Travelling with your four-legged sidekick? Edinburgh makes it easier than most cities: dogs ride the trams for free, and there’s a park or riverside path a few streets from almost every hotel. The catch is the small print. Below we compare 20 dog friendly hotels across the city by fee, size limit and where your companion can actually go, using each property’s own published policy.
Updated October 2026. Each Edinburgh hotel’s policy checked against its official website; fees change, so confirm when booking.
🐾 No fee: Kimpton · Virgin · Prestonfield · The Hoxton 💰 Budget: Britannia · Motel One 🦮 Big breeds: Kimpton · Virgin
Edinburgh’s dog-friendly hotels at a glance
Every figure below comes from each Edinburgh property’s own policy page. Where it only says “charges apply” or publishes nothing, we say so rather than guess. Pet friendly stays with no charge come first.
| Hotel | Area | Pet fee | Per room | Size limit | Bar / restaurant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimpton Charlotte Square | New Town | None listed | Not stated | No weight limit | Not stated |
| Virgin Hotels Edinburgh | Victoria Street | Free | 2 | No size limit | Yes (Eve, Commons Club) |
| Prestonfield House | Priestfield | Free | Not stated | Not stated | Lounges yes; Rhubarb no |
| The Hoxton, Edinburgh | Haymarket | Free | 1 | Up to 40 lb | Lobby & bars yes; restaurant no |
| The Roseate Edinburgh | West End | £35/stay | Not stated | Not stated | Conservatory yes; restaurant & bar no |
| Eden Locke | George Street | £40 one-off | 1 | Up to 30 kg | Not stated |
| The Balmoral | East End | £50/stay | 1 | Under 20 lb | Bar Prince library, Gallery |
| Britannia Hotel Edinburgh | Belford Road | £10/night; £25 over 2 nights + £50 deposit | 2 | Not stated | No |
| Motel One Edinburgh-Royal | Waverley | EUR 15/night | 1 as a rule | Not stated | No (breakfast, bar) |
| Hotel Indigo Edinburgh | York Place | £20/night | 1 | Under 35 lb | No |
| Melville Castle | Lasswade | £20 each/night | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Hotel du Vin Edinburgh | Bristo Place | £25/night (£40 for two) | 2 | Small to medium | Not in main dining room |
| Malmaison Edinburgh City | St Andrew Square | £25/night (£40 for two) | 2 | Small to medium | Not in dining room |
| The Caledonian | West End | Not published | Ask | Ask | Ask |
| InterContinental Edinburgh The George | George Street | Not published | Ask | Ask | Ask |
| BrewDog DogHouse Edinburgh | New Street | Not published | Ask | Ask | Ask |
| The Resident Edinburgh | West End | Charges apply (not published) | Ask | Ask | Ask |
| ibis budget Edinburgh Park | Edinburgh Park | Not published | Ask | Ask | Ask |
| Novotel Edinburgh Park | Edinburgh Park | Not published | Ask | Ask | Ask |
| Best Western Kings Manor | Portobello | Charge applies (not published) | Ask | Ask | Ask |
Luxury hotels in Edinburgh that welcome dogs
Edinburgh’s five-star end is more pet friendly than you might expect, and two of these charge nothing. Most sit in Edinburgh city centre; Melville Castle is the countryside exception. Size limits vary most, so check those first, or browse our historic stays in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh’s clock-tower landmark on Princes Street suits small breeds: one per room, under 20 lb, for £50 per stay (re-charged every 15 nights). That buys a bed, bowl, treats and a list of local dog walkers, and your pet can join you in the Bar Prince library and the Gallery. A £250 deep-clean charge may apply. More in our Balmoral review.
The red sandstone former railway hotel at the west end of Princes Street, long the Waldorf Astoria, now trades under Hilton’s Curio Collection. Hilton lists it among Edinburgh’s pet-welcoming addresses. We couldn’t find the fee or a size limit on Hilton’s pages: fee not published, confirm when booking.
Georgian townhouses on Edinburgh’s grandest square, with a spa and indoor pool. IHG’s listing shows a zero pet deposit, no weight limit and no charge, which makes it a top choice for big breeds. Cats are accepted too, and a pet walking area is listed. Mention your dog when you reserve.
This Edinburgh country house sits beside Holyrood Park, with Arthur’s Seat rising behind. Your dog stays free in any bedroom or suite and are welcome in the drawing rooms and lounges, though not in Rhubarb restaurant. Staff set up a bed on arrival if you tell them in advance.
On George Street in Edinburgh’s New Town, home to Le Petit Beefbar. IHG lists The George as pet-welcoming but doesn’t publish a charge. Third-party sites quote £40 a night, which we couldn’t confirm with the property itself, so: fee not published, confirm when booking.
