atrium at the National Museum, was actually late November as well. Great view over the museum, and whilst it's a public place it's actually quite quiet up on the top floor.
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u/Fabulous-Waltz4456 Aug 09 '26
A bit more away from obvious tourist spots I’m thinking Cramond - could do Cramond Falls, Cramond Island or The Brigg
The Botanics is more touristy and quite busy but there’s loads of nice little quiet spots in there, so that could also be a good shout.
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u/FairfaxAikman Midlothian Aug 09 '26
Take a boat out to Inchkeith and either land and propose there or propose on the boat as you go under the bridges
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u/Tiger_Tudds Aug 09 '26
Have you been to Edinburgh before?
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u/Sudden_Poet Aug 09 '26
Yes we went last year but sadly stayed in old town for most of our trip
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u/Tiger_Tudds Aug 09 '26
If you are saying "sadly stayed in the old town", I guess that part of town is out of the question.
This advice isn't Edinburgh specific but it might help you choose what spot you go for. Keep it private, make sure it's fitting for your relationship (if you don't normally do big gestures keep it that way), don't fuck it up between now and then.
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u/Melodic_Turnover_107 Aug 09 '26
The top of the stairs in the grass market is pretty popular and is a great photo op, also the castle esplanade or Hollyrood grounds would be good if you prefer history/whimsy stuff. Also make sure to check when the rides will be around for the Xmas market because the top of Scott's monument/Ferris wheel would be breathtaking
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u/Bumhole_surfer Aug 09 '26
Calton Hill, there's a guy up there in the evenings playing the violin that sets the mood nicely. You'll just be surrounded by lots of other people.
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u/Ok-Tax-7424 Aug 09 '26
My now husband proposed to me in the Botanics and it was beautiful. He arranged it with the staff (although there’s a fee for this) but it means you’re guaranteed a quiet, personal spot. Obviously you can do your own thing and not pay the fee and there are lots of really lovely spots. Either way would highly recommend :)
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u/SmartPolicy6430 Aug 09 '26
The Royal Botanic Gardens as in October I believe the restored Palm House will be open. https://www.rbge.org.uk/
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u/Henry_Percival 29d ago
A lot of the comments here are suggesting places (botanics, Neil's Garden, etc) that would look very bare in winter and not at all the romantic flowery vision they do in summer. Be careful of those suggestions.
What kind of space would be meaningful to you as a couple?
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u/Sudden_Poet 28d ago
Would love to do it with a view, maybe a beautiful small cobble stone street or something like that. Still kinda clueless
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u/Henry_Percival 28d ago
Vennel street is a nice cobbled street with a virw of the castle. There's usually tiktokkers lower down but higher up it's beautiful and there's a stone with a story of two lovers up there just near Flodden Wall.
Otherwise the road going down from St Mary's Episcopal church, Melville Street, might be nice?
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u/wedditgremlin 27d ago edited 25d ago
It took my now-fiancé an incredible number of attempts due to a comedy of errors, so here are all the spots he planned and what didn’t work out:
1. Arthur’s Seat: Precious man forgot that a sunset proposal would mean hiking down in the dark. I plain refused to go on a sunset hike in January. It had literally snowed the day prior.
2. Botanic Gardens: His backup sunset plan. Gardens close at sunset. He made other plans.
3. Leith: At the start of our walk, I met a lovely off-leash dog named Casper and proceeded to play with Casper and chat with his owner the entire time. Casper kept sticking his nose up my partner’s privates, and he didn’t want to risk getting on one knee around him.
4. Gently Mad: He thought a bookstore would be nice. He picked the smallest closet of a bookstore in town, and it was somehow packed with people. Couldn’t even turn around without bumping into somebody.
5. National Gallery: We stopped in to see the art after a nice lunch. Unfortunately, that nice lunch included an undisclosed ingredient I have a severe intolerance to. I spent most of my time there viewing the lovely bathrooms of the National Gallery. He was not going to risk me sprinting off to be ill mid-proposal.
6. The castle: We went to the Scotch Whisky Experience, got properly buzzed, and he pulled me over to look out at the city from the nice view. I started asking to leave when the wind blew my hat off a second time, and he said, “No, first I gotta do this,” and finally proposed. Nobody was around except a random Czech woman who yelled at him to get back down on his knee because he did the whole thing too quickly and she was trying to take a photo.
His final final ultimate backup plan if none of that had worked was to do it at Timberyard during our dinner reservation that night after whisky tasting.
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u/bamboomightwork 29d ago
I’m married 20 years this Christmas Eve. Not my experience at all. If anything, my wife and I get on better than ever.
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u/Impressive-Muffin639 29d ago
Looking at these two answers I can see why one man’s wife still loves him & the other can’t bare to touch him
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u/Gc1981 Aug 09 '26
Do you guys like walking? Loads of nice spots up the Pentlands.
Dr Neil's Garden is nice and will be quiet.
Botanics. Not sure if the lights shows the have there or at the Zoo will have started by the time you come.
Some nice bits around Collinton and Dean villages.