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The Best Hotels With Pools in Edinburgh

Edinburgh's Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club offers you the option of a post-sightseeing swim or soak
Edinburgh's Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club offers you the option of a post-sightseeing swim or soak | Courtesy of Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club / Expedia
Photo of Mike MacEacheran
Mike MacEacheran
Contributor30 November 2020

If you really want to unwind on a break to the Scottish capital, all it takes is a quick dip, soak or steam after a long day of sightseeing. Even in Edinburgh’s most ebullient hotels, though, don’t expect wraparound infinity pools or hot tubs built for two – this is not the Maldives or Seychelles. Instead, prepare for whirlpools with rugged castle views, woodland-set pool terraces and the odd whisper of Mediterranean cool.

The Balmoral

Courtesy of the Balmoral Hotel / Expedia
Room
Bathroom
Restaurant
Gym
Breakfast Meal
Lobby
Pool
Courtesy of the Balmoral Hotel / Expedia
Hidden, cocoon-like, in the subterranean belly of this splashy five-star hotel, the pool and spa are arguably the smartest in the city. There’s a Turkish steam room, Finnish sauna and 15m (50ft) lap pool, while the colour palette is all cool Mediterranean blue, flanked by Grecian columns. A personal trainer is on hand in the gym, as are a team of spa therapists who can preen, polish and primp you like a peacock.
Everything you need to know

At a Glance

Breakfast available (surcharge)
Full-service spa
Express check-out
Conference space
Concierge services
24-hour front desk
Fitness facilities
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Smoke-free property

Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel

Courtesy of Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel / Expedia
Fitness Facility
Restaurant
Room
Exterior
Lobby
Spa
Interior Entrance
Bathroom
In-Room Dining
Room Amenity
Interior Detail
Breakfast Meal
Courtesy of Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel / Expedia
Fancy being wrapped in Hebridean seaweed from Stornoway? It’s better than it sounds – trust us – and is one of the best anti-ageing, face-glowing treatments at this hotel’s tucked-away spa. The subtly exotic, indigo-blue lap pool is better suited to quick workouts than Olympic-style swim sessions but it is still the perfect place to relax after a long day. You can throw caution to the wind and order champagne straight to the spa, or step upstairs and delight in the Levantine kebabs and cocktails of Baba – the hotel’s Lebanese-inspired restaurant. Want to work up an appetite first? Head to the fitness studio for cardio and weights.
Everything you need to know

At a Glance

Free WiFi
Breakfast available (surcharge)
In-room accessibility
Full-service spa
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Express check-out
Concierge services
24-hour front desk
Fitness facilities
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Multilingual staff
Terrace
Smoke-free property

Waldorf Astoria, The Caledonian

Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – the Caledonian / Expedia
Spa
Meeting Facility
Gym
Restaurant
Living Area
Spa Reception
Exterior
View from Room
Ballroom
Bar
Lobby
Treatment Room
Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – the Caledonian / Expedia
A real antidote to the tourist throngs of Princes Street, this top-floor spa is what every Edinburgh hotel needs. The bubbling whirlpool has a harrier-hawk’s view of Castle Rock, while the alabaster and sky-blue palette calms and soothes in equal measure. A whirl in the sauna and steam room must surely follow, or go after dark when you can watch the stars hang low over the spires and steeples of Britain’s most beautiful skyline. Elsewhere, there’s a fitness room and the only Guerlain spa in the UK.
Everything you need to know

At a Glance

Free WiFi
Breakfast available (surcharge)
Restaurant
In-room accessibility
Full-service spa
Express check-out
Conference space
Concierge services
24-hour front desk
Fitness facilities
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Multilingual staff
Bar/lounge
Smoke-free property

Apex Waterloo Place Hotel

Courtesy of Apex Waterloo Place Hotel / Expedia
Meeting Facility
Room
Sports Facility
Bar
Restaurant
Gym
Bathroom
Interior
Bathroom Sink
Pool
Exterior
Steam Room
Courtesy of Apex Waterloo Place Hotel / Expedia
Don’t let this hotel’s Georgian-era history fool you. The building might have first appeared in 1819, but this old dame is firmly a modern marvel in the looks department. The sauna, steam room and pool offer new-found zen for a quick soak – just don’t expect to lounge around all day – unless you’re quick – there are only a handful of daybeds to nab. If you’re not at the gym, huff and puff up Calton Hill for sunset skyline views and an impeccable dinner at the Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage.
Everything you need to know

