Prestonfield House Edinburgh

Just ten minutes away from Edinburgh's bustling city center, you’ll find the ultimate country estate escape at Prestonfield House. Built in 1687 as the grand Baroque home of Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, today you’ll find the place transformed into a boutique hotel boasting dramatic style. We had the pleasure of staying there for three nights during our trip to Scotland last month and I’m already dreaming of going back.

Situated adjacent to a golf course in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano that overlooks Edinburgh, Prestonfield House might be the most unique property we’ve ever stayed at. Each of the hotel’s eighteen guest rooms and suites is uniquely decorated with antique furniture and features all the amenities you’d expect from a 5-star hotel. Guests are also free to enjoy the hotel’s historic public sitting rooms, which offer bar service so you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a cocktail next to a roaring fire. As if this place wasn't whimsical enough already, Prestonfield is also home to roaming peacocks, two Highland cows, and a black cat.

One of the highlights of our time here was breakfast at Prestonfield’s beautiful onsite restaurant, Rhubarb, which is included in all room rates. Each morning, we were impressed with the continental breakfast buffet and cooked breakfast menu. (See the picture of Brandon’s Full Scottish Breakfast below, which included haggis and black pudding.) In addition to the delicious food, enjoying it in such a magical setting made us feel totally transported. I kept remarking that I felt like we were guests at someone’s estate in a period movie!

We regretted not being able to spend even more time at the hotel but just had so many sites we wanted to see in Edinburgh. Each evening before bed we took time to walk around the grounds, which for me meant stopping approximately every ten seconds to take a photo.

Reading over this post, I couldn’t help thinking that it sounds sponsored, so I wanted to make a note that it definitely was not. I'm just genuinely this obsessed. Throughout our travels, we’ve experienced the full spectrum of lodging, and I have to say that it’s amazing how much the right choice enhances your experience of an area. With a little research, I believe that it’s possible to find truly special accommodations at every price point. 

Check out my other posts about Scotland here: 8 Things to Do in Edinburgh / Edinburgh Eats / Packing for Scotland / Isle of Skye + Scottish Highlands Tour