Only 10 minutes from the hustle of Princes Street, Prestonfield House sits quietly in the lee of Arthur's Seat in a laidback world of undisguised luxury. The strikingly white country house wraps its guests in lavish interiors of plumped-up cushions, velvet swags, glittering brasswork and deep sultry colours. Rooms are richly furnished with antiques, artwork, curios and books; flickering candles and firelight add to the atmosphere. Bedrooms - all with views over the 20 acres of gardens and parkland - are equally spoiling, often with fabric-covered walls, and all with sumptuous beds and marbled bathrooms. Food is stylish but unfaddy; the wine list impeccable. Staff pop up when you need them with an uncanny intuition. Play golf on the neighbouring course, hire a chauffeur for a day-trip to the Trossachs, laze over afternoon tea or fall asleep by one of several log fires.
The views from Arthur's Seat, across the city to the Firth of Forth and the Pentland Hills, are worth the 251-metre climb.
The hotel is in parkland beside Arthur's Seat, a short drive from the city centre's shops, bars and restaurants.
By car: from Glasgow around 1 hour, from Newcastle around 2 hours 40 mins. There's free on-site parking.
By train: from Glasgow Queens Street around 50 mins, from Manchester Picadilly around 3 hours and from London Kings Cross around 4 hours 45 mins. A taxi from Edinburgh Waverley station takes 10 minutes. thetrainline.com
Perfect for romantics, lovers (of all ages), peace-and-luxury seekers, and anyone wanting to impress, or be impressed. The more you look, the more you discover: walls hung floor-to-ceiling with prints of pre-Victorian Edinburgh, a collection of Chinese ginger jars, a 17th-century ceiling carved by Italian artisans, even peacocks in the gardens.
The generous use of candles, some subtly but expensively scented, in the evenings creates cosy, intimate little havens of rest. Dogs are welcomed with beds, bowls and generous treats and are allowed everywhere except the dining rooms. You can eat in one of the sitting rooms if you prefer.
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Gardens
- Golf course
- Massage
- Pet-friendly
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
Suites are fabulously decadent with oodles of space and freestanding baths. Estate rooms have some of the best views, while top-floor Luxury rooms are cosy with sloping ceilings; No. 27 is a treat. No matter what category of room you book, everyone receives the same, from books, magazines and robes to crisps, water, hair straighteners, Penhaligon bathroom products - and Tunnock's teacakes!
Classic, Estate, Luxury rooms; Lord Provost, Churchill, Allan Ramsay, Benjamin Franklin, Owners suites
Facilities include: ensuite bathroom, Penhaligon toiletries, TV, desk, free Wi-Fi
Despite the smart surrounds, the service is blissfully informal while still being professional and well-oiled. Breakfast with a table window is a joy - freshly squeezed juices and smoothies, homemade scones and muffins, yogurts and compotes, omelettes, cheeses, charcuterie, porridge, eggs how you want, and four different versions of the full Scottish!
Rhubarb Restaurant: Scottish fine dining, à la carte and set menu options. Open daily. Mains from £18.
Afternoon tea: served daily 12-7pm, from £40 per person.
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