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Stay at Very Expensive Hotels in Edinburgh City Centre

Which 4-Star and 5-Star Luxury Hotels in Edinburgh are the Most Expensive?

Are you looking for exclusive and expensive luxury accommodation in Edinburgh? Maybe it's for a romantic break and a penthouse suite with four poster bed and champagne is just what you're looking for. We've compared the prices and facilities of the top rated 5 star hotels in and around Edinburgh city centre (including Princes Street) but making a list of Edinburgh's most expensive hotels is easier said than done.

See our Guide to Edinburgh 5-Star Hotels or Book luxury hotels in Edinburgh City Centre

Finding Exclusive Luxury Hotels in Edinburgh

  • Dramatic Gothic-inspired Witchery by the Castle is the most expensive and offers a totally unique experience.
  • Many of the most expensive hotels offer discounted room prices far below their rack rates on certain dates.
  • Five star hotels are not always the priciest, some of the 4-star hotels are often surprisingly expensive and still very luxurious.

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Which ones are the most expensive hotels in Scotland's capital? Read on.

We compared room prices for a standard double room in the best hotels in the city across a range of discount websites, in addition to the hotels own website for various dates in the coming months. It soon became clear that the prices vary enormously, but we listed those 5 hotels which showed consistently high pricing against various dates.

The Most Luxurious and Expensive Five Star Hotels in Edinburgh

Witchery by the Castle

Witchery Edinburgh More Witchery Pictures

Most Expensive - Witchery by the Castle - This Gothic boutique hotel located right on the buzzing Royal Mile seems to be the most expensive hotel in Edinburgh. They are booked up months ahead and we failed to find them on any discounted website. The suites are all priced the same but the similarity ends there as they are all individually decorated in a decadent riot of rich colours and fabrics.

Try the book-lined Library suite, with its bathroom hidden behind a secret door. Or the Inner Sanctum suite decorated in red and gold with an antique four-poster bed. The rack rate advertised on the site seems to be the best one available but as they have just 7 suites and as most people would give their eye teeth to stay at the Witchery, who can argue?. But the high price does come with a sweetener as the price includes a bottle of champagne and a continental breakfast. This hotel may be expensive but it would seem worth it for the romantic and highly unusual Witchery Experience.

Prestonfield Hotel

Prestonfield Edinburgh More Prestonfield Pictures

The opulent Prestonfield House Hotel set in acres of parkland, is a close contender as one of the most expensive hotels in the city although less expensive prices can be found on certain dates. This gorgeously sexy hotel, just a 5-minute drive from the city centre, is perfect for a romantic weekend away.

Once you've paid for your room, many extras are included (such as full Scottish breakfast, bottle of champagne, Wi-Fi and parking). For a decadent experience, you can choose one of their suites (such as the Churchill Suite). These are lavishly decorated in red and gold velvet and have a separate sitting area complete with a gothic day bed and second bathroom in Venetian mosaic.

Their most luxurious suite The Owners Suite has a domed four poster bed decorated with ostrich feathers and a library-style bathroom with a silver chariot bath for two people.

Howard Hotel

Howard Edinburgh More Howard Pictures

The Howard is an elegant Georgian townhouse hotel is situated in a quiet area of the New Town, just a 10-minute walk from Princes Street. Exclusive yet incredibly friendly and welcoming, the Howard has just 18 bedrooms, all of which are spacious and romantic.

For something that little bit special try one of the Terrace Suites with private entrance and patio area. One of the Terrace Suites, the Marchmont, boasts a separate drawing room and small kitchen as well as Jacuzzi bath and canopy bed. Breakfast is included in the price and this exclusive hotel offers the unusual service of a 24h dedicated butler service.

Balmoral Hotel

Balmoral Edinburgh More Balmoral Pictures

Not surprisingly, the luxurious Balmoral Rocco Forte makes it into Edinburgh's top 5 most expensive hotels list. Enviably situated at Number 1 Princes Street, right in the heart of the city centre, its 195-foot clock tower is one of Edinburgh's best known and best-loved landmarks. With 188 guestrooms and Michelin starred Number One restaurant, it is one of the city's most popular hotels.

The Balmoral does seem to be booked up for many dates, but you can still find some good rates, although the best offers we came across did not include breakfast. If you are willing to pay the extra to upgrade to one of the 20 available suites, you will enjoy a separate lounge area plus many suite benefits such as complimentary buffet breakfast, unpacking and packing service, pressing, internet access and the use of a Nokia mobile phone for local calls from your suite.

Hotel Missoni

Missoni Edinburgh More Missoni Pictures

The trendy designer Hotel Missoni enjoys a prime location on the Royal Mile and creeps in at number 5. There are discounts on their website and other sites for advance bookings which makes the price more palatable without detracting from the luxurious experience.

The room price includes a complimentary healthy minibar, 2 items of laundry, premium movies, internet access and local calls. For one of the best rooms, book into a suite with exceptional views over Edinburgh and a separate lounge and dining area. Try the Suite D'Argento, a corner penthouse suite, decorated, as you would expect, in true bold Missoni style.

Conclusion

This is our list of Edinburgh's most expensive hotels; however there were many luxury 4 and 5 star hotels such as the Sheraton Grand, the Scotsman, Channings, Le Monde and others which came surprisingly close. It also came as a surprise that some of the more functional rather than luxurious 4 star hotels were not trailing far behind in terms of price (which really stresses the importance of researching hotel prices thoroughly online before booking). Some hotels catering to business clients also tended to hold their prices higher with less leeway for discounting.

The pricing comparison between the top hotels reveals that you cannot compare room rates at face value. The true comparison depends on what standard of room is booked and what extras are included in the price. Some hotels with lower occupancy advertised extremely good discounts through the cut price sites, and on certain dates you can book a 5 star hotel for under £100 per night. It was also notable that in many cases the price difference between the most basic rooms and the upgraded rooms was very small, so you might consider paying a little more for a better room or a room with a view.

Please note: It is not an exact science as not all hotels have availability for all dates, and not all hotels are listed on discount websites but we hope it serves as a useful guide on Edinburgh's Most Luxurious.

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