At a Glance

Free WiFi
Breakfast available (surcharge)
Restaurant
In-room accessibility
Full-service spa
Express check-out
Conference space
Concierge services
24-hour front desk
Fitness facilities
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Multilingual staff
Bar/lounge
Smoke-free property

Norton House Hotel and Spa

Courtesy of Norton House Hotel and Spa / Expedia
Family Dining
Interior Entrance
Pool
BBQ/Picnic Area
Indoor Spa Tub
Exterior detail
Lounge
Treatment Room
Room
Living Room
Bathroom
Front of Property
Courtesy of Norton House Hotel and Spa / Expedia
Unlike Edinburgh’s other hot-ticket pools, this is the kind of place you could well hang out at all day. Beyond the 18m (60ft) pool – with adult-only swim times – there’s a hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room, and the Club Tropicana look extends to the poolside garden terrace. It’s the best summery vibe the city has to offer. Whether or not you use the exercise studio or gym is another thing. There’s also a club café for elevenses and lunch if you want it, or otherwise, retreat upstairs for bar food in the airy Conservatory Lounge.
Everything you need to know

At a Glance

Free WiFi
Breakfast available (surcharge)
Restaurant
In-room accessibility
Full-service spa
Express check-out
Conference space
24-hour front desk
Fitness facilities
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Terrace
Bar/lounge
Smoke-free property

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    • Village Hotel Edinburgh

    Courtesy of Village Hotel Edinburgh / Expedia
    Gym
    Bathroom
    Fitness Facility
    Reception
    Room
    Room Amenity
    Spa
    Bar
    Breakfast Meal
    Bathroom Shower
    Spa Reception
    Food and Drink
    Courtesy of Village Hotel Edinburgh / Expedia
    Located behind Hogwarts-like Fettes College, this hotel’s wellness area and members club is more expansive than anywhere else. Think a 20m (66ft) pool, whirlpool spa, sauna and steam room, plus a spinning studio, fitness centre and gym. A timetable of classes draws in a healthy crowd of locals from Stockbridge, Trinity and beyond, too. Warning: the hot wings and burger stacks dished up in the hotel’s Pub & Grill may cause you to skip your yoga class.
    Everything you need to know

    At a Glance

    Free WiFi
    Breakfast available (surcharge)
    Restaurant
    In-room accessibility
    Full-service spa
    Express check-out
    Conference space
    24-hour front desk
    Fitness facilities
    Bar/lounge

    Macdonald Holyrood Hotel

    Courtesy of Macdonald Holyrood Hotel / Expedia
    Room
    Spa
    Pool
    Restaurant
    Meeting Facility
    Property Entrance
    Dining
    Food and Drink
    Business Center
    Bathroom
    Front of Property
    Bar
    Courtesy of Macdonald Holyrood Hotel / Expedia
    Close enough to the Scottish Parliament that the First Minister could pop in for a couple of laps on their lunch break, the 14m (46ft) heated pool at this hotel is part of a sprawling leisure club and spa. There’s a muscular gym, with barbells for every political heavyweight, and a surf and turf restaurant for carb-loading afterwards.
    Everything you need to know

    At a Glance

    Free WiFi
    Breakfast available (surcharge)
    Restaurant
    In-room accessibility
    Full-service spa
    Express check-out
    Conference space
    Concierge services
    24-hour front desk
    Dry cleaning/laundry service
    Multilingual staff
    Bar/lounge
    Smoke-free property

    Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club

    Courtesy of Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club / Expedia
    Sports Facility
    Indoor Pool
    Massage
    Spa Treatment
    Reception
    Property Grounds
    Front of Property - Evening/Night
    Bar
    Fitness Facility
    Golf
    Garden
    Room
    Courtesy of Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club / Expedia
    In the mind’s eye, country-club pools are open-air affairs with Baywatch-style lifeguards on duty. Not in Scotland, nay, but the heated indoor lap pool, sauna and steam room here are a suitable substitute. Located beside the resort’s turreted castle, the pool is your chill-out space after a rambling woodland walk, 18 holes on one of the resort’s two championship golf courses or a mad dash around the capital’s highlights.
    Everything you need to know

    At a Glance

    Free WiFi
    Breakfast available (surcharge)
    In-room accessibility
    Full-service spa
    Express check-out
    Concierge services
    24-hour front desk
    Dry cleaning/laundry service
    Multilingual staff
    Terrace
    Smoke-free property
    These recommendations were updated on November 30, 2020 to keep your travel plans fresh.
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