Formerly The Dunstane Houses, this pair of Victorian townhouses in Edinburgh’s West End now trades as The Roseate. Every room takes dogs, and the flat £35 pet fee covers a bed, treats and bowls. The garden and conservatory are open to four-legged guests; the Dunstane Restaurant & Bar is not.
Fancy a castle? Melville Castle sits off Gilmerton Road near Lasswade, just south of Edinburgh, so a car helps. It charges £20 a night for each pet, and its pet rooms must be booked in advance. There’s even a doggy afternoon tea, which also needs booking ahead.
Photo: Shani Evenstein (שני אבנשטיין), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Boutique and mid-range pet-friendly hotels in Edinburgh
These are the stays we’d pick for a city break: most are in or near the city centre, within walking distance of the sights, and several let your pet come down to the bar with you. For the area itself, see our guide to staying in the Old Town.
On Victoria Street, one of the prettiest corners of Edinburgh. Every room is pet-friendly at no charge, two per room, with no size or breed restrictions. Expect a handmade tartan Bark & Hare bed, bowls, a blanket, a towel and treats, and your companion can eat with you in Eve and Commons Club (not the Commons Club Kitchen).
The Hoxton spreads across 11 Georgian-style townhouses near Haymarket in Edinburgh. One dog per room, up to 40 lb, stays at no extra cost. They can hang out in the lobby and bars, but not the restaurant, speakeasy or wine bar. Pet vaccinations must be up to date, and proof may be requested.
On Bristo Place, at the southern edge of Edinburgh’s Old Town, with The Meadows a short walk away. Up to two small or medium dogs share your room: £25 a night for one, £40 for two, paid at check-in and non-refundable. They’re barred from the main dining room, though staff try to find another spot, and mustn’t be left alone.
Same group rules as Hotel du Vin Edinburgh: up to two small or medium breeds, £25 a night for one or £40 for two. In return you get a bed, a protective mat, two bowls and a treat bag with poo bags. The dining room is off limits, but the team will try to seat you elsewhere.
On York Place, at the eastern end of Edinburgh’s New Town. The rule is one under 35 lb per room, at £20 a night. Each stay comes with SeaSnax treats and a bowl, and a bed can be hired for a small extra charge. Pets aren’t allowed in the restaurant or public areas, so plan to eat out together.
An aparthotel on Edinburgh’s George Street, good if you want a kitchen and space to spread out. A one-off £40 pet charge covers any length of stay, one per apartment, up to 30 kg. You’ll sign a waiver and may be asked for vaccination records; beds and bowls are on request but not guaranteed.
BrewDog’s Edinburgh beer hotel at 5 New Street, moments from Waverley Station and the Royal Mile. The brewery calls it dog-welcoming and provides beds and treats, and the two bars pour more than 30 taps. Its pet charge isn’t stated anywhere we could find: fee not published, confirm when booking.
Edinburgh is the only Resident property that takes four-legged guests, and only well-behaved, house-trained ones. You’ll sign the Dog Policy Form before arrival. The group says charges apply without publishing the amount, so: fee not published, confirm when booking. Assistance dogs stay at no charge.
What about The Bonham? It’s dog friendly downstairs, welcoming four-legged guests in the bar and lounge, but its own policy says they are not permitted in bedrooms (service animals excepted), so you can’t stay there with yours. It’s still a fine stop for a drink.
Cheap hotels that allow dogs
On a tighter budget? These five keep costs down or sit on the edge of Edinburgh, where rooms and parking are easier. Not every pet friendly hotel here publishes its charge, so treat those as “ask first”, or see our Edinburgh budget guide.
Right by Edinburgh Waverley Station, a short walk from the Royal Mile. Motel One’s Scottish terms set the fee at EUR 15 per night, normally one per room; the amount in pounds isn’t stated, so check it when you book. Dogs aren’t allowed at breakfast or in the bar.
On Belford Road, west of Edinburgh’s New Town. Up to two pets per room at £10 a night, or £25 for stays of more than two nights, plus a £50 refundable deposit. No beds or bowls are provided, so bring your own. Leashed dogs can go anywhere except the bar and dining areas.
Photo: Herbert Frank, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A no-frills base on the west side of Edinburgh, towards the airport, with its own tram stop at Edinburgh Park. Accor lists pets as welcome but doesn’t publish the fee: fee not published, confirm when booking.
A step up in the same Edinburgh business district. Accor lists Novotel Edinburgh Park as pet-welcoming, but again there’s no published charge: fee not published, confirm when booking.
Photo: Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In Portobello, east Edinburgh, a few minutes’ stroll from the sea. Its rooms for pets must be pre-booked and “a charge will apply”, with no amount given: fee not published, confirm when booking.
