Best Luxury Hotels in Scotland

The Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, located in the city’s historic New Town, combines classic Georgian architecture with modern luxury. Guests can enjoy a range of amenities including a fitness centre, spa, and Tesla chauffeur service. The hotel features eclectically styled rooms and suites with luxurious details and innovative technology. Dining options include The Garden for cocktails and light fare, BABA for Levant-inspired dishes, and Aizle for seasonal tasting menus. The hotel is also pet-friendly and offers unique experiences like sound therapy suites and personal shopping services.

Previously known as the Deeside Inn, this historic property received a multi-million-pound refurbishment in 2022, ensuring its upgrade to the esteemed AA five-star rating. Now operated by Crerar Hotels and renamed, the Balmoral Arms boasts an enviable village location close to His Majesty’s summer retreat. This is complemented by authentic Highland hospitality, an Ishga spa and menus featuring produce from the Royal Balmoral Estate. Here is where period heritage meets contemporary design, with a homely feel and some regal flavour.

This famous AA Resort Hotel overlooks both the 17th hole of the prestigious Old Course (known as having the trickiest par 4 in the world) and the West Sands – a long golden stretch of the Fife coastline. The 175-roomed Old Course Hotel is home to the only Kohler Waters Spa outside of the USA, as well as four fine restaurants and multiple bars. Its interiors have been designed by Jacques Garcia, creating an elegant and classic ambience. Don’t miss the uber-elegant afternoon tea.

Crossbasket Castle, located in High Blantyre just 12 miles south of Glasgow, offers 40 Art Deco-inspired rooms and suites in its new hotel along with, nine historical rooms in its castle. Designed to blend early 20th-century elegance with modern luxury, featuring unique dining experiences such as Foveran’s, a light-filled space serving breakfast and lunch, and Trocadero’s, an energetic, Roaring Twenties-themed restaurant with live entertainment. Guests can enjoy rooms with luxurious amenities like marble bathrooms, underfloor heating, and Penhaligon’s toiletries, as well as expansive historical suites. The castle is set within 14 acres of landscaped gardens, with easy access to Glasgow, Loch Lomond, and the Trossachs National Park, making it the perfect base for both relaxation and exploration.

Located in the heart of Crail in Fife, The Shoregate is a coastal treasure reimagined by Nicholas Frost and Damon Reynolds in 2019. This historic 18th-century building, which has operated as a hostelry since the late 1800s, underwent a meticulous two-year restoration and reopened in May 2022. The restoration emphasised local craftsmanship and historical authenticity, ensuring every detail reflected its rich heritage. The Shoregate offers a destination restaurant, cosy bar along with four stylish guest rooms, three with breathtaking views of Crail and the Firth of Forth and one a two room suite. Inspired by old photographs, original architectural plans, and local features, the bar retains its historic character with Victorian pitch pine panelling, etched glass ceiling fixtures, and brass ship’s lighting. Stained glass, both original and newly commissioned, adorns the space, alongside reclaimed pews from a chapel near New Lanark, upholstered in Ross-shire woven fabric. The dining room offers a calm yet dynamic atmosphere with light oak tables, Carl Hansen chairs, and accents of near-burnt orange and teal panelling. Mirrors enhance the space, creating depth and ambience. The room is furnished with Crail pottery and Harris tweed lampshades and cushions, contributing to its unique charm. The four guest rooms focus on spaciousness and comfort. The first floor features three large ensuites, transformed from five original rooms, with bespoke wardrobes by a local furniture maker. The top floor, previously staff quarters and storerooms, now houses a stunning two-room family suite with expansive views across the Forth.

Stay in an elegant New Town Georgian townhouse with 26 rooms, which, like The Dunstane Houses, are spread across two buildings. Nira Caledonia offers a Jacuzzi Suite, ideal for soothing tired legs after a day of exploring the city’s cobbled streets. All rooms and suites come with PMD Tea, minibars, 2,000-pocket sprung beds, goose-down pillows and L’Occitane toiletries as standard. The hotel boasts its very own 12-year-old ultra-limited edition whisky, bottled in partnership with Adelphi Distillery and served onsite. Guests can try the tipple and dine at Blackwoods Bar & Grill, which has a farm or fishery-to-fork ethos (around 40% of the menu ingredients come from Scotland).

