South Queensferry, or just “Queensferry” to locals, is a small harbour town on the Firth of Forth, about ten miles west of Edinburgh city centre. Its cobbled main street sits right under the red Forth Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Forth Road Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing alongside. Staying here means sunsets over three bridges, seafood by the water and a calm night far from the crowds on the Royal Mile, yet the heart of Edinburgh is only a short train ride away.
This guide covers the best hotels in South Queensferry by style: historic inns on the harbour, practical hotels near the airport, country B&Bs on the Hopetoun estate and holiday homes for families. Every listing was re-checked for 2026, and places to stay that have closed or could not be confirmed have been taken out. Planning your days too? See our guide to what to do in Queensferry.
Updated 27 October 2026. Details were checked on each property’s own website or listing. Prices change daily, so treat any figure here as a guide and confirm when booking.
Is South Queensferry a Good Base for Edinburgh?
It suits travellers who want a seaside village feel with Edinburgh close by. Weigh it up honestly before you book.
- For: views of the 1890 rail crossing from your window, pubs with a beer garden on the water and boat trips from Hawes Pier.
- For: Edinburgh Airport is about three miles away, which makes Queensferry a handy last night before an early flight or a first night after a late arrival.
- For: accommodation is often cheaper per night than in central Edinburgh in August, and parking is far easier.
- Against: you need the train or bus for every trip to Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town, and the last services finish earlier than city transport.
- Against: the town has only a handful of hotels and guest rooms, so summer weekends sell out early.
Quick Picks: Where to Stay in South Queensferry
- Best for bridge views: Hawes Inn, right beside the pier.
- Best for a romantic break: Orocco Pier, with seafood and a waterside terrace.
- Best budget hotel: Premier Inn Edinburgh (South Queensferry).
- Best before an early flight: Dakota Edinburgh, near the airport road.
- Best for families: The Shore, a house with a garden.
- Best for Outlander fans: Midhope Castle Cottages.
- Best bed and breakfast: Parkhead House, a quiet country cottage.
South Queensferry Hotels at a Glance
| Hotel | Type | Area | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawes Inn | Historic inn | Newhalls Road | EH30 9TA |
| Orocco Pier | Boutique hotel | Harbour front | EH30 9PP |
| Staghead Hotel | Pub with rooms | Harbour front | EH30 9PP |
| Dakota Edinburgh | Design hotel | Ferrymuir | EH30 9QZ |
| Premier Inn Edinburgh (South Queensferry) | Budget chain | Builyeon Road | EH30 9YJ |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh – Queensferry Crossing | Four-star, river views | Fife, across the Forth | KY11 1HP |
| Parkhead House | Country B&B | Hopetoun estate | EH30 9SL |
| Midhope Castle Cottages | Holiday cottages | Hopetoun estate | EH30 |
| Forth Reflections | Holiday flat | Stoneycroft Road | EH30 9HX |
| Crawsteps | Self catering flat | Old town | EH30 9HN |
| The Shore | Holiday house | Shore Road | EH30 9SG |
Rates are left out on purpose: accommodation prices swing widely, and the Edinburgh Festival in August and Hogmanay are always the dearest dates.
Inns and Hotels on the Harbour Front
The old town strip along the water has the most atmosphere, with rooms above pubs and restaurants and the bridge on your doorstep.
Hawes Inn
The Hawes Inn at 7 Newhalls Road sits almost under the southern end of the rail crossing, beside the pier. It appears in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped, and the inn says the author is rumoured to have written part of the novel here. Today the pub and restaurant are run by Vintage Inns, with en suite rooms upstairs sold by Innkeeper’s Collection, and breakfast is served downstairs.
Parking and Wi-Fi are free, Dalmeny station is about 550 yards away and Edinburgh Airport is 3.1 miles off. Small and medium dogs are welcome for £15 a night when you book direct. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out by noon. Ask for a room facing the water.
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Orocco Pier
Orocco Pier, at 17 High Street, is the stylish hotel choice in the old town. It has 17 boutique bedrooms and two places to eat: Samphire Seafood Bar & Grill and the all-day Antico Café Bar, whose terrace looks across the Forth. Book direct and breakfast is included in the rate.
It is a favourite for couples and special occasions, so book early for summer and for Hogmanay. The hotel says it is less than 20 minutes from both the airport and central Edinburgh by car.