Pet fees explained: per night, per stay or free
There are three pricing models for a pet stay. Some properties add a fee per night; others charge once per stay, which favours longer trips. A handful charge nothing. Read the wording: Malmaison calls its fee a room-servicing charge, and Britannia also takes a refundable deposit.
For a three-night Edinburgh break with one dog, the published policies add up to:
- £0: Kimpton Charlotte Square, Virgin, Prestonfield House, The Hoxton
- £35: The Roseate (flat fee)
- £40: Eden Locke (one-off)
- £50: The Balmoral (charged again after 15 nights)
- £60: Hotel Indigo or Melville Castle
- £75: Hotel du Vin or Malmaison (£120 with two)
- EUR 45: Motel One, as written in its terms
Britannia lists £25 for stays of more than two nights, plus the £50 deposit. Assistance dogs are normally exempt: The Balmoral, Motel One and The Resident all say so. Where a pet fee isn’t published, get it in writing from the Edinburgh hotel before you pay.
How to choose: size limits, pet-free zones and house rules
Start with weight. The Balmoral stops at 20 lb, Indigo at 35 lb and The Hoxton at 40 lb; Eden Locke goes up to 30 kg, while Kimpton and Virgin publish no limit, making them the safest pet friendly hotel picks for a Labrador or a Shepherd.
Next, think about where your pet can go. Restaurants are off limits at most Edinburgh hotels on this list, so if you want company at dinner, Virgin is the stand-out. Prestonfield, The Hoxton and The Balmoral open their lounges or bars; Indigo keeps pets in the room.
Each pet friendly property sets its own pet policy, but some rules are near-universal: keep your dog on a lead in public areas, don’t leave it alone in the room, and mention it when booking, as some (Melville Castle, Kings Manor) need these rooms pre-booked. Pack a familiar blanket even where a dog bed and water bowl are supplied. Driving? Our list of places to stay with parking helps you find a dog friendly hotel in Edinburgh with space for the car, and our overview of where to stay in Edinburgh covers each area.
Dog walks, parks and beaches near your hotel
One of the best things about a pet friendly break in Edinburgh is how close the green space is:
- Princes Street Gardens: below the castle and minutes from The Balmoral, The Caledonian and Kimpton. Good for a quick morning loop.
- Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat: at the foot of the Royal Mile and next to Prestonfield, with proper hill walking if your dog has the legs.
- The Meadows: open grass on the southern edge of the Old Town, a short walk from Hotel du Vin.
- Water of Leith: the walkway follows the river through Dean Village and Stockbridge down to Leith, handy from the West End.
- Portobello Beach: sand and sea air on the east side of Edinburgh, a few minutes’ walk from Kings Manor.
For more ideas see our guides to parks in Edinburgh, walks in Edinburgh and Edinburgh beaches. We also cover staying in Leith and Stockbridge, and our guide to Edinburgh with your dog lists cafes and pubs, including Leith pubs, Edinburgh Old Town pubs and Stockbridge pubs.
Getting around Edinburgh with a dog
Edinburgh Trams carry dogs free, on a lead and off the seats, which makes the Edinburgh Park and airport-side stays easy to reach. Lothian Buses also take pets on a lead and off seats, at the driver’s discretion; its help page doesn’t state a fare. ScotRail says up to two dogs per passenger travel free on its trains in and out of Edinburgh. Driving in? Read our guide to parking in Edinburgh first.
Frequently asked questions
Which Edinburgh hotels let dogs stay for free?
Kimpton Charlotte Square, Virgin, Prestonfield House and The Hoxton publish no pet charge. Virgin and The Hoxton say so outright, Prestonfield says dogs stay free of charge, and Kimpton’s IHG listing shows a zero deposit.
Which hotels accept large dogs?
Kimpton Charlotte Square and Virgin publish no size or weight limit, and Eden Locke takes up to 30 kg. For any other property, check the limit before you book.
How much do hotels charge for a pet?
Published fees run from nothing to £25 per night for one (Hotel du Vin, Malmaison). Per stay, The Roseate charges £35 and The Balmoral £50. Several properties publish no figure at all.
Can I leave my dog alone in the room?
Usually not. The Balmoral and Hotel du Vin ask you not to leave pets unattended, and most others have the same house rule. If you need a few hours, ask reception about a local pet sitter in Edinburgh.
Are dogs allowed in hotel bars and restaurants?
Sometimes. Virgin lets them into Eve and Commons Club, The Hoxton allows its lobby and bars, and The Bonham admits them in its bar and lounge. Most restaurants are off limits.
Can I bring two dogs to an Edinburgh hotel?
Yes at Virgin, Britannia, Hotel du Vin and Malmaison (the last two charge £40 a night for two). The Balmoral, The Hoxton, Hotel Indigo and Eden Locke allow only one.