Jupiter Artland
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
A 120-acre woodland park where kids hunt down more than 30 site-specific sculptures hidden among the trees.
The whole point here is wandering rather than watching. You get a 120-acre site with over 30 permanent sculptures dotted through woodland, and a chunk of the fun is that the paths don't take you straight to them, so you end up bushwhacking a bit to find the next one. There's a bathing pool piece by Joana Vasconcelos you can actually get into (11am to 4pm daily), which is the one to save for the end if you've got kids who've been asking "are we nearly there" for the last hour.
Budget around two hours to do the whole collection justice, more if you stop for food. Café Party does brunch and lunch until half three, and there's a takeaway, a kiosk and a pizzeria if the main café's queue looks daunting. One thing to know before you pack the usual sandwiches and crisps: picnics aren't allowed anywhere on site.
It's an outdoor site through and through, and the woodland paths are uneven in places, worse after rain, so a buggy needs decent tyres and wheelchair users may find some ground tricky (though the café, galleries and Ballroom Garden are step-free). Parking's free, with an overflow lot 300m off and a disabled car park closer to the Steadings. Dogs are welcome on leads with a ticket, just not in the galleries or the café.
Last entry is 3:30pm most of the year, stretching to 6:30pm on Thursdays when they open late. If you're planning a school trip rather than a family day, the free Learning Programme visits are fully booked for 2026, with the next slots opening up in spring 2027.
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- 3:30pm (standard hours)
- Parking
- Free on-site parking with main car park, overflow car park 300m away, and dedicated disabled car park 100m from Steadings
- How long to allow
- Approximately two hours to walk around the entire collection on the 120-acre site
- Food
- Café Party (brunch and lunch 11am-3:30pm daily), Silverstreak Takeaway, Kiosk, Wild Kitchen Pizzeria, and Wild Dining
- Picnics
- Not permitted. Food waste and packaging can harm animals
- Wheelchairs
- Café and galleries fully wheelchair accessible via ramps
- Dogs
- Permitted on leads (not in galleries or Café Party)
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bus x27 (Lothian Country) stops at Coxydene/Jupiter Artland
- Picnics are banned outright, so plan to buy food on site.
- Last entry drops to 3:30pm most days but stretches to 6:30pm on Thursdays.
- The park closes for January, so it's not a year-round option.
- Paths are woodland and uneven in places, not all-weather friendly for buggies or wheelchairs.
- Disabled visitors get discounted entry and a free carer ticket.
Plan your visit
How long should we set aside?
Around two hours to walk the whole 120-acre collection. Longer if you stop to eat or the kids want to linger at the bathing pool.
Can we bring a picnic?
No outside food or drink is allowed anywhere on site. You'll need to eat at the café, kiosk or pizzeria instead.
Is it open all year?
It runs April to October and November to March, both 10am to 5pm, but it's closed in January.
What are the hours on other days?
Standard hours are 10am to 5pm with last entry 3:30pm. Thursdays it stays open until 8pm, last entry 6:30pm.
Do we need to book ahead?
Booking isn't required for a normal visit. The free school Learning Programme is a separate thing and that's booked up for 2026.
Is there parking?
Free parking on site, plus an overflow car park 300m away and a disabled car park closer to the Steadings.
Will a buggy or wheelchair cope with the paths?
The café, galleries and Ballroom Garden are step-free, but the woodland paths are uneven and can get worse after bad weather. Some ground isn't suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Can we bring the dog?
On a lead and with a ticket bought for them. They're not allowed in the galleries or Café Party though.
What food is there?
Café Party does brunch and lunch until 3:30pm daily, and there's also a takeaway, a kiosk, a pizzeria and Wild Dining.
How do we get there without a car?
The x27 bus stops right at Jupiter Artland, and Kirknewton railway station is about a 30-minute walk away.
Is there anything for school groups?
There's a free Learning Programme with guided tours and workshops during term time, though it's fully booked for 2026 with the next spaces in spring 2027.
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