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Staghead Hotel
The Staghead is a traditional Queensferry pub with rooms at 8 High Street. The listed building has a 1712 lintel at the back, and its seasonal rear garden overlooks the bridges. According to CAMRA, it has five rooms, from £75 for a single, plus family, double and twin options.
Dogs on a lead and children are welcome in the bar. Two things to know: there is live music, so light sleepers should ask for a quiet room, and CAMRA noted in July 2026 that the kitchen was closed until further notice. Breakfast is not guaranteed, so check with the pub first.
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Hotels Near Edinburgh Airport and the Forth Bridges
Larger, modern accommodation on the edge of town, with free parking and quick road links to the M9 and the M90.
Dakota Edinburgh
The black-glass Dakota at Ferrymuir Retail Park, beside the A90 approach to the Forth bridges, has around 130 rooms. Its Grill Room serves steak and seafood, and the Dakota Bar is a good spot for a cocktail.
Free parking for guests and park, stay and fly deals make this hotel popular before early flights. It is a 20-minute walk to old Queensferry, so most guests drive or take a short taxi.
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Premier Inn Edinburgh (South Queensferry)
This budget option sits at the South Queensferry services on Builyeon Road, next to a petrol station and a McDonald’s, so it is practical rather than pretty. Expect the usual comfy beds, blackout curtains, an on-site restaurant and a build-your-own breakfast buffet.
Free, limited on-site parking is available. The hotel quotes 6.5 miles to Edinburgh Airport by road and a mile to Dalmeny station.
DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh – Queensferry Crossing
Strictly speaking, this hotel is across the water in North Queensferry, Fife, at St Margaret’s Head. It has 147 rooms, including deluxe river view rooms and junior suites that look straight onto the bridges, plus a fitness centre.
Choose it for the panorama and a four-star feel. You will need a car or taxi to reach South Queensferry, though fit walkers can cross on the Forth Road Bridge footpath.
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B&Bs and Country Stays on the Hopetoun Estate
West of Queensferry, the Hopetoun estate offers deer park walks, Outlander scenery and some of the most peaceful accommodation in the area.
Parkhead House
Parkhead House is a VisitScotland four-star bed and breakfast in a former gamekeeper’s cottage on Abercorn Road, at the edge of the deer park near Hopetoun House. The ground-floor Iona suite has twin beds that can become a double and is ideal if you want to avoid stairs. Harris, upstairs, is a family suite with a double, a twin and its own sitting room.
Breakfast is served in your suite, Wi-Fi is free, and there is parking on site. Up to two dogs are allowed, and the owners run Outlander tours to nearby filming locations. Rates were listed from £135 per room per night; confirm when booking.
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Midhope Castle Cottages
Fans of the TV drama, this is the one. Two holiday cottages, Keepers Cottage and the Old Gamekeepers’ Cottage, stand in the grounds of Midhope Castle, which played Lallybroch, the Fraser family home in the series. Each has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and sleeps six, with an extra study space.
Both have a private, pet friendly garden with views towards the castle ruins. Check-in is 4–7pm and check-out 11am. Book through the official Midhope Castle website.
Check availability at Midhope Castle Cottages
Self Catering Apartments and Holiday Rentals
For families, groups or longer stays in Queensferry, self-contained accommodation with a kitchen often works out cheaper than two hotel rooms.
Forth Reflections
Forth Reflections takes the ground and upper floor of a Victorian building at 5 Stoneycroft Road, a few minutes from Queensferry High Street. It has a double bedroom plus sofa beds for up to four, a fully fitted kitchen, Wi-Fi and sea views.
Parking is available, and one small dog is welcome. Contact the owners for rates and minimum stays.
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Crawsteps
Crawsteps is a holiday flat at 36 High Street, in the heart of Queensferry, with views of the bridges. Listings describe two bedrooms for up to six guests, free parking and Wi-Fi.
A £100 refundable deposit is required and check-out is before noon. Details come from booking sites rather than an owner website, so confirm when booking.
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The Shore
The Shore is a modern three-bedroom house at 11 Shore Road, with a king, a twin and a single room; the single looks out to the rail crossing. The kitchen seats seven, and the landscaped garden has decking and a covered bar area.
There is parking for two cars, which is rare this close to the water. A £250 damage deposit applies.
