The Scott
Historic grandeur meets understated contemporary luxury. Deep velvets, herringbone parquet, gilded cornices, frescoed ceilings in the dining room — but the rooms themselves are calm and modern, in navy, grey and mustard tones. Feels like a private house rather than a hotel.
Ask for a Signature Double with dual-aspect windows — Room 17 is the staff favourite and has a freestanding bath
Why It Matters
University-owned boutique hotel where every booking funds the University of Edinburgh. The Michelin Guide has picked it up. Bonnar's restaurant — with a Head Chef trained at Noma in Copenhagen — is being tipped for a star. And you get complimentary parking and EV charging in a city where both are nearly impossible to find.
An 18th-century baronial mansion on the University of Edinburgh's Pollock Estate, The Scott reopened under its current name in July 2022 after a careful restoration. The building's bones — ornate plasterwork, oak panelling, stained-glass windows, marble fireplaces — are all still here, and the 37 individually designed rooms layer contemporary Scottish style on top without the tartan clichés. All profits from your stay go back into the university.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
Classic Double
Slightly smaller than the Deluxe rooms but far from spartan. Warm finishes, refined décor, all the same quality bedding and toiletries. A solid choice if you're spending your days out exploring and just want a comfortable, characterful base.
King
Cosy Double
Compact but well thought-out — the layout makes the most of the floor space and keeps things feeling snug rather than cramped. Honest value for solo travellers or couples who aren't fussed about having a sitting area. Same quality mattress and amenities as the larger rooms.
Double
Deluxe Double
Each one is individually designed so you're not walking into a cookie-cutter chain hotel room. Most include a seating area. Some have bathtubs. The décor runs to deep secondary colours — think burgundies, bottle greens — with contemporary art and original architectural details depending on the room. Beautifully finished bathrooms throughout.
KingPetit Double
The entry-level room and yes, it is small — a small double bed and a snug corner sofa is the layout. Don't book this if you need space. But at the lower price point you still get the same Elite mattress, Laura Thomas products and OPAL coffee machine as every other room.
Small DoubleSignature Double
The largest category in the main house and worth the premium. Expansive layouts with proper seating areas — think navy sofas and high-backed wing chairs, not just a desk chair. Some rooms have freestanding double-ended baths alongside the rainfall shower. Room 17 is a staff favourite: 40 sqm, dual-aspect windows, marble fireplace with remote-controlled candles, mirrored panels and a bathroom with floor-to-ceiling marble tiling.
Super King · 38.86 sqm
The Gatehouse
Built in 1860, a century after the main house, the Gatehouse sits adjacent to the hotel and functions as a fully private self-contained cottage. King-size bed, a spacious lounge, a fully equipped kitchen, and a marble shower room. Guests still have full access to Bonnar's breakfast, the Gallery Bar and all hotel amenities. The most private option on the property by some distance.
KingThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh's extinct volcano, starts about 1km from the hotel door. Sunrise walks up to the summit are a popular activity among guests. Holyrood Park surrounds the hotel on one side.
Croquet available on the hotel's private lawn within the Pollock Estate grounds.
Prestonfield Golf Club is approximately a 5-minute walk from the hotel.
Curated whisky flights available in the Gallery Bar, guided by staff who can help you find the right dram. Also offered as a welcome drink in-room for some bookings.
Yoga mats provided in all rooms for in-room practice.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
The Library offers a private setting for lunches, dinners, weddings and small meetings, with a curated book selection.
Guests receive complimentary access to the Pleasance Sports Complex & Gym, described as one of the country's leading gym facilities with sports-specific areas.
The Royal Commonwealth Pool is directly adjacent to the hotel and offers gym, swim and leisure facilities on a drop-in fee basis.
Gift vouchers for stays available to purchase directly via the hotel website.
The hotel's private Secret Garden is visible from the dining room's floor-to-ceiling windows. Accessible to guests within the landscaped Pollock Estate grounds.
Dogs welcomed. £30 supplement per dog for stays up to 7 nights. Notify the hotel at reservations@ed.ac.uk after booking. Pet bowls and baskets provided.
Free parking available within the Pollock Estate for hotel guests, subject to availability. No reservation required — first come, first served. Rare for a city-centre Edinburgh hotel.
18 electric vehicle charging points on-site. Charges apply. Requires the ChargePlace Scotland app.
BUILD YOUR THE SCOTT PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning