There is an old saying, ‘the best things in life are free’ however, when you are in the second most visited city in the UK you may find that hard to believe. You will be shocked to see Edinburgh is a cultural centre that boasts an array of amazing galleries, museums, parks and other attractions that cost absolutely nothing to visit. In fact, many of these attractions offer daily guided tours that are free of charge or just ask for a small voluntary donation.

The Royal Botanic Gardens are only a mile from the city centre and feature 72 acres of exquisitely pruned gardens. Established in 1670 the gardens are completely free to enter and feature lots of stunning landscapes and plants. These include the Chinese Hillside Garden, Rock Garden and Native Scottish Plants collection. These gardens are without doubt one of the best free attractions in the city of Edinburgh.

The Scottish National Gallery

The Scottish National Gallery is located right in the heart of the city and is another of the top free attractions available for you to enjoy. Within its confines, you will find a collection of Scottish fine art that dates all the way back to the renaissance. There are eye-catching masterpieces from the likes of Van Gough, Rembrandt and Botticelli and you can while away the hours just gazing at this range of impressive collections. The gallery also offers a shuttle bus service to help you move between the three gallery sites for a voluntary donation of only a £1.

St Giles Cathedral

The cathedral with its stunning architecture and rich history is located on the cities iconic Royal Mile. The cathedral was founded in 1120 and to this day is still a working church. You can take your time to fully take in the intricacy of the wooden interior and the impressive gold leaf ceiling. For the culture vultures among you, this should be at the top of your list when it comes to free attractions in the city.

The Peoples' Story Museum

The Peoples' Story Museum provides visitors with a rare insight into the lives of the working-class inhabitants of Edinburgh from the 18th to the late 20th century. The unique displays relate the stories of these people in their own words and contain intriguing written accounts and artefacts. This wonderful collection takes in significant historical events including social and political reforms, the growth of women’s rights movements plus the struggles of everyday life.

Dean Village

Dean Village is a 19th century village only a ten minute walk from Princes Street, the main shopping street in Edinburgh. In the past, the village was home to 11 different mills and was a successful grain milling village for 800 years. It's worth a visit to stroll around Dean Village and admire the architecture, and the best views are at the bottom of Hawthornbank Lane.

The things listed above only scratch the surface of what is available free of charge in Edinburgh. Other places you can visit free of charge include Pentland Hills Regional Park, The Royal Mile and Grassmarket, Leith or Portobello Beach. Let me know, have you ever visited Edinburgh? Do you have any recommendations of what to do for free?

*Collaborative post