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More holiday accommodation appears on Airbnb. Edinburgh has required a short-term let licence since 2022, so look for a licence number on the listing. Browse South Queensferry stays on Airbnb.
Staying in Queensferry or Central Edinburgh?
Choose accommodation in South Queensferry if you want a quiet base by the water, easy parking and a quick run to Edinburgh Airport. Choose central Edinburgh if you plan late nights, lots of museums or several Fringe shows a day. Many visitors split the trip: a night or two in Queensferry at the start or end, and the rest in the capital.
The two are well linked. Trains from Dalmeny reach Edinburgh Waverley in under 20 minutes, so a day at Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town is easy, and you are back in Queensferry for dinner on the Firth of Forth. The best rooms still go early in August, so book ahead.
Breakfast is worth checking when you compare accommodation. Most hotels here serve it, Parkhead House brings it to your suite, and holiday homes leave you to cook your own or wander to the cafés in the old town.
Which Part of Queensferry Should You Stay In?
Queensferry is small, but each corner has a different feel, and the right accommodation depends on whether you arrive by car or by train.
- High Street and the harbour: cobbles, pubs and the best bridge views, all free to enjoy. Lively in summer and the easiest walk to Hawes Pier.
- Newhalls Road and Hawes Pier: right under the rail crossing, steps from the boats and a short walk to the trains.
- Ferrymuir and Builyeon Road: modern hotels by the main road. Best if you have a car or an early flight out of Edinburgh.
- Hopetoun estate: countryside, deer and the Lallybroch filming location, two miles west. You will need a car.
- North Queensferry: across the water in Fife, quieter, with its own station and the Fife Coastal Path.
Getting to Edinburgh from South Queensferry
- Train: ScotRail trains run from Dalmeny station to Edinburgh Waverley in about 17–20 minutes, roughly every half hour. The station is a steep ten-minute walk up from the harbour.
- Bus: Lothian Country service 43 links Queensferry with the city centre about every 20 minutes during the day; the full trip takes close to an hour.
- Car and airport: Edinburgh Airport is about three miles away, a short taxi ride. Most hotels here have free parking, unlike many in central Edinburgh.
Prices, the Visitor Levy and Booking Tips
- Edinburgh’s visitor levy has applied since 24 July 2026: 5% of the room cost for the first five nights. Queensferry is inside the City of Edinburgh, so it applies here too; the Fife shore is outside it.
- Book early for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, Hogmanay and summer weekends, when Queensferry’s few hotels and other accommodation fill quickly.
- Check whether breakfast is included, as many rates are room-only, and compare free cancellation terms before you pay.
- Booking direct can bring perks, such as dog stays at the Hawes Inn.
- For a quieter night in Queensferry, avoid rooms above pubs on Friday and Saturday.
Staying in South Queensferry: FAQ
Which South Queensferry hotels include breakfast?
Booking direct at Orocco Pier includes breakfast, Hawes Inn and Premier Inn serve it on site, and Parkhead House is let on a bed and breakfast basis. Holiday homes are self catering, so confirm what your rate includes when booking.
Is there accommodation in South Queensferry near the train station?
Yes. Hawes Inn is about 550 yards from Dalmeny station, and the old town flats are a short walk downhill.
Is South Queensferry worth staying in?
Yes, if you like a small harbour town with bridge views and an easy train into Edinburgh. It is quieter than the city and handy for the airport, but you will travel in for most big sights.
How far is South Queensferry from Edinburgh city centre?
About ten miles. Trains from Dalmeny take around 20 minutes to Waverley, and the 43 bus takes about an hour.
Which hotels in South Queensferry have views of the Forth Bridge?
The Hawes Inn sits right below the bridge, Orocco Pier looks over the Forth from the High Street, and the DoubleTree across the water has river view rooms.
Are there dog friendly hotels in South Queensferry?
Yes. The Hawes Inn takes small and medium dogs for £15 a night, Parkhead House allows up to two dogs, and the Staghead welcomes dogs on a lead.
Where should families stay in South Queensferry?
The best family accommodation is at The Shore and Crawsteps, which give space and a kitchen; Midhope Castle Cottages sleep six, and the Harris suite at Parkhead House suits a family of four.
Is there a tourist tax in South Queensferry?
Yes. The Edinburgh visitor levy of 5% on the first five nights applies across the city, including Queensferry.