With parts of Edinburgh well-known for being steep and hilly, walking around to see all the sights can take it out of you. So, if you’re heading out to explore this historic city for the day, it’s a good idea to take a water bottle with you to help you stay refreshed and hydrated. But what about refilling it? Luckily, there are plenty of water fountains in Edinburgh where you can refill your bottle for free and save on single-use plastic bottles. But where are they? Let’s find out. 

Helping Scotland stay hydrated

In a country-wide effort to highlight how vital water is to all of us, in 2018, Scottish Water launched its ‘Your Water Your Life’ campaign. As part of the drive, they introduced brand-new water refill points across Scotland. So, from Portpatrick and Stranraer to John O’Groats and Lerwick in the Shetlands, there are now more than 100 of these bright blue refill points.  

With each offering free access to clean, great-tasting drinking water in convenient locations dotted about the country, they encourage everyone to refill their reusable water bottles. And since the launch, around 9 million bottles have been refilled, saving a whole lot of single-use plastic.

And the good news is nine of them have been installed across central Edinburgh, including a handful on the outskirts of the city. So whether you’re exploring the bustling streets of the Old Town or relaxing in one of the many public parks, you’ll have no problem refilling from these Edinburgh water fountains. Here's where to find some of them.

Edinburgh’s public parks and gardens

Edinburgh has many beautiful green open spaces, and many of the city’s parks have the free water fountains, now famous in Edinburgh. You’ll find them in the following locations:

• The Meadows – along Jawbone Walk by the Pavilion Café
• Leith Links – in the centre by the play park
• Royal Botanic Gardens –  at the East Gate entrance on Inverleith Row 

Edinburgh’s tourist attractions

For anyone visiting the city’s famous landmarks, the free-to-use blue water fountains in Edinburgh are placed near many of Edinburgh’s top tourist spots. Some key locations include:

• Grassmarket – at the foot of Castle Wynd South
• The Royal Mile – outside the Customer Hub near St. Giles Cathedral
• Scottish Parliament – by the Holyrood Park Information Centre near Arthur’s Seat

You can find your nearest top-up tap, or water fountain, in Edinburgh or anywhere in Scotland and find out more by visiting the Your Water Your Life page.

While the mains drinking water in Scotland is famed for its taste and quality, the water fountains in Edinburgh give everyone the opportunity to top up for free and enjoy it while they’re out and about – a fantastic effort by Scottish Water to keep everyone hydrated and healthy.

Edinburgh’s water taste and quality wherever you are

But if you’re just visiting and want to sample the same quality and taste at home or work outside of Edinburgh, why not try a Thirsty Work mains-fed water cooler? These water coolers have advanced filtration that removes any lingering contaminants or impurities the water treatment process may miss. As it’s plumbed directly into your mains pipework, it delivers an even higher level of taste and quality. 

To find out about our range of water coolers and fast, local deliveries across the Edinburgh area and beyond, Call our customer service team on 01392 877 172 or email hello@thirstywork.com today. You can get a free quote or even get started on a no-obligation, 10-day free trial to get that pure, refreshing taste in your home or office.