The New Lanark Rooftop Garden

The New Lanark Roof Garden – A Garden in the Sky

Be inspired by the design and amazed at the stunning views from this unique Roof Garden. Created on 9,000 square feet of roof of the A Listed mill building in the heart of New Lanark World Heritage Site the Roof Garden is the largest of its kind in Scotland. The Roof Garden is one of the highlights of a visit to the award-winning New Lanark Visitor Centre. Visitors can view this amazing garden year-round and enjoy a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the surrounding natural scenery and the historic village, which is the gateway to the famous Falls of Clyde.

Imaginatively designed, the garden contains decorative planting with over 70 different plants and shrubs, a central water feature, and sculptures. The innovative design won a Commendation at the Scottish Design Awards 2009.

The decision to develop a garden on the roof of Mill No.2 was influenced to a large extent by the views of Robert Owen, who owned and managed the New Lanark cotton-mills from 1800 till 1825. He believed strongly in the importance of the environment and natural history, and argued that a pleasant environment was essential for happy, healthy communities.

“They will be surrounded by gardens, have abundance of space in all directions to keep the air healthy and pleasant: they will have walks and plantations before them, and well cultivated grounds, kept in good order, as far as the eye can reach”.
(Robert Owen, 1817)