Discover Liberton Kirk in Autumn – Best Location for Red Leaves in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is always a gorgeous place to visit in the Autumn season when the foliage changes from lush greens to yellows, vibrant oranges, and reds.

But Liberton Kirk is truly one of the highlights to visit in Edinburgh during the spooky season.

This is when the blanket of ivy covering the church turns a ruby-red colour to match their Elven-style red doors.

Every year, I see beautiful pictures of these red leaves pop up on my feed.

So, this year I thought I’d visit for myself. Luckily, I was here at just the right time before they started to drop off.

Here is a complete guide on visiting Liberton Kirk in Autumn and when you can see the red leaves.

Liberton Kirk history

The first recorded evidence of a Liberton Kirk was in 1143.

This was when the monks of Holyrood Abbey were granted a chapel by MacBeth, the Baron of Liberton. 

However, it is believed that there was a place of worship on this site before that.

Two Celtic crosses were discovered here dating back to the 8th and 11th centuries.

There is another document that references the transfer of the church from St Cuthbert’s in Edinburgh back to Holyrood Abbey in 1240.

The control of Liberton Kirk remained under Holyrood Abbey until the Reformation in the 16th century. After that, it became a parish church. 

Unfortunately, that ancient kirk burned down in the 18th century and was beyond repair.

So, it was completely reconstructed in 1815 with a design by James Gillespie Graham. 

It hasn’t changed all that much in two centuries. It has a tower, a large graveyard, and you can see a table stone with depictions of ploughing.

Today, Liberton Kirk is still an active church with a large congregation that holds weekly services. 

The inside of the church is only open for worship, but many visit Liberton Kirkyard to see the building as it’s covered in a blanket of ivy leaves.

The best time to visit Liberton Kirk

Of course, Liberton Kirk is an evocative historic building that looks beautiful all year.

In spring and summer, the blanket of vivid green ivy is out in full bloom.

But, by far the best time of year to visit Liberton Kirk would be in the Autumn during the spooky season.

This is when the gorgeous blanket of Virginia Creeper ivy crawling on the church walls turns a gorgeous ruby-red colour.

It looks like an autumnal treat and is an incredible place to visit at Halloween.

Liberton Kirk in Autumn

Without fail, the blanket of ivy surrounding Liberton Kirk turns red to match the bright red doors in front of the church.

These church entrances were so ornate and reminded me of the Elven doors in The Lord of the Rings.

The creeping vines created a blanket of crimson foliage, making it look extra magical.

You’ll find the ivy crawling over the doors lined with old oil lamps reaching up towards the ancient stained glass and window frames.

The only downside is that you’ll have to be quick to catch the Liberton Kirk red leaves as the colour only lasts a few weeks.

As they turn red, they eventually start to fall off the church, and you’ll only be left with vines.

So, plan a visit to Liberton Kirk in October so you don’t miss out. 

When does Liberton Kirk turn red?

Unfortunately, it’s never an exact science when ivy will turn red in the UK.

Of course, it’s going to be during autumn, but there are a number of factors that affect the colour change.

It completely depends on the weather, temperature, rainfall, sunlight, proximity to liquid sediments, and several other factors.

But it’s a sure bet that the ivy leaves will turn red in the middle weeks of October leading up to Samhain.

I visited at the end of October, and I don’t think I caught it at the very peak time. Lots of leaves had already fallen off. 

But the church was still very red (with some leftover green too), which was good enough for me. It still looked amazing in photos and videos.

The best way to check is to keep following updates on social media.

Many people like to capture this gorgeous building during the transition, so you can keep informed online.

Things to see in Liberton Kirkyard

Although you cannot go inside the church, the kirkyard is well worth exploring when visiting Liberton.

Just beside the entrance gate, they have a small welcome centre that’s open throughout the day and tells you the history of the church and services.

The front of the church has a few gravestones (mostly 18th-century skulls with crossbones), and you’ll find some ornate ones towards the back.

You can take a stroll around the graveyard, which has lots of greenery and trees.

Look out for the table stone that has one of the earliest known depictions of ploughing. 

There are also a few benches set up around the kirkyard to perch on and find some quiet in this peaceful place. 

Kirkgate Café

If you are looking for some refreshments while in Liberton, you can pop over to the Kirkgate Café run by volunteers.

It’s a lively café that provides hot drinks, refreshments, snacks, breakfasts, and lunches throughout the week. 

There are daily specials, Fair Trade items on sale, and free WiFi. It’s open Monday – Thursday from 9 am – 2 pm.

How to visit Liberton Kirk in Edinburgh

Liberton is a small suburb of Edinburgh in the south of the city, near the Inch district. 

It was once home to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who lived in a small cottage near the Braid Burn.

From the centre of Edinburgh, Liberton is just a short 16-minute drive away on the A7/A701.

There is some free off-road parking found just outside of the church on Kirkgate. 

If you’re arriving by public transport, it’s easiest to get the bus to Liberton from the centre of Edinburgh. 

There are regular bus services from North Bridge (stop NE) and Leith Street that drop you straight outside Kirkgate to visit Liberton Kirk.

Alternatively, you could cycle or walk. The walk will be around an hour from Edinburgh Old Town. 

Liberton Kirk opening hours

Liberton Kirkyard is open 24 hours a day, so you can visit at any time.

It’s well worth exploring the kirkyard as well as the front of the church.

There are some beautiful historic graves surrounded by trees and foliage with autumn colours. 

Or, you could sit on the bench with a coffee and relax for a while. It’s a very peaceful place. I’d plan around 30-60 minutes to explore. 

If you want to go inside Liberton Kirk, it is only open for worship and prayer at present.

They regularly hold morning and evening services through the week. You can check their website for their weekly calendar of services.

Spooky things to do in Edinburgh

If you’re looking for more autumn foliage in Edinburgh, you’ll be spoiled for choice as it can be found all over the city. 

Another place you can visit for red ivy leaves is Carlowrie Castle. Every year, their fairytale castle towers and turrets turn bright red.

Unfortunately, I was far too late for the season this year. When I showed up all of the ivy leaves had pretty much dropped off.

There are many parks in the city that are vibrant with Autumn colours like Prince’s Street Gardens.

St Cuthbert’s Kirkyard is particularly stunning in the spooky season.

If you wanted to see some Halloween displays, I would highly recommend Boswell’s Court.

This has a gorgeous display of pumpkins beside The Witchery by the Castle.

As Edinburgh is one of the most haunted cities in the UK, there is no end of spooky things to do.

You could organise a trip to see some Burke & Hare attractions. You can start with Greyfriars Kirkyard to learn about mortsafes.

You can visit the National Portrait Gallery on Queen’s Street, or you can visit the National Museum of Edinburgh to see the Coffin Dolls. 

There is no end of Harry Potter sites and experiences in Edinburgh.

You must visit the Museum Context Harry Potter Shop and Victoria Street, which is a real-life Diagon Alley.

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Save Liberton Kirk in Autumn for later