Overlooking Loch Feochan with panoramic views of rugged mountains and tranquil islands, Knipoch Hotel is just a short six-mile drive from Oban. This historic boutique 4-star hotel dates back hundreds of years and it became part of the Sonas Collection in early 2024 following a £1 million renovation. The property has been carefully restored to preserve its original charm, featuring stone walls, fireplaces and wood-panelled interiors while enhancing the guest experience with modern comforts such as super king-sized beds, luxury fittings and a relaxing outdoor hot tub. Knipoch Hotel’s newly launched destination restaurant ‘1635’ offers a seven-course, high-end Scottish dining experience, blending the finest local ingredients with seasonal flavours from across the country. This peaceful retreat is surrounded by stunning highland views and is an excellent base for exploring the local area.

Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s new town, on the iconic George Street, the boutique Righ Residences is the perfect place for guests looking for more spacious accommodation in the centre of Edinburgh. The hotel’s 25 luxury serviced apartments are all bathed in natural light and are exceedingly comfortable. The apartments all feature kitchenettes, climate control, en-suite bathrooms, and high-quality linen. The apartments also have a high-tech flair with in-room tablets which have room controls and local guide services available. The hotel’s signature penthouse boasts some of the best views of the Castle to be found anywhere in the city. It also has three floating beds, a freestanding bath, three private roof terraces and a private living room. Whilst the Righ residence does not have its own restaurant, it is only a stone’s throw away from some of the city’s best restaurants.

Haar Rooms, situated in the heart of St. Andrews, offer an exquisite blend of modern luxury and traditional Scottish charm. The six individually designed rooms are equipped with king-size beds, Smart TVs, and ensuite bathrooms featuring indulgent rain showers. Each room boasts stunning views of the iconic Old Course, West Sands, and the North Sea, providing a serene and picturesque setting. Guests at Haar can start their day with a delightful breakfast at the acclaimed Haar Restaurant, which is renowned for its innovative culinary creations. For a truly memorable dining experience, guests can opt for the Michelin-recommended tasting menu, showcasing the best of local and seasonal produce. The hotel’s proximity to the Old Course, just 50 metres away, makes it a perfect retreat for golf enthusiasts, offering easy access to one of the world’s most famous golf courses.

The Gleneagles Hotel is an institution when it comes to luxury getaways. Its conception came about in 1910 when the General Manager of the Caledonian Railway Company had the vision to build a large country house hotel built in the style of a palace in the picturesque valley through which his railway line ran. It opened in 1924 and was quickly coined ‘the Riviera in the Highlands” Set in an 850-acre estate with three championship golf courses and an unbeatable array of sporting activities to try. From equestrian and shooting to fishing and off-road driving, there is plenty to keep you entertained or for a more relaxing experience enjoy some time at the ESPA Spa. Whilst there are 232 rooms, the design of each is constructed to feel like a far more intimate, boutique hotel with a mix of traditional and modern interiors. Guests can enjoy dinner in the incredible Andrew Fairlie Michelin-starred restaurant, the only restaurant in Scotland to hold two Michelin stars or for something more casual The Dormy Bar & Grill serves a selection of delicious dishes.

One of only a handful of Scottish hotels to boast the Michelin Hotel Guide single ‘Red House’ symbol, this country house is found on the coast, an hour from Inverness. Deeply romantic in setting, Glenmorangie House is surrounded by a walled garden and located beside a ruined castle. And with just nine bedrooms, the intimate atmosphere lends itself to an exclusive couples’ escape. Award-winning menus are served in a dinner party style to provide a sociable element to your stay and camaraderie with fellow guests. As you may expect from a hotel inspired by the national beverage, whisky tastings are frequent – plus you might even be surprised by a spontaneous post-dinner ceilidh featuring local musicians. Read our expert review here.

Hidden within 36 acres of Italian gardens and woodland outside of Ballantrae, this hotel lies close to the Ayrshire coastline. A late 19th-century baronial castle, it was first intended as the family seat for the Earl of Inchcape and holds a significant claim to fame – Winston Churchill was said to have discussed the D-Day landings while staying here in the 1940s. Pursuits for the well-heeled are a speciality – shooting, fishing and falconry, as well as tennis and croquet. Inside, guests can relax beside log fires, feast on six-course meals and peruse enormous wine lists. 17 bedrooms offer a period feel filled with antiquities and panelled or marble bathrooms include Penhaligon toiletries.