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New Dundas Park, Bonnyrigg
New Dundas Park, Bonnyrigg · John Lord from Edinburgh, Scotland, CC BY 2.0
Bonnyrigg railway station 1853118 18093eda
Bonnyrigg railway station 1853118 18093eda · Ben Brooksbank, CC BY-SA 2.0
Lothianbridge viaduct01 2000-05-28
Lothianbridge viaduct01 2000-05-28 · User:Klaus with K, CC BY-SA 3.0
St. David's Roman Catholic Church, Dalkeith by Owen Proudfoot
St. David's Roman Catholic Church, Dalkeith by Owen Proudfoot · Owen Proudfoot, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cockpen and Carrington Church 345
Cockpen and Carrington Church 345 · RHaworth, CC BY 2.5
Melville Castle
Melville Castle · kim traynor, CC BY-SA 2.0

Bonnyrigg, United Kingdom

Bonnyrigg is a town of 18,320 people in Scotland, United Kingdom.

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Population18,320 GeoNames
RegionScotland
Elevation338 ft 103 m
Time zoneEurope/London
Nearest airportEdinburgh Airport (EDI) 11 mi
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Why visit Bonnyrigg

Townapedia lists 16 museums and landmarks, 12 parks and trails, 29 places to eat, 6 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include Newbattle Viaduct, Mavisbank House, National Mining Museum Scotland and Broomieknowe Golf Course.

About Bonnyrigg

Bonnyrigg is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, eight miles (13 kilometres) southeast of Edinburgh city centre, between the Rivers North and South Esk. The town had a population of 14,663 in the 2001 census, rising to 15,677 in the 2011 census, both figures being based on the 2010 definition of the locality, which, as well as Bonnyrigg and the adjacent settlement of Lasswade, includes Polton village, Poltonhall housing estate, and modern development at Hopefield. The estimated population as of 2018 was 18,120, the highest of any town in Midlothian. Along with Lasswade, Bonnyrigg is a twin town with Saint-Cyr-l'École, France.

From the Wikipedia article Bonnyrigg (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photos of Bonnyrigg

Things to do1

Newbattle Viaduct

Bridge · 1.1 mi

Railway bridge in Midlothian, Scotland, UK

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Museums and landmarks16

Mavisbank House

Monument and historic site · 1.3 mi

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National Mining Museum Scotland

Museum · 1.7 mi

Mining museum in Midlothian, Scotland

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Lasswade Old Kirkyard

Cemetery · 0.8 mi

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Elginhaugh

Monument and historic site · 1.6 mi

Archaeological site in Midlothian, Scotland, UK

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Bonnyrigg War Memorial

Monument and historic site

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Old Cockpen Church

Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi

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War Memorial

Monument and historic site · 0.8 mi

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Cockpen Tower

Monument and historic site · 1.2 mi

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Folly Tower

Monument and historic site · 1.3 mi

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Michael McGahey Memorial

Monument and historic site

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Mining Memorial

Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi

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Roman Fort

Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi

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4 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds12

Broomieknowe Golf Course

Golf course · 0.8 mi

18 hole Par 70

36 Golf Course Road, Bonnyrigg

Open in Google Maps · +44 1316639317

King's Acre Golf Course

Golf course · 1.3 mi

18 hole Par 70 + 4 hole academy Par 12

Melville Mains, Lasswade

Open in Google Maps · +44 131 663 3456

Melville Golf Course

Golf course · 1.1 mi

9 hole Par 33

Melville Dykes Road, Lasswade

Open in Google Maps · +44 131 654 0224

Roslin Glen Country Park

Park · 2.7 mi

Country park in Midlothian, Scotland, UK

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Kevock Lea

Park · 0.8 mi

13 Kevock Road

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Beginners Golf Course

Golf course · 1.2 mi

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Broomieknowe Park

Park · 0.6 mi

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Kevock Garden

Park · 0.9 mi

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King George V Park

Park · 0.4 mi

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King's Acre Golf Driving Range

Golf course · 1.4 mi

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Mavisbank Walled Garden

Park · 1.2 mi

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Pitch and Putt

Golf course · 0.9 mi

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Restaurants and cafes29

Cross Borders Brewing Co.

Brewery and winery · 1.1 mi

28/1 Hardengreen Lane

Fr 16:00-22:00; Sa 14:00-22:00

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Gigi's Italian Restaurant

Restaurant · Italian

70 - 74 Lothian Street

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Esk Valley

Restaurant · British · 1.1 mi

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Justinlees Inn

Bar and pub · 1.4 mi

1-5 Dalhousie Road

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Costa

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.0 mi

Bonnyrigg Road

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Melville Inn

Bar and pub · 1.5 mi

Mo-Fr 07:00-23:00; Sa-Su 08:00-23:00

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Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.9 mi

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Bayne's

Bakery

22 High Street, Bonnyrigg

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Calderwood

Bar and pub

24 Dundas Street

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Coffee Fresco

Cafe

51A High Street

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Dobbies Cafe

Cafe · Sandwich,breakfast · 1.5 mi

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17 more on the map.

History

Early maps of the locality show various versions of the village name. It first appears as a small hamlet on William Roy's map of c. 1750 as Bonnebrig. From 1763, it is called Bannockrigg or Bannoc Rig. In 1817 the village is named Bonny Ridge, then Bonny Rigg in 1828, Bonnyrig in 1834, Bonny Rig in 1850 until, finally, the Ordnance Survey map of 1850-1852 standardises the name as Bonnyrigg.

In 1865, the villages of Bonnyrigg, Red Row, Polton Street, Hillhead and Broomieknowe combined to form the burgh of Bonnyrigg, and then, in 1881, the village of Lasswade and part of Broomieknowe combined to form the burgh of Lasswade. In 1929 the two burghs joined to form the burgh of Bonnyrigg & Lasswade. This burgh lasted for 45 years until it was abolished in 1974/75, when local government changes were introduced. Bonnyrigg was a mining village until the 1920s, while its Henry Widnell & Stewart carpet factory was demolished in 1994. Twentieth century expansions included the Hopefield, Poltonhall and Waverley neighbourhoods.

The town centre mostly dates from the 19th century, though buildings at the main crossroads were rebuilt in the 1960s. In 2006, Bonnyrigg town centre benefitted from £1.5M of environmental improvements. Natural stone paving replaced the existing concrete paving slabs in areas across the town centre and new street lighting and furniture were installed.

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Under the Midlothian Local Development Plan, the area's population is to rise considerably during the 2020s, with ongoing developments at Hopefield and Burnbrae south-west of the town centre augmented by another substantial project in the fields at Dalhousie Mains to the south-east. It is likely that the area's infrastructure will be unable to support the anticipated population increase.

From the History section of Bonnyrigg on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Notable people from Bonnyrigg

Born in Bonnyrigg, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.

Where to stay6

Churches and places of worship8

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Shopping5

Schools, colleges and libraries8

Healthcare2

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Map of Bonnyrigg

87 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.

  • Dalkeith 2 mi northeast, about 3 min by car
  • Musselburgh 5 mi northeast, about 8 min by car
  • Edinburgh 6 mi northwest, about 10 min by car
  • Penicuik 6 mi southwest, about 9 min by car
  • Tranent 8 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
  • Broxburn 15 mi west, about 24 min by car
  • Livingston 16 mi west, about 26 min by car
  • Kirkcaldy 17 mi north, about 27 min by car
  • Rosyth 17 mi northwest, about 28 min by car
  • Dunfermline 19 mi northwest, about 31 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Towns near Bonnyrigg